Posted in Car Accident,Personal Injury,Tennessee Accident Law on October 15, 2015
Good Samaritan Helps Accident Victim after Vehicle Bursts into Flames
A Good Samaritan who witnessed a serious accident on Interstate 24 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, on Wednesday helped a victim as she was temporarily trapped in the burning wreckage of her vehicle.
According to a report by wsmv.com, the accident occurred Wednesday afternoon in the eastbound lanes of I-24 in Rutherford County near mile marker 70 and Almaville Road.
Shortly after the accident happened, a witness pulled over near the accident scene and stopped his car. He then made his way over to the vehicle and called 911 before checking on the woman inside the vehicle.
According to the witness, he waited to make sure she was the only occupant of the vehicle and helped translate the situation to her and the 911 dispatcher, as the woman did not speak English.
Eventually, the driver of the vehicle was able to escape the burning wreckage and avoid any major injuries. As a result of the accident, rescue crews and firefighters closed the right lanes of the interstate temporarily as they worked to clear the scene. All lanes of traffic on I-24 East have since reopened.
What Can You Do to Help after an Accident?
If you drive on a daily basis, there’s a good chance you will come across an accident scene and be the first person to witness the accident occur. If that’s the case, the actions you take in the ensuing minutes can help save lives.
To do your part after witnessing an accident, try to remember to follow these tips:
While it’s important to do anything in your power to help the victims of the accident, it’s even more important to make sure you’re safe. Many secondary accidents occur because witnesses forget about their own safety while trying to assist victims. Pull your vehicle over to a safe location on the shoulder of the road and avoid getting out if there’s traffic separating you and the accident scene.
The sooner emergency medical crews and firefighters arrive at the accident scene, the better the prognosis for the victims may be. As soon as you pull over in a safe location, dial 911 and provide as much information as possible to the dispatcher, including the location of the accident, the lane it occurred in, the nearest mile marker, and whether the victims are in imminent danger due to fire or other factors. Stay on the line until help arrives.
If you want to offer assistance at the crash scene before emergency medical crews arrive, only do so if you can reach the victims safely and you aren’t in danger. Once at the scene, avoid attempting to move victims who are unconscious or victims who may have suffered serious head or neck injuries. Wait for trained professionals to arrive, as it’s important for those victims to be stabilized in order to prevent injuries from getting worse.
Witnessing an accident occur or coming upon the scene of an accident moments after it happened can be stressful experiences, but by staying calm and doing everything in your power to help the victims, including calling for help right away, you may be able to help save lives. But in doing so, it’s also important to remember that you should never put your own life in danger by running across a busy interstate or highway to reach an accident.
If you or someone you love was injured in an auto accident caused by a negligent driver, the Murfreesboro auto accident attorneys at Matt Hardin Law may be able to help you get the compensation you deserve for your medical bills, lost wages, vehicle repair costs, and more. We have more than 20 years of experiencing assisting injured victims just like you. Call today by dialing (615) 600-6941 or filling out a free online consultation form.
