Lets say someone saw part of an automobile accident(which ended up with some fatalities) but they didn't think it was real bad because this person missed seeing the bad part and the part this person saw did not appear to be fatal so this person kept going after noting that someone else pulled over to help. Now remember this person has no medical training or a cell phone. Would this person get into trouble if this person calls the apropriate authorities later and tells them what they saw? Just to note. THis person was no way involved in causing or anyway involved other than seeing part of it. Thanks for any advice.

I do not think so. You are not required to stop.

BleedsHuskieRed Wrote:I do not think so. You are not required to stop.

Thanks Bleeds. What are you doing up so late(or is it early)?

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Robert, do the right thing and call man.

In most states they will be overjoyed to have a witness to help them be able to recreate the accident scene and better understand what exactly happened.

The "Witness" did not "Hit & Run" if they were not a Part of the Cause of the Accident - - so they are only a Witness, not a Criminal.

And in most states, if a Person Dies within at least a Minimum of '1' Year after being involved in an automobile accident, the Person at Fault can be Charged with Vehicular Homicide - - so it matters not that the 'Witness' did not know there were Fatalities - - all that matters is getting what they know to the Authorities.

Find a Pay Phone and call the Sheriff's Office or Police Department or even State Police and ask them about this and Let Them tell you how it works were you live.

If someone died in this, then that Person can no longer seek justice for them selves - - that burden has been laid on the Shoulders of that Witness.

Do the Right Thing. How can that be Wrong ??

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Tripster Wrote:.

Robert, do the right thing and call man.

In most states they will be overjoyed to have a witness to help them be able to recreate the accident scene and better understand what exactly happened.

The "Witness" did not "Hit & Run" if they were not a Part of the Cause of the Accident - - so they are only a Witness, not a Criminal.

And in most states, if a Person Dies within at least a Minimum of '1' Year after being involved in an automobile accident, the Person at Fault can be Charged with Vehicular Homicide - - so it matters not that the 'Witness' did not know there were Fatalities - - all that matters is getting what they know to the Authorities.

Find a Pay Phone and call the Sheriff's Office or Police Department or even State Police and ask them about this and Let Them tell you how it works were you live.

If someone died in this, then that Person can no longer seek justice for them selves - - that burden has been laid on the Shoulders of that Witness.

Do the Right Thing. How can that be Wrong ??

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The person tells me that what they have read about what the police know about the accident is mostly correct. But he tells me he will call.

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That is good --- 100%

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Your worried that you "Failed to render aid" at a traffic accident.
or
"Leaving the scene of an accident".

If that's the case you have nothing to worry about. Unless you were involved somehow.

Stopping and getting out of your car is a bad idea anyway.

NEVER GET OUT OF YOUR CAR ON A FREEWAY. Unless your car is on fire.

Make sure everyone in your family knows this rule - NEVER GET OUT OF YOUR CAR ON A FREEWAY.

I don't have class till noon so I usually stay up pretty late.

I had such high hopes for you Robert after seeing the title of this thread.

More than likely, the biggest risk is that the witness would get drawn into a lawsuit as a witness. I've had insurance companies call me after I saw an accident that delivered a blow roughly equivalent to a 200 lb man taking two steps and jumping on the hood of a car (I guess a secondary impact from a fairly low speed crash might be slightly worse). But, "do the right thing" pretty well covers it.