What are the best practices when I spot a car accident?

Road injury is one of the top 10 causes of death around the world.

Nearly 1.3 million people die in road crashes each year

Road accidents are also the second major cause of deaths in UAE and deaths due to accidents have been increasing every year. And while not all car accidents are fatal, it is always a mishap to be involved in one.

Due to the increased number of car accidents on daily basis, you are likely to spot one every now and then. The more time you spend on the road, the more accidents you'll see. If you happen to spot a car accident, helping fellow drivers can save their lives. Many people however wouldn't know how to react if they spot a car accident.

Your duty will largely depend on the severity of the crash and the extent of the injuries, but there are some general guidelines to keep in mind. Here are the best practices when you spot a major car accident:

Slow down and turn on your hazard lights

You need to ensure your safety first if you spot a car accident while driving. Slow down, pull over to the side of the road, and turn on your hazard lights to notify the drivers behind you. Stopping or changing direction too rapidly can cause another accident, so be careful.

Call emergency

Most people who spot car accidents assume that others have already called 911. If everyone thinks this way, no one will ever call. What you need to do here is to call emergency as soon as possible. Make the call short yet informative. Give a clear description about the accident, the place, the number of people involved, and any other important info.

Check on the victims' condition

If it looks safe to approach the scene of the accident, go and check on the victims. Make sure if they are okay and offer help if you can. If the victims have been severely injured, do not move them, as you could accidentally make the injury worse. Leave this to the trained medical professionals, but you can provide comfort by reassuring victims that help is on the way. There is always a chance that you can do something to help before the medics arrive.

Leave space for emergency

Emergency cars and crews will always come with big vehicles. The space around the accident is most likely tight enough as it is. Do not make things worse by parking near the accident in a way that would block the traffic. Leave enough room for medics to do their job.

Help keep traffic moving

There is a high chance that many spectators will gather around the accident scene. This is not only annoying, but dangerous as well. You need to step up and tell everyone to move along to help keep traffic moving. If the victims already have several people helping them, don't feel like you need to stop too.

Give a statement to the police

If it happens that you saw the accident clearly and know what exactly happened, you're a witness. The police will need all the information you have to decide who or what caused the accident. Provide relevant information to the police once they arrive and keep it to the facts.