Most people that watch a crash take place keep driving or assume that someone else has called the police. However, this mindset can have devastating impacts on the victims of car accidents. If you happen to be at the scene of a crash and witnessed the accident, there are a few steps you should take to ensure the victims of the crash are protected.
If you or someone you know has been involved in a car accident, it is important to seek legal counsel from a skilled car accident attorney. Outlined below are some simple steps you should take in the event that you witness a car accident.
Pull Over
If an accident occurs in front of you, you should pull off the road at a safe distance from the scene of the crash. It is important to remember that when emergency personnel arrives, they will need to be able to see the accident and have space to pull over directly next to it to treat any injured persons. Therefore, to allow for plenty of room, we recommend stopping past the accident.
Call 911 for Help
After you have pulled over and are in a safe position, it’s imperative to call 911 as soon as possible. When you call for help, provide the responder with the following information:
- A precise location of the accident. Be sure to give the police the cross streets of the accident, or if you’re on the highway, the nearest exit number.
- Status of the scene. If you can, you should provide responders with the status of the accident scene, including the number of people who need help, their physical condition, and how many vehicles were involved in the crash.
- Any additional information the responder requests. It is important to stay on the phone until the emergency dispatcher is done collecting all the information they need.
Check the Scene for Any Injured People
After you have pulled over and called for help, you should check the scene for any injured people. While it is important to check the obvious places, such as the passenger seats, it is also important to check around the car. If any of the passengers weren’t wearing a seatbelt, they might have been ejected from their vehicle. Check any tall grass or bushes around the accident scene for injured persons.
Put Your Emergency Lights On
If your car has emergency lights, you should turn them on. Often, cars approaching an accident scene don’t adjust their speed accordingly, which can cause additional accidents to occur. Putting your emergency lights on can help signal to other drivers that they should slow down, preventing additional accidents from happening.
Consult a California Personal Injury Lawyer
If you or someone you know has been injured in a car accident, it is important to seek legal action. In some cases, reporting your accident to your insurance company doesn’t result in the outcome you deserve. In these cases, it is best to consult with a lawyer to ensure you receive appropriate financial compensation from the at-fault party.
The personal injury lawyers at Setareh Law are here to help. Our team of skilled attorneys provides unmatched legal representation for plaintiffs across California dealing with personal injury and car accident matters. As members of the Beverly Hills Bar Association, we are dedicated to providing exceptional legal counsel. To schedule a free consultation with one of our skilled personal injury lawyers, call today at 310-659-1826 or fill out our online contact form.