The law does not mandate you to do anything when you witness a fender bender. However, taking prompt action could save someone’s life. It could also help them secure a personal injury claim. That said, you should always maintain your safety while trying to help the victims.
If you feel the need to speak to a Los Angeles Personal Injury Attorney, contact El Dabe Ritter Trial Lawyers.
Steps to Take After a Fender-Bender
Maintain Your Safety: As much as you wish to help, your actions will be counterproductive if you get hurt. Make sure you don’t put yourself at risk. Relax and maintain a cool head so you can assess the situation accurately. Only proceed if you feel safe to do so.- Park You Vehicle Out of the Way: Fender benders are minor accidents. Most likely, there won’t be many emergency vehicles arriving at the scene. Nonetheless, make sure your car is out of the way, especially if there are injured people at the scene. This should allow any responders that arrive to reach them with ease. Park your vehicle at a safe location and turn on your hazard lights.
- Call for Help: After you have secured yourself and your vehicle, call 911. Describe the details of the accident to the dispatcher, including the location, number of cars involved, and severity of the victim’s injuries. You can also ask the victims if they would like you to call someone, such as a family member.
- Gather Evidence: Try to document the fender benders. You can do this by taking photos and videos of the scene, damage to vehicles, and injuries suffered by the victims. This should help the injured party seek compensation later from the at-fault driver.
- Help Those Involved: If you can do it safely, help the people involved get out of their vehicles. However, if the victims appear hurt, don’t move them unless you are professionally trained to handle such situations, or there is immediate danger. Watch out for deployed airbags as they can also make it difficult to move the drivers.
- Give a Report to the Police: When the police arrive, they may require a statement. Give a detailed account of the fender bender and answer any questions they may have. The information you provide could prove valuable to an accident case. That said, be factual and to the point. Avoid speaking from emotions.
When in doubt, speak to an experienced Los Angeles Personal Injury Attorney.
Contact a Los Angeles Personal Injury Attorney
It is human nature to want to stop and help when you witness a fender bender. By following these steps, you ensure that the victims get their best chance at recovery and financial compensation. You also help maintain your own safety.
That said, it is important to leave the hard work to the experts. Once you’ve called 911, you should contact a Los Angeles Personal Injury Attorney at El Dabe Ritter Trial Lawyers for legal advice. We are always ready to answer any questions you might have about fender benders.