Not long ago I witnessed a traffic accident. No big deal - person A stopped at a traffic light and person B didn’t stop in time and ran into him. (moral: don’t tailgate!)
What shocked me terribly, and still bothers me, is that I was the only witness that pulled over to exchange information. This was at an intersection with 4 lanes each way. I’d estimate at least 15 other cars within sight.
The cars were certainly movable, and everyone pulled over to the side with no problem. A person making a brief survey would conclude that there were unlikely to be any medical issues requiring emergency attention.
But my question(s) to you: (assuming most of you would be like the other people who didn’t pull over):[ul]Why wouldn’t you pull over and exchange information to serve as a witness to the traffic accident?[/ul]And would it bother you (at all) to know that because you didn’t set the record straight, person B changed the story around a bit (saying that the light was green and person A stopped for no reason) in an attempt to shirk responsibility?
I have had a very similar circumstance, except it was much more brutal. I was in the turn lane at an intersection, and someone on the opposite side’s turn lane turned into oncoming traffic. He was thrown from his car, literally. Since I was in the turn lane I had to go, since there were many a car behind me waiting to go. I felt very bad because I wanted to stop and help. Injury was very likely, so my conscience is a bit heavy about that.
So you didn’t pull over because you had to continue with the flow of traffic. Sounds like a legitimate reason, thanks.
I should mention that in my own circumstance, I also had to continue with the flow of traffic to get out of the way. The difference is that I took the next available opportunity to turn around and safely return to the scene.
Speaking sincerely, I understand that idea wouldn’t have occured to some people. It happens.
If I actually saw the accident, then I would, short of a dire emergency on my part. It’s possible that at least most of those people didn’t even see the accident, because they weren’t paying attention in that direction.
This happened this morning. We had a bit of snow last night and some freezing rain on top of it.
I was driving Little Honey to school, going about 50 mph (in a 65 mph zone) on I-87. A white Lexus flew by me on the left (going maybe 70 mph). When we got to the exit ramp, the white Lexus was now sporting a nice tree truck hood ornament on an embankment at the side of the ramp.
Did I stop?, naw, the woman was out of her car on the cell-phone, probably calling for a tow. She didn’t save herself any time in the end.
I’ve stopped every time I actually witnessed accidents. In a couple cases I just left my name and number for the cops. In one case there were injuries. I waited until the cops and the amubulance got there and I helped one of the victims. In that case I was later asked to be a witness in a lawsuit, but it was settled the day of the trial.
I saw an accident happen right in front of me a couple of years ago. I called 911 to report it (I didn’t see any injuries, but you never know), and made sure they had my phone number in case I was needed later. I never heard anything about it, so I presumed everything turned out okay.
That probably wouldn’t make a lot of difference - if you’re in back in a rear-end collision you’re at fault.
That being said, I’ve provided witness information selectively, the decision to do so based most heavily on my quick appraisal of whether or not they’ll need it.
Long ago I saw a single car accident late at night. I stopped to offer help, a ride, use of my phone… well the inner city rap star looking dude started shouting WTF are you looking at and throwing part of his wreck at me and my car. Kinda makes ya think that Trent might be correct.
However, after having my car hit and run while I was in a restaurant, I was lucky and glad that a witness took note of the car and plates and left a note on my car. I now will do what I can to help my fellow motorist.
Look up the Good Samaritan laws in your state. That’s what’s relevant here.
I’d pull over. I think most Montanans would.
I was on a highway recently after a big snow, when the roads were icy with black ice (ice invisible to the driver because it blends with the road so well). A truck in front of us (my friend, who was driving, and I) with a trailer hit a patch of black ice and flipped onto its side into a snowbank. My friend pulled over and pulled out a cell phone (not that it did much good in the mountains). I pushed the emergency button to contact OnStar, which did work. My friend came back soon after to give details and to say that the person on the other end of the satellite link didn’t need to contact the police.
