What should you do if you witness a crash?

Firstly, if you witness an accident, your course of action will depend a lot on the severity of the crash and how badly the driver has been injured. If it’s a hit and run case, do not try to follow the vehicle, instead simply note down the registration number and spend your time wisely helping the victim. 

 The first and the most important thing to do is to gauge the situation and ensure that you don’t put yourself in danger. Sometimes after a severe accident, chances are that the vehicle might burst into flames. Do not go near the crash scene unless you are absolutely sure that the car will not burst into flames. 

Once you are sure that it is safe to go closer, check on condition of the crash victims. Talk to them if they are conscious and try to figure out how intense the injury is. If you think that there is a lot of blood loss and the victim needs medical attention immediately, do not hesitate to take him/her to the nearest hospital. 

In cases when the situation is not as intense, call emergency services and give them exact details of the crash and its location. Do not under any circumstances move an injured person unless there is a risk of the vehicle catching fire. Moving an injured person incorrectly can even make the injury worse. In case you are forced to move the victims out of the car, be sure to be as gentle as possible and avoid contact with parts that might be injured. 

Constantly engage the victim in conversation. Reassure him/her that help is on its way. If there is wound, use a clean cloth to stop the flow of blood. In case of a head injury though, use as less pressure as possible as the wounded could have a fractured skull. Make sure that the injured is not surrounded by a crowd of people and has room to breathe fresh air. 

Meanwhile, try and seek help from someone to push the vehicle at the side of the road to ensure that you leave space for emergency vehicles and other cars on the road. Turn off the ignition and electrical of the car to eliminate the risk of fire. Chances are the crash has caused an oil or coolant leak, both of which can be very dangerous for other motorists. Try and cover it up with loose sand/mud from the side of the road. That said; if you are the only one at the scene do not move away from the injured. 

Traffic accidents can be very traumatic, not just for the victim but also for the bystanders. As a witness, always keep in mind that your duty is to help protect the sufferers till the time professional help arrives and not to attend to their injuries.