Imagine that you are driving down the interstate when you see two vehicles collide, or one vehicle swerve off the road into an embankment. What do you do? Do you have a responsibility? Depending on the situation, you may not have a legal responsibility but if it is safe to do so then we recommend providing assistance as a witness.
What this means exactly for your case will vary. If all parties seem to be fine, then it would be as simple as providing your contact information. This can be essential in the event the parties involved do not agree about cause, as you can provide your eyewitness account to settle the case. After all, if you were in a car accident, would you want someone to offer their eyewitness account if you needed it? Read on to find the three things you should do. If you are involved in an accident, contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation.
- Call 911
- Make sure that you are safe
- Check on the victims – or do not
First and foremost, call for emergency help. If there are any injuries or if there is property damage of more than $950 then the police should be called. If you are not sure if there are injuries then you should call 911. If you believe someone is at risk, then you should call 911. The bottom line is that it is better to be overzealous and call when it is not needed than to not call when it is needed and risk someone losing their life.
If the accident happens in front of you, behind you, or around you, then you should pull over at the closets safe location and put on your hazard lights. The nearest soft shoulder will likely do, but it will depend on road conditions, time of day, and other factors. You want to keep a safe distance from the accident and you want to ensure that your car is visible to other that will drive up on the scene.
You may think that you should always check on the accident victims but that is not always the case. If you can approach the scene safely then you can check on them. Do not move the victims as they could have unseen injuries that are worse if they are moved. However, there is one big exception – if there is an urgent danger then you should move the victim to save their life. This would include a fire, a car being submerged in water, and other immediate dangers.
Remember that if you are involved in an accident, your first priority is to get safe. Your second priority is to contact a personal injury attorney to ensure your rights are taken care of. Contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 today for a free legal consultation.
