What would you do?

1. 74

   danielleantoszposted 12 years ago

   What would you do?
   
   While driving home from work today, I witnessed a horrific car accident right in front of me. I was forced to stop and pull over on a very busy interstate (and on a bridge, at that).  One car flipped several times and hit another car and both cars traveled across several lanes of traffic.  I called 911, but did not get out of my car to help.  Several other people did.  Honestly, I was scared I would get run over. A  friend  was ran over and killed earlier this year, and that is all I could think about.  While everyone ended up being ok, I feel a bit guilty. What would you do?

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2. 35

   Johnathan L Groomposted 12 years ago

   I've done it already and it was nuts!  Told her to stop the car, ran across the highway median and traffic, ran to the bushes and yelled for a man who had fled to come out because his company truck plowed into the back of a car with two little kids in it .  Whe didn't want to stop, she wanted to drive away.  Yeah, it was crazy.  Now I feel better. the joke was, though, that when the cops arrived, they didn't believe a word of what I told them happened!   
   
   -johnathan-
   (Connecticut in da' hizzouse!)

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3. 60

   Meg Ingramposted 12 years ago

   I would probably be one of the ppl out trying to help them, but you know what we all act differently in a accident , Don't feel guilty Danielle, you did your part by calling 9-1-1 that is just as good as being out there on the road with the people who were trying to help the crash victim  i'm sorry for your friend its not easy losing someone you car about .

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4. 74

   danielleantoszposted 12 years ago

   Meg, I normally would have hopped out to help.  Perhaps that is why I feel a bit guilty.  Luckily I saw the guy who was in the car that flipped get out and walk away from his car, though it took him a few minutes.

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5. 37

   edhanposted 12 years ago

   Sad to say that I will only call for help when I witness any accident.
   
   The reason is simply that I can't stand the sight of blood in accident as it would likely make me faint. But if the blood is on me, it seems okay as I had cuts and bruise many times during my childhood. But when comes to seeing blood on other people, I cannot be involved as it scares me. Maybe I am timid but all I can do for accident will be calling for help to assist.

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6. 79

   Uninvited Writerposted 12 years ago

   The police tell you not to get out of your car on a busy highway. Too many people are killed that way. You called 911, that is the best thing you could have done. Nothing to feel guilty about.

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7. 70

   JP993posted 12 years ago

   Danielle you played an important part of everyone being ok. when acciednts happen many people get disorientated, people in the acciednt and ones that witness it, and altohough people are quick to react and offer to help they forget to prevent anymore carnage by calling the emergency services. Many of us wouldnt know what to do if we got to the injured people anyways. The quicker the emergency people get there the better.

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8. 59

   vydyulashashiposted 12 years ago

   You got a thought to help, but you got out. Its ok as far as your concise is pure. But instead it would be better if you have tried. I will do so.

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9. 78

   schoolgirlforrealposted 12 years ago

   I would say, go with your instincts,
   it's okay to have fear, as humans we are fraile and we do
   have feelings/emotions
   Not everyone can be an emt
   well, I know you wanted to help
   but since there were others I'd say you should feel ok.
   
   If it were a diff circumstance I'm sure you would have done more.

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10. 40

    Borsiaposted 12 years ago

    It totally depends on your knowledge and training.
    Are you competent to help in some way?
    Are you good at first aid, if you are, are you afraid of being sued?
    Do you know how to effectively direct traffic around the scene and are you equipped to do it?
    If you don’t have something unique that can help rather than hinder you should either leave, assuming you didn’t see the accident and can’t be a witness. Or, if you did see the accident, give your contact information and then leave. If you didn’t see the entire accident from start to finish you are not an effective witness. You have to have seen everything leading up to and including the crash to be of much use.
    If you are going to stay try to position your car either completely off of the road or in such a way that it shields the scene. If you don’t really know what you are doing get it off the road! You will at best hinder traffic including emergency vehicles and at worst get it involved in secondary accidents.
    Unless you have experience never try to cross a busy highway unless all traffic is stopped and there is no path that a car could come from, such as a shoulder.
    If you see an accident occurring ahead of you turn on your ER blinkers and slow while swerving back and forth in your lane.
    STAY IN YOUR LANE! DON’T SLAM ON YOUR BRAKES OR STOP!
    Once traffic has stopped if you have a road flare carry it back a good distance to alert any approaching cars but stay far from traffic lanes.

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