Moments can happen in the blink of an eye. One of those moments where time stands still is when a car accident occurs just a few feet in front of you. As personal injury lawyers, we read police reports and interview crash witnesses to piece together what happened during an incident on a weekly basis. However, what is uncommon is actually being a witness to a severe crash involving multiple vehicles.
Our very own Josh Margolis recently became one of those few who witnessed a crash. While driving home from dinner, a stalled vehicle on the highway created a multi-vehicle collision in front of him. He was lucky to avoid the other cars, but he relied on his legal experience to provide the authorities with important information following the accident.
This made us consider 5 important things you should do if you become a car accident witness.
Get to Safety
Many times, we have handled cases where a crash witness gets out of their car to assist at the scene, but ends up being hit by another vehicle that approaches the scene. It is important for witnesses to pull over a safe distance from the crash and take note of your surroundings before you consider exiting your vehicle.
Call Emergency Personnel
Dial 911 to alert the authorities to the crash. Try to remain calm as you give the dispatcher the necessary information. As a crash witness, you will need to provide the location of the crash, the number of vehicles involved and whether or not it appears medical or fire personnel should be dispatched to the scene of the accident.
Stay at the Scene
There are many ways for a car accident witness to provide assistance following a crash. You could assist by:
- Provide medical assistance if qualified;
- Make phone calls for crash victims;
- Take photographs of the damage;
- Or, remain with crash victims until the authorities arrive.
Make sure you provide the police with your contact information and a statement of what you observed when they arrive at the crash scene.
Contact the Police
If you leave the scene of the crash before authorities arrive, it is still important to contact them. 911 calls are recorded and your information about the crash can help the police describe how it occured in their reports. You can also provide your name and contact details in the recording in case the police have more questions.
Don’t Be Afraid to Get Involved
As a crash witness, your description of the incident could be crucial in the development of a personal injury case. It can assist insurance companies, legal personnel and the authorities in determining damages, how the crash occurred and who was at fault. You may be contacted by the police, the victim’s attorney or an insurance company in the process.
Do your Part as a Crash Witness
No car crash is ever the same, but your cooperation as a car accident witness can only help in a victim’s pursuit of justice. Your involvement as a crash witness may only take a few minutes, but it could make a huge difference in building a case. If you have recently been injured in a car crash that was not your fault, contact our personal injury lawyers who will strive to help you through this difficult chapter.