Move a safe distance away from the crash site, but do not leave the scene.

Witnessing a car accident can be quite startling. It’s important to remain calm if are a witness in a collision. Do not panic and make sure to leave enough room for emergency vehicles to get to the places they need to be. Every second counts in serious accidents involving injuries to other parties. Do not forget to turn your flashers on, so that other vehicles that approach you or drive past you are able to see you clearly. Before exiting your vehicle, look around you to make sure the surrounding area is clear.

Help secure the scene.

While you do want to make sure that everyone involved in the accident is okay, it is important to not tamper with the evidence at the scene that will help paint a clear picture of the events at the scene and what actually happened. Police and emergency services will want these answers, as well as a clear, safe path to any injured parties to provide them with the attention and care they need. Do not let anyone leave the scene of the accident. It is important to remember that tempers may be high depending on the nature of events that occurred, so always protect yourself first.

Call the police.

When you dial 911, be ready to describe the nature of the emergency to the police and provide the location. It will be important to be able to describe the scene as well. The more informative information you can provide to emergency services, the better prepared they will be to provide proper care to any injured parties.

Check on the victims.

Ask the victims if they are hurt or are in need of any assistance. Offer you phone to them, so they can call family members or friends. Finally, consider setting up road flares around the scene in order to give the scene some security. Drivers of other vehicles will see the flares and know not to approach the scene.

Take photos of the damage to the vehicles involved in the accident

Taking photos of damage at the scene can assist others in legal disputes that may arise as a result of the accident. The victim of the crash may want to use any photos that may help them in providing proof in court that they were not at fault. These photos may also be of helpful to insurance adjusters in assessing whether or not the vehicles involved are salvageable or if they are total losses.

Give a statement and offer your contact information

If police and/or emergency services are called to the scene, you may be asked to describe what happened that caused the accident. Be as thorough as possible. Offer the best way to contact you to the police should they need to get any additional information regarding the accident from you in the future.