It’s possible that you could witness an accident without being a part of it. For instance, you might see a vehicle run a red light and hit another one or see a driver cross the center line before colliding with oncoming traffic.
If you do find that you’ve witnessed a serious accident, then you have a few important steps to take. Here is what you should do to provide help to those involved in the crash.
- Call 911
The first thing you should do is call 911 to make sure an ambulance is on the way. If the accident looks serious and you’re not sure if injuries have occurred, err on the side of caution and call 911. You can keep the operator updated as you begin checking on the occupants of the vehicles.
- Provide aid
While talking to the 911 operator, they should give you information on how to provide aid to those who need it. They may help walk you through CPR or first aid techniques to keep victims comfortable until help arrives.
- Write down or record as much information as possible
This is a traumatic incident, so it’s a good idea for you to write down as much information about what has happened as possible. People tend to remember less over time, so it is helpful to write down every detail you can remember. If you have a phone, taking photos or videos may also help later on.
- Speak with the police
You may want to speak with the police to let them know what you saw. They may take down your information to ask you more questions later, too, which is something to keep in mind.
- Be ready to become a witness
Finally, you should provide your contact information to the victims, so they can reach out to you if they need a witness. Your testimony may help those who were injured get the compensation they need or prevent someone from misrepresenting events.
These are a few things to do if you’ve witnessed an accident. As a witness, you have an important role and could play a major part in the victims’ personal injury case.
