The moments immediately following a traffic incident are often the most defining. A swift, logically structured response from a bystander can significantly influence the outcome for those involved, potentially preventing secondary collisions and preserving life. Taking the correct actions requires moving past the initial shock and prioritizing safety. Acting effectively in a high-stress situation hinges on following a clear, measured plan.
Securing Your Safety and the Accident Scene
Ensure your own personal safety and that of your passengers, as preventing a secondary collision is paramount. Before approaching, pull your vehicle over to a safe location well away from the crash site. Park a minimum of 100 feet from the scene to provide a buffer for emergency vehicles.
Once stopped, activate your hazard lights immediately to warn approaching traffic that there is an obstruction ahead. If the accident is on a major roadway, consider positioning your vehicle in a “fend off” stance, using your car as a protective barrier between the flow of traffic and the accident scene. Angle the vehicle to shield the area, turning the wheels away from the scene so that if struck, the car moves away from the wreckage.
After securing your vehicle, conduct a rapid risk assessment before leaving the car. Look for immediate hazards such as spilled fuel (indicating fire risk) or downed power lines (presenting electrocution danger). Other dangers include broken glass, sharp debris, and high-speed traffic. If you possess a reflective vest, flares, or warning triangles, deploy them several hundred feet before the scene to provide maximum warning time.
Assessing Injuries and Contacting Emergency Services
Once you confirm the immediate environment is stable and you can safely approach, quickly check the occupants for any signs of injury. The goal is a rapid evaluation of the situation, specifically noting the number of people involved and assessing the severity of their condition.
Contacting emergency services (911 or the local equivalent) should occur as soon as possible, with no assumption that another person has already called. You must be prepared to provide the dispatcher with precise location information, which is paramount for a rapid response. The location can be relayed through street addresses, highway mile markers, or using GPS coordinates from a mobile application.
Clearly describe the nature of the emergency, including the number of vehicles involved, the approximate number of injured persons, and any known hazards like fire, smoke, or fuel leaks. Providing a calm, factual report allows the dispatch team to effectively coordinate the arrival of professional assistance.
Actions to Take While Awaiting First Responders
While waiting for the arrival of paramedics and police, your role shifts to providing support and preventing any further harm. If the victims are conscious, speak to them calmly and offer reassurance that professional help is on the way. Covering them with a blanket, coat, or anything similar helps manage shock by keeping them warm.
Unless a victim is in immediate, life-threatening danger, such as a vehicle fire or rising floodwater, you must resist the impulse to move them. Unnecessary movement, especially of a person with a suspected spinal injury, could lead to permanent neurological damage. If you encounter a situation with severe external bleeding, apply direct, firm pressure to the wound using a clean cloth or garment to help control blood loss.
If you must move a person due to an imminent danger, do so with the greatest care, attempting to keep their head, neck, and torso aligned as much as possible. For all other victims, encouraging them to remain still and monitoring their responsiveness is the best course of action. Your primary function is to be an informed, supportive presence until trained professionals arrive to take over patient care.
Interacting with Authorities and Documenting the Incident
Once the police and emergency medical services (EMS) arrive, your immediate action is to step back and allow them unrestricted access to the scene and the victims. The professionals have specialized training and equipment, and your continued presence in the immediate area can impede their work. Identify yourself to the first officer on the scene as the person who called for help and was first on the scene.
When speaking with authorities, state only the facts of what you observed and what actions you took, such as the time you arrived and the condition of the victims. Do not speculate on the cause of the accident or assign fault to any party involved. Your account is valuable because it establishes the initial condition of the scene before the arrival of professionals.
If it is safe to do so and does not interfere with rescue operations, you may discreetly use your phone to take photographs of the scene from multiple angles. Documenting the final resting position of the vehicles, any visible damage, and the surrounding environment can be helpful for official reports. After providing your statement and contact information, you should leave the scene unless explicitly asked to remain by law enforcement.