Would You Stop For An Accident?

ClassicRockr

ClassicRockr

Well-known Member
Years ago, I would, but not today. I'd be one of the ones that would call 911, but that's it. Why? One word sticks out in very bold letters...…….​
LIABILITY
.

Today people are sue happy. That being that if, somehow, I done something wrong while assisting or even hurt myself, well. I think today, fire department personnel, as well as law enforcement, ask for any kind of medical credentials a person helping would have. Not only that, if you seen the accident happen, and were talked to by law enforcement, you could be summons into court.

In the "good old days", when I, like Ken Anderson, were in EMS, stopping to help out at an accident was just common. Of course, when a person is currently working in EMS, they will have some type of ID proving that or give the name of the company they work for. But, even when I wasn't working in EMS, at the time, I would stop for an accident and help out (where I could). Today...…just too financially dangerous (for me, that is). Then again, at our age, just what could we do?
​
 

I would stop and help but I would be very careful not to move the person unless the car was starting to burn....then yes...I would unbuckle them and pull them out.

I think, if they have a spinal cord injury or broken neck, moving them could kill them unless you know what you're doing. Only medical personnel know.
 
I am not medically trained and believe I would get in the way and possib;y be hit be the next speeding driver come alaong. I would pull over and call 911 just in case no one could.
 

We have a Good Samaritan law that limits liability and attempts to protect people that help others in an emergency.

As far as stopping, I would do it on a case by case basis, if I thought I could help was the first person on the scene, etc...
 
I would stop and assist if need be. I was a witness to a fender bender and was asked to stay and testify. I did. The claimant
later wrote a nice letter and thanked me for my testimony. It was time consuming to wait around but if it happened to me, I'd want someone to help.
 
If I was an alone female and passing by some kind of accident (and I would need the description of what kind of accident, where, and what time it was that we're talking about) I would be very leery that it wasn't some kind of trick to lure an unsuspecting potential victim into the hands of a criminal creep. That's what I get for watching so much of ID Discovery channel. Lol But it does make one very cautious and better to be more skeptical than not.
 
I probably would not. California does have good samartatin laws. I have read that you should never have anything on your car that identifies you as anyone in the medical field. I'm very uncomfortable stopping at any store in my scrubs and rarely do.
 
I have
I would again

However

Back in the early ‘80s, I was carpooling to work with a neighbor
Took a back road off the freeway to cut off a few miles
We both saw a body on the side of the road, face down
Even though it was still dark out, there was no mistaking what we saw

My neighbor was quite the mild guy
He blurted ‘My word!’
My first words were several expletives

We stopped a few yards past
Discussed the probability of it being some sorta setup
Decided to turn around and cruise by

The young man looked to be quite deceased
We stopped
Another guy pulled up, told us he’d just called 911
And the young man had a sock in his mouth....and was still warm

The county sheriff arrived, quizzed us all, and we ventured to work

Months later a private detective came to the house, asked a few questions

Turns out, the body was dumped by a serial killer
By the name of Randy Kraft, known as the ‘Freeway Killer’
 
A friend back in the 80s stopped to help a man who
had, had an accident, mobile/cell phones were just
becoming more available and he was so proud of his
one that was about a week old.

He allowed the driver who had the accident to use
the phone to call his insurance company.

A few weeks later he was contacted by the police
who were going to charge him for leaving the scene
after being involved in an accident.

He wasn't involved, he had just arrived and stopped
help, the man who had used his phone had no idea
who he was, so the police were convinced that he
was involved.

I took them several weeks and impounding of his
car for forensic inspections before they let him off
the hook, but without an apology.

So unless I really was first on the scene, I would
have to think about helping.

Mike.
 
As others say if I could I would but these days you never know if its safe or not.. years ago driving out the back of NSW no car in sight but a fellow
summoned us to stop and I opened the window just a little and he said I have a mate and he is injured on the side of the road hurt his leg and
can`t walk .. well we decided to go on and said to the fellow we will call in the next town and let the police know and they will help you as we
are not equipped to take you.. he said oh we only want a lift to the next town .. but we said we shall go get help and drove off .. looking back in the rear
mirror I saw the fellow from the side of the road get up dust himself off and they started walking back the way they came.. just imagine if we had of picked them up ,,
they might have put a knife in our back or a rope round our neck .. never can trust some like this specially as the gaol was nearby and they could have been
escapees lol ..
 

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