How to Be a Good Samaritan at an Indiana Car Wreck – But Stay Safe

This month we covered a tragic Indiana truck accident in which three people were killed on the shoulder of State Route 58, near Odon, when a vehicle drifted out of its lane. Among those killed in the crash was 74-year-old Good Samaritan, Lester Blair of Elnora, who had brought gasoline from his residence to help a disabled driver. He was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.

While helping someone on the side of the road is a selfless and praiseworthy act, it is extremely important that you keep your own safety in mind while offering aid to a disabled driver or an accident victim. The world needs more Good Samaritans, but we also need our Good Samaritans to stay safe and free of harm. Here are a few tips on how to be a Good Samaritan while avoiding injury:

• Park your car as far from traffic as possible. Perhaps the greatest danger to Good Samaritans is passing traffic and the risk of being struck by a vehicle. If you pull over to the side of the road, angle your car slightly, so that if it is hit, it does not move forward, but rather to the side. Also, be sure that it is as far over as you can safely park.
• Do not approach a burning vehicle. Yes, we have heard about heroes who pull car accident victims from flaming cars, but you must realize that by approaching a burning vehicle, you are putting yourself at great risk. A car fire could lead to an explosion.
• Call for help as soon as possible. Getting professional help from police, firefighters, and EMS is much more important that pulling victims from their car or attempting any emergency medical care yourself. Dial 911 immediately.
• Put on your hazard lights. Again, much of the danger after a car accident comes from the threat of a chain reaction crash. Do what you can to make certain that approaching vehicles know that an accident has taken place. Turn on your hazard lights, use emergency flares if they are available, and consider waving at traffic as it approaches the accident scene.

Have you been injured in an Indiana traffic accident or been injured while at the scene of an accident? Speak to the Indianapolis personal injury attorneys at Keller & Keller LLP to learn more about your case.

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