Car Accident Scene Safety Tips
Sadly, Space Coast Daily has reported that a 25-year-old man recently died after being struck by a vehicle while attempting to cross Interstate 95 after a separate car accident. The young man had reportedly been involved in a crash with another vehicle shortly before the fatal late-night collision after which both vehicles involved in the original incident had pulled over to the shoulder. He was apparently attempting to cross the northbound lanes of I-95 when he was fatally struck by a third vehicle which unfortunately led to the injuries that caused his death.
The Risks Aren’t Over With the Car Accident
No one likes getting in a car accident and having to deal with the aftermath. In addition to many stressful factors, property damage and possible injuries, an accident scene can be a hectic place with a lot of things going on at once which unfortunately means that the risk of danger does not end after the initial collision. If you find yourself in a car accident, it is therefore important that you understand the steps you should take in order to protect yourself and others who are at the accident scene.
Safety Tips to Remember at the Scene of a Car Accident
To the extent that you are medically able to do so, you should:
- Always call 911 immediately. Understand that leaving the scene of an accident is a crime in Florida, so you should always stick around even if you believe the collision was minor.
- Pull over to a safe place. Turn on your emergency flashers and then carefully proceed, if you’re able, to a spot that is safely out of the traffic lanes.
- Turn off the ignition switches on any vehicles involved in the accident. It is difficult to immediately assess the kind of damage the cars have sustained so it is better to take this step which reduces the risk of a fire.
- Check for injured people in the other vehicle and on the road. Then, perform any basic first aid that falls within the limits of your training and experience. Note that this does NOT include moving an injured person unless you absolutely have to because you can inadvertently make that person’s injuries worse.
Contacting an Experienced Attorney Should be Your Next Step
Following any collision in which you have been injured because of someone else’s negligent or wrongful behavior, securing the help of a personal injury attorney is one of the best ways you can strengthen your case and boost your chances of scoring a victory. As the West Palm Beach personal injury attorneys at The Pendas Law Firm, we are armed with years of legal experience helping victims of accidents throughout the Sunshine State successfully obtain compensation. We are well-equipped to help you recover for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Whether you are simply considering a personal injury action or have already decided to proceed, you should contact us today for a free consultation so that we can go over all of your options and ensure you have the information you need to make the right decisions going forward.
The Pendas Law Firm also represents clients in the Orlando, Ocala, Tampa, Bradenton, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Jacksonville, Fort Myers and Daytona Beach areas.
Resource:
spacecoastdaily.com/2020/09/florida-highway-patrol-troopers-investigating-fatal-accident-that-happened-on-i-95-friday-night/#:~:text=By%20Space%20Coast%20Daily%20%2F%2F%20September%205%2C%202020,separate%20crash%2C%20according%20to%20the%20Florida%20Highway%20Patrol.
https://www.pendaslaw.com/the-importance-of-keeping-impaired-drivers-off-the-road/