Why not? A whole bunch of other drivers had already pulled off and someone with a cell phone that could get service had already notified emergency personnel. There was a long line spread out behind us (we pulled off in front of the accident), and everyone was trying to do something to help. As nobody was hurt, there wasn’t enough for all those people to do.
Eventually, we drove off and left the person to the emergency vehicles.
I have stopped for the ones I’ve seen. One was an elderly gentleman who had a green light but was broadsided by a younger man who ran a red light. I didn’t know that the victim was elderly at the time. I think that assumptions would have been made about who had the right-of-way if I had not stopped. Also, I suggested to the elder gentleman that he stay warm in my car while we waited for the police.
I used to think so as well. But I also was party to an accident in which a person got pissed at the tailgater behind him, and slammed the brakes. Another rear-ender. In that case, it turned out that the person who slammed the brakes was assigned partial responsibility for the accident =/
Derleth: I believe your story. In my last trip to the western states, I was pleasantly surprised to find how quickly people pulled over to help when our car got stranded. And equally surprised to find out how surprised they were that us easterners generally don’t pull over.
Honey I doubt I’d have stopped in your case either. No one needed assistance, and it’s obvious who was at fault in that one-vehicle accident. When more than one car is involved, though, it seems that there is more than one story of the events that led to the accident.
DeadlyAccurate you bring up a good point. Likely all people in all 15 cars didn’t see the accident clearly. That should whittle it down to only a few. Maybe 7 or so.
I suppose they all had pressing appointments to get their important holiday shopping done, and didn’t have time to stop.
“Why wouldn’t you pull over and exchange information to serve as a witness to the traffic accident?”
Well, one time a car ran into a woman right in front of me & the woman on the street was knocked out, I don’t see how I could give her info… Even if I could I don’t think she was in any condition to write out on paper what she was saying. But the cops did come & I told them if they needed me I was ready. They never did contact me.
My husband was an EMT and I’m a RN, so if it looks like injury, we’d stop if we were first on the scene and it was safe to do so…don’t become part of the problem, good samaritans.
My husband is a Wilderness First Responder (as am I). He witnessed a car/motorcycle crash. He stopped to help the motorcyclist, who fortunately was not badly hurt. He gave his name to the cops. Next thing you know, he’s being dogged by a sleazy private investigator who was trying to get him to sign affadavits that he did not provide (very illegal). It was kind of a mess.
That’s not to say that we wouldn’t stop to help and/or offer to be witnesses in the future, but I can see why people are afraid to “get involved.”
I once heard an accident happen right in front of me; I explained to both people I couldn’t be a witness (I was reading a book); both were surprised I bothered to explain.
Once I pulled over to find out if a person semi-involved in an accident was ok. (the accident happened in front of him, and he spun out.) I called the police later that day to describe both the accident and the (very sober) condition of the driver to whom I had spoken. (I was very glad I had, but its a long and boring story.)
However, I would never stop for anything on an empty road; too many mean people out there.
This has happened to me twice in the last 6 months or so although neither time I actually saw the accident happen. The first wreck I saw gave me reason to call 911 for the first time in my 29+ years on earth. I was on my way to work at around 10:30pm and there was a Chevy Blazer on its roof with the passenger pinned.
<rant>[sub]The other car in the accident was a mid 90’s Mitsu Eclipse which had VERY minor fender damage and was driven home vs the totaled, on its roof, with bloody passenger blazer. Good thing they bought that SUV for safety.[/sub]
</rant>
There had to be 20-30 motorists in the middle of the highway within 30 seconds. I was told by the Good Samaritan in charge to direct traffic away from the wreck and try to keep them out of the glass. After the cops, emergency truck and ambulance showed most of us left.
I can’t imagine a place where people don’t care enough to stop for a wrecked motorist. I know I wouldn’t want to live there.
I haven’t pulled over when I thought the accident was straightforward (for example, a rear-ending at a stop light). Otherwise, heck yes I stop. I’ve always been surprised at how little credence the law enforcement officers seem to give to witness statements. Maybe because we’re not reliable. I’ve never been called back, either.