Once retired and no longer spending your days in the workplace, you will have the time to be out and about living your life. You might be walking around town minding your own business, when suddenly you see it. Perhaps an elderly person trips over or two cars end up driving right into each other. Accidents can take many forms but no matter what happens, they can still be very distressing to watch unfold. You might feel your heart start to race and your instincts will probably kick in – in fact, you might really want to run away. However, running away won’t make you a good citizen. You should step in and try to help if possible. We all would hope that someone would help us if we were in the same situation. Here are a few things you can do if you’ve witnessed an accident.
Approach The Scene With Caution
First of all, depending on the type of accident, it’s important that you approach the scene with some caution. This is especially important when it comes to car accidents, as it might mean stepping out into the middle of the road or approaching a burning vehicle. Only approach the scene as long as you are 100% sure that it is safe to do so.
Call The Emergency Services
Next, it is important that you call any emergency services that are required. If there are some casualties, then you should call for an ambulance and paramedics. Even if you have just witnessed someone tripping over, it could still be necessary to call for an ambulance as they could be in shock or have some injuries that aren’t visible. If the accident is a car crash that looks like one of the cars has been totaled, you will need to call for the police and the fire brigade.
Make Sure Everyone Involved Is OK
If the people involved in the accident are able to walk away, it’s still a good idea to ask them if they are ok. You might be able to help by getting them a drink and simply by talking to them for a few minutes. This could help to calm them down.
Image sourceGive A Witness Statement
In an accident could result in a compensation claim, you might be required to give a witness statement. All valid injury lawsuits filed will need to be backed up with statements, as well as any convictions against drivers who were breaking the law when causing a crash. For example, if one driver was speeding or had been drinking, you might need to mention this in your statement as evidence that can be used in court.
Ensure Your Own Safety First
One of the most important things to remember in all of this is that you should always ensure that you are safe at all times. For instance, if you are driving when you see a car accident occur, you should only pull over to help if it is safe to do so. In fact, in most instances of witnesses seeing a road traffic accident, it is usually safer for them to continue driving as they might only add to all the congestion.
Hopefully, all of these useful tips can help you know what to do next time you spot an accident!