If I Witness a Car Accident, Do I Have To Stay at the Scene?
Witnessing a car accident can be an incredibly horrifying and stressful experience. However, with the frequency of car accidents, there is a high chance everyone has or will witness a car accident at some point in their lives. After witnessing a Florida car accident, one of the common concerns that people have is whether they should remain at the scene. Below, we address this concern.
Must You Remain at the Scene After Witnessing a Car Accident?
Florida law requires drivers who are involved in an accident that causes property damage, injury, or death to stop at the scene. Drivers are required to stop at the accident scene and exchange information with each other. They are required to render aid to anyone who’s injured. If a driver who is involved in an accident leaves the scene, they could get into legal trouble. However, for witnesses, things are different. After witnessing a car accident, you are under no legal obligation to remain at the accident scene. In other words, there is no law that mandates that a witness must stay at a car accident scene. If you leave the accident scene, you will not get into any legal trouble.
However, just because you are not legally obligated to stay at the scene of a car accident does not mean you should leave an accident scene. Witnesses are encouraged to remain at car accident scenes. While you may not be legally required to stay at a car accident scene, you could offer first aid to the victims if you are trained in first aid. If you aren’t trained in first aid, you could help the victims call emergency services if they are unable to do so because of their injuries. If you witness a car accident and leave the scene, the involved parties may not receive the necessary medical care. You could also provide the police with an account of what you saw, which can help in the investigation.
Steps To Take if You Witness a Car Accident
If you witness a car accident and decide to remain at the scene, the following are the steps you should follow;
- Ensure your safety: Before doing anything, ensure you are not in any danger. You won’t be of any help if you end up injured.
- Call 911: Call emergency services immediately and provide the dispatcher with the location of the accident and any other relevant information, such as apparent injuries.
- Provide basic help: If it is safe to do so, check on the conditions of the victims and offer help if you can. However, don’t move any severely injured person unless there is an immediate danger, such as a fire.
- Be observant: Try to observe as many details as possible, such as the drivers’ behavior.
- Talk to the police: When the police arrive at the accident scene, provide them with details of what you saw. Make sure you are honest in your portrayal of the event.
Contact Us for Legal Help
If you need help with a car accident case or have questions, contact our Tampa personal injury attorneys at The Pendas Law Firm.
The Pendas Law Firm also represents clients in the Fort Myers, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Ocala, Bradenton, West Palm Beach, Daytona Beach, Jacksonville, Miami, Naples, and Melbourne areas.
Source:
flhsmv.gov/traffic-crash-reports/crash-dashboard/