Nine Hurt in I-35 Pileup
Tuesday, April 21, was a day that changed the lives of nine people, including one child. Each was taken to the hospital following a seven-vehicle crash that shut down the northbound lanes of I-35 for several hours. The traffic problems stemming from the accident continued well into the evening commute.
The accident occurred near Riverside Drive. According to Austin-Travis County EMS, two adults were trapped in their vehicles, including one adult who was trapped inside of a motor home. Each of the nine people transported to the hospital had serious but non-life threatening injuries.
This multi-car collision brings to light a very serious question: What should you do if you witness a car crash? While your first instinct may be to jump out of your vehicle and pull everyone you see to safety, that may not be in your best interest. Here are some steps that you can take when you witness a car crash.
Pull off the road. Pull off of the road about 100 feet back from the accident and turn on your hazard lights. This will make it easier for emergency crews to see where it is they need to be.
Check for injuries. Check to see if anyone is injured. If you have a first-aid kit, offer it to anyone who can use it. If there are people injured in their vehicles, do not move them. You can make their injuries worse.
Call 911. Put in a call to 911 immediately. Provide as much information as you can about the location of the accident, the number of vehicles involved, and the number of people involved. The operator may ask you about injuries or apparent deaths.
Move them. Yes, we have already said to leave injured people be. In the case of impending danger, however, you should help a person get to safety. This is the case when a vehicle is on fire or there is other risk of imminent and serious injury.
Take photos. If you have your cell phone handy, snap a couple of pictures of the accident. Be prepared to send these photos to police.
Jot down your information. Provide your contact information to the police on scene. You may be called as a witness some time down the road.
Keep in mind that you should only do these things if there is no risk to your personal safety or to the safety of the people in your vehicle. If there is a risk of danger, call 911, provide your information, and drive on. Be smart about how much help you give and how you give it. In some states, you can face potential charges if you fail to act, but you can also be sued if you cause greater injury to a victim.
If you have been injured in an auto accident, contact our compassionate attorneys right away. We are here to get you the compensation that you deserve. Call us today.