If you see a car accident, are you obligated to stay for a report?
Because I did, but I did not want to get involved, so I left.
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edistoflyer · 46-50, M
D, you did not realize how seriously important you were as a third-party witness. Staying would have been the most correct, neighborly and compassionate thing you could and should have done. What if one driver was 100% at fault and had collided into the other vehicle with your grandmother or another loved one of yours?
Give thought here, please, D, and thank you very much for posting such an important question -- the best I have ever seen on SW.
When a claims adjuster interviews the parties involved in a collision, the objective is to determine who is at fault, only one party or more than one party.
An unintentionally wrong answer by one participant (who likely was rattled to some degree or a great degree by the experience) can lead to the wrong conclusion, as can a lie. Then there's human memory, which is not infallible.
Eyewitness testimony can be invaluable to a claims investigation by an adjuster, as the "uninvolved" witness stands to lose or gain nothing from the adjuster's decisions (like if he'll authorize whatever payment for loss(es) or deny payment).
I hope the circumstances of the collision are straightforward, all occupants were candid and clearheaded enough that the adjuster's decisions are sound and true and that your abandoning the people involved has not denied any wronged persons compensation and restoration for whatever their damages/injuries they suffered as a result of an accident someone else caused.
D, again, thank you for your powerful inquiry on this. I can't speak to the non-issue of accident witnesses "feeling" obligated to stay, and I won't speak to the non-issue of not wanting to be inconvenienced.
I can however speak to the actual issue, which is a better framework for situational questions for everyone choosing to live in a society (as opposed to going back to swinging in trees or living in caves).
If you're choosing to live in a society, the framework/mindset/question for any given situation, is simple: "What's the right thing to do?" "What's the best thing to do?" "What's the wisest thing to do?" You'll generally know that the right thing, the best thing, the wisest thing is rarely the easy thing to do.
Give thought here, please, D, and thank you very much for posting such an important question -- the best I have ever seen on SW.
When a claims adjuster interviews the parties involved in a collision, the objective is to determine who is at fault, only one party or more than one party.
An unintentionally wrong answer by one participant (who likely was rattled to some degree or a great degree by the experience) can lead to the wrong conclusion, as can a lie. Then there's human memory, which is not infallible.
Eyewitness testimony can be invaluable to a claims investigation by an adjuster, as the "uninvolved" witness stands to lose or gain nothing from the adjuster's decisions (like if he'll authorize whatever payment for loss(es) or deny payment).
I hope the circumstances of the collision are straightforward, all occupants were candid and clearheaded enough that the adjuster's decisions are sound and true and that your abandoning the people involved has not denied any wronged persons compensation and restoration for whatever their damages/injuries they suffered as a result of an accident someone else caused.
D, again, thank you for your powerful inquiry on this. I can't speak to the non-issue of accident witnesses "feeling" obligated to stay, and I won't speak to the non-issue of not wanting to be inconvenienced.
I can however speak to the actual issue, which is a better framework for situational questions for everyone choosing to live in a society (as opposed to going back to swinging in trees or living in caves).
If you're choosing to live in a society, the framework/mindset/question for any given situation, is simple: "What's the right thing to do?" "What's the best thing to do?" "What's the wisest thing to do?" You'll generally know that the right thing, the best thing, the wisest thing is rarely the easy thing to do.
The car was parked and empty when the other driver backed into it pretty hard. I just assumed I was not necessary. @edistoflyer
