Many years ago, when I still lived down in Louisville, I had lunch with my father and as we were headed back to our respective offices an accident occurred right in front of us.
It was on a one way street with 4 lanes. The far left lane was required to make a mandatory left turn, while the second lane from the left had the option of either turning left or going straight ahead. What occurred was that the driver in the far left lane, who had to turn left, went straight ahead and plowed into the side of the driver in the second left lane, who opted to turn left. My dad said that there was no reason to stay, but I said that as witnesses to an accident we had an obligation to give our statements. The officer who first arrived on the scene, didn't appear to be the brightest bulb on the tree, as I explained that the driver in the far left lane had the obligation to turn left and failed to do so, so he was clearly liable. After giving our names and information, we headed on our ways. A few weeks later I got a call from a man, who I later figured our was an adjuster or investigator for the driver at fault. He went over my statement and tried to get me to change what I said, until I said that his client was clearly at fault and that if he persisted I would happily testify for the other side. My experience has been, both as a witness, and as an attorney who has handled accident cases, that it is critical that individuals who witness an accident stop and render aide, or at a minimum give your name, address and phone number if you are a witness, particularly in stop light and stop sign cases. Often it can be a swearing contest between the two parties as to who ran the light or sign, if disinterested parties do not stop and offer to say what they witnessed. Two other times I tried to save vehicles on fire, (it turns out even a fire extinguisher in your vehicle is often no help unless you are there immediately) and once I came upon a fatality and all I could do was direct traffic away from the body until the state patrol arrived. But I always stop at accident sites and render assistance, unless the police are already there. Dan Dobson Summit Hill --- Tim Erickson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > >Frankly, I was surprised at the lack of helpfulness > ... and more so at the > >anger and behavior as I was moving the car out of > the way. > > > >Rick Mons > > Rick (and all): > > I'm very sorry to hear about your experience. A > similar topic came up > once a few years ago and its interesting to hear the > very different > responses that people have gotten at moments of > crisis. I find it > very hard to generalize about St. Paulites > willingness to help a > stranded motorist, because the responses vary so > much from incident > to incident. I think, that the time of day, the > location of the > accident, and even the weather can all factor into > how people respond > to the sight of an accident. > > I remember passing an accident near my home about a > year ago. As I > passed, I noticed that drivers of the cars were both > on their cell > phones, one of them looked a little emotionally > distressed, but > physically fine. I followed the cars in front of me, > as I maneuvered > my way around the accident site. > > As I passed and slowly made my way away from the > accident, it slowly > became clear to me that this accident must have > happened only moments > before I arrived at the intersection. I also > remembered, that other > than the drivers, no one else appeared to have > stopped. > > As I got further away from the accident I began to > question whether I > should return to the site. I weighed the fact that > both parties > appeared physically ok and that they both had > already made calls for > support or help. It was a busy intersection and the > weather was fine, > so help was available from passing motorists - if > there was an > emergency. Given the conditions, I even questioned > whether or not my > interference would be welcomed or simply another > distraction. I > wasn't sure if I had anything to offer the > situation. > > In the end, I did not return to the site > immediately. HOWEVER, for > the next two to three hours, I questioned my actions > (rather lack of > action) and felt guilty. About 45 minutes later, as > I returned home, > I drove by the site to see if there was any sign of > the accident. > There was no sign of the accident, but this provided > little comfort. > > Anyway, I share this story as some indication of > what might have been > going through some folks minds as they passed > without helping. Of > course, this says nothing about those who actually > went out of their > way to Honk or Curse, which is another issue > altogether. > > Best wishes, > > Tim Erickson > Hamline Midway > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > -- > ================================================= > Tim Erickson http://www.politalk.com > St. Paul, MN - USA 651-643-0722 > [EMAIL PROTECTED] iChat/AIM: stpaultim > ================================================= > > > _____________________________________________ > To Join: St. Paul Issues Forum Rules Discussion > Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > _____________________________________________ > > St. Paul Topics - This Week: Light Rail > http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul-topics > _____________________________________________ > NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your > password - visit: > http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul > > Archive Address: > http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/ > _____________________________________________ To Join: St. Paul Issues Forum Rules Discussion Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] _____________________________________________ St. Paul Topics - This Week: Light Rail http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul-topics _____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
