I have a wee bit of a problem with that... mainly if I'm an injured party. I naturally want someone who has the training to actually deal with my injuries that won't further them any more than necessary... like some schmoe who thinks they need to drag me out of my wreckage "because the car might blow up (you know like in the movies??) at any second" and there's no gas leakage or anything, and then end up pulling my already possible fractured spine totally out of alignment when it could've been stabilized with a C-collar and a spine-board (?), after several EMS (who DO have the training) pull me out very carefully. Rather have THAT thank you very much. So the best I would like is for someone to at least 1. Call 911 and 2. secure the scene enough where the EMS has an easy time getting to me without a huge traffic jam to negotiate. Other than that... unless you're a trained EMS professional... or a doctor or a paramedic or even a medic in the military... AND there is no immediate danger to myself or my passengers or anyone else... Don't fricken touch me!
"Render aid" does not necessarily mean actually doing anything beyond getting help. It's not a demand or affirmative duty to do anything that you lack the knowledge, training, or qualifications for. The code reads "
The driver shall also render reasonable assistance to any person injured in such accident, including taking such injured person to a physician, surgeon, or hospital if it is apparent that medical treatment is necessary or is requested by the injured person. " Remember, Virginia is a BIG state. While up where I live, medics are generally on scene within minutes of being dispatched, you get in southwestern VA... you may be talking a good part of an hour for the rescue squad to show up. (In fact, you don't have to go that far. 2 counties away from, there's no full time fire & rescue.)
Well yeah that makes sense, unless they're being kidnapped or coerced into NOT calling.
And that would be a defense, were you to be charged. It's rarely charged, in my experience. It's basically a tool against the morons who think it's funny when their buddy totals someone's car or runs someone over and help them cover it up.
That's a good thing to know. But it would be nice if they do have the ability/skills to help to do so... I mean the right thing to do.
The right thing to do and what the law requires you to do -- even if it's only tell a cop what you saw -- aren't necessarily even in the same ballpark.
Umm, my cell phone was in a dead service area? :uhyeah: It happens.
I did say I was open to an explanation, didn't I? Worst case, you bring it the court as a defense. For example, we routinely end up with people trying to report things to the wrong jurisdiction. They don't understand that the county is different from the town, and that the difference matters. If I think you made a reasonable effort, you'll probably be OK. But if you try to tell me your cell phone didn't work -- but you passed 5 working phones and occupied gas stations or businesses, and waited a couple hours after you got home? There's a problem.
Of course... totally agree.
There is another reason why cops get stuck taking crash reports at all... We're handy, and it helps make the roads safer when the reports go to the various engineers.
