You have important duties if you witness a car accident.

You were not hurt in the car accident, and your vehicle wasn't even directly involved in the crash. Yet you are an important part of what happens after the accident.

What You Can Do After You Witness a Crash

As soon as you see a collision you can take the following steps:

  1. Stay at the scene of the crash. It is important that you stay at the scene of the accident. However, before you get out of your vehicle please make sure that your car is out of the way of traffic and emergency vehicles that may need to get to the accident scene. That way you won’t risk a secondary accident or interfere with the recovery of the accident you witnessed.
     
  2. Call 911. Make sure that the police and first responders are on their way. While you wait for first responders, it is okay to check on the car accident victims, but in most cases, you should not move the victims because that could further complicate their injuries.
     
  3. Try to make other motorists aware of the crash. If you have cones or flares available then you should use them. All vehicles, including yours, should have their hazard lights and headlights on, if possible.
     
  4. Offer to call a friend or relative of those involved in the crash. Accident victims might like to have a relative or close friend know what happened and come to the crash scene or meet them at the hospital. They may also need to notify employers or make arrangements for their children.
     
  5. Talk to the police. Cooperate with the police when they come to the accident scene. Answer their questions honestly, but remember it is your job to report what you saw and not to draw any conclusions
     
  6. Make sure all parties have your contact information. They may need to reach you later.
     
  7. Cooperate with the attorneys when they call you. You may have valuable information to share that could help injured victims who are seeking fair damages in a car accident settlement or at trial.

You couldn't have prevented the accident and you are not in control of what happens with each accident victim’s recovery. However, the steps that you take can be important and can help those who were hurt because of someone else’s negligence get the recoveries that they deserve.

Have You Been Injured In A Wisconsin, Illinois or Iowa Car Accident?

If you've been injured in a car accident you should speak to an experienced car accident attorney as soon as possible. You can contact us online or call our office directly at 800.800.5678 to schedule your free consultation with one of our car accident lawyers. We have been helping car accident victims since 1964 and service clients throughout Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa

Jason F. Abraham
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Helping car accident and personal injury victims throughout Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa since 1993.