Accident Scenes: Do You Always Offer Assistance?

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Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN

1 Article; 20,908 Posts

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Thank you! I am so glad you wrote in. FINALLY, someone who completely gets it. My son was also hit from behind, and we believe her phone distracted her and she crossed the center and hit him as he was traveling in the other lane, against traffic. So much good evidence that should have been acted on and wasn't.

We get it....we really do. All of us understand your pain but we also know that we cannot possibly speculate exactly what happened and why. What the police did or did not do....we really have no way of making an opinion other than to support you and give you hugs as you try to make sense out of a situation that makes no sense at all.

You cannot affect the past but you can change the future. Use that energy like I said to afect the laws now. I know of a family that did this, I cared for these injured/deceased teens.......several families lost their teens in a tragic accident that had everything to do with that they had just gotten their license. The fought to change the laws.....and won. The state of MA now has some pretty stiff laws concerning new drivers and they have a Jr.Operator license until they are 18. Accidents involving new drivers have dropped dramatically.

This energy you have.....use it in a positive manner. Talk to high school kids how the dangers of txting and driving. Get involved in legislation to change laws. You can't change what happened or what this person did........but you can still make a positive impact on the future. Does the rad need better lighting? Could there be a side walk if there is none? Something......for continuing to allow this to eat at you....will eat you alive. Write Dr. Phil anyhow........maybe this person will want 15 min of fame more than her skeletons.

I wish you peace.

JW2011

20 Posts

We are doing all we can in contacting people in the positions to help address the laws that need revising as well as addressing the speed limit on our rural road. It's not easy taking on DOT, as they seem very set in their ways.

Tonight there was another child hit while riding a bike in a nearby town. Don't know the circumstances yet, but it sounded bad. Some of the posts on the blog about it were unreal, people already assuming it just had to be the fault of the biker, and others wanting to know what kind of a parent would allow their child to ride a bike, as it reportedly was near dusk. Not one person asked what the driver was doing/notdoing. Don't people and drivers know that a biker, pedestrian, etc., in most states are considered "vunerable users" of a roadway, and whether or not people agree that they should be there, they do have rights!

Do you know that through my research after my son's death, I have found that 90% of the time, if a driver remains on scene they are NOT charged. What kind of a message does that send? As long as you don't run away when you have had or have caused an accident involving a "vunerable user", you won't be charged with anything??

LCinTraining

308 Posts

I know when I was a kid my foster sister's sibling was killed while riding bike and being hit by a car. Bicycles here are considered vehicles and as such must follow the rules of the road. The girl was riding through a corn field and decided right tat the moment a teen driver looked down to change the radio station, to jump out onto the road. Both were at fault. She died on scene. He didn't drive again for a while, he was that shaken up. It was a sad situation all the way around, however, according to our laws, he did not leave the lane of traffic. She however entered traffic without signaling and would have been fined had she been hit.

kbrn2002, ADN, RN

3,820 Posts

Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.

The moral response is of course do anything possible to help. The reality my be different depending on the laws in the state the accident occurred. If there is not a "good Samaritan" law in place and by helping the nurse causes harm there could be legal and civil court liabilities. Especially since this nurse caused the accident if helping does cause harm and the nurse is at fault in the accident there is probably potential for additional legal charges.

kbrn2002, ADN, RN

3,820 Posts

Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.

I responded before reading all the posts so was unaware of your tragic loss. Just wanted to say how very sorry I am.

Ruas61, BSN, RN

1,368 Posts

Specializes in MDS/ UR.

Not every accident is the motor vehicle driver's fault, bikes and pediatricians are more vulnerable but they due make errors or take actions that put them at risk for harm. Every accident site needs to be looked at individually.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN

1 Article; 20,908 Posts

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
We are doing all we can in contacting people in the positions to help address the laws that need revising as well as addressing the speed limit on our rural road. It's not easy taking on DOT, as they seem very set in their ways.

Tonight there was another child hit while riding a bike in a nearby town. Don't know the circumstances yet, but it sounded bad. Some of the posts on the blog about it were unreal, people already assuming it just had to be the fault of the biker, and others wanting to know what kind of a parent would allow their child to ride a bike, as it reportedly was near dusk. Not one person asked what the driver was doing/notdoing. Don't people and drivers know that a biker, pedestrian, etc., in most states are considered "vunerable users" of a roadway, and whether or not people agree that they should be there, they do have rights!

Do you know that through my research after my son's death, I have found that 90% of the time, if a driver remains on scene they are NOT charged. What kind of a message does that send? As long as you don't run away when you have had or have caused an accident involving a "vunerable user", you won't be charged with anything??

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JW2011

20 Posts

Sorry, Esme! I thought I was just stating facts, I wasn't trying to ask legal advise, just wondered what others thought of the human circumstance in cars/drivers vs. vunerable users. I appreciate all the answers that have been given, as I think it has helped me to be more "rounded" in my thinking of how people, particularly in the medical field, might react to the scenario that was/is my life experience.

Thank you!

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN

1 Article; 20,908 Posts

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

No apology, necessary....it was a gentle reminder for everyone.

medic9872

104 Posts

Specializes in ER/ICU.

I was first on scene to a rollover mvc involving an SUV filled with 6 people. It happened right in front of us as we were driving to the store one afternoon. The front passenger was trapped upside down. Three children were climbing out the back window. The driver and the passenger behind him required a little assistance getting out. I am a paramedic and there wasn't much I could do. I did assist the driver out of the vehicle. He was coming out whether I helped or not so I helped him. There wasn't much I could do about his c-spine at that point. I did have another bystander yell at me that she was a nurse and that I shouldn't move the man. Well, he was already halfway out and was not going to hold still. I asked the nurse to help with the kids. The trapped passenger ended up dying. One of the kids had multiple facial fractures. The rest had minor injuries. That day I didn't even have a pair of gloves in my car. Sometimes the best you can do is gather a bit of info for the medics and help calm down those involved. That was a mess of a scene and I really felt helpless even though that's my everyday job.

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

CountyRat

323 Posts

Specializes in Wilderness Medicine, ICU, Adult Ed..
Not every accident is the motor vehicle driver's fault, bikes and pediatricians are more vulnerable but they due make errors or take actions that put them at risk for harm. Every accident site needs to be looked at individually.

You are right in every point that you make, Ruas61, however, I do not think fault is an issue in terms of the ethical question. If we are involved in an accident, regardless of who's fault it is, we should offer what aid we can safely and responsibly provide. And, as you point out, every accident scene does need to be assessed individually, and the healthcare provider on scene has to make a careful decission about what her ethical duties are in that specific incident. One size does not fit all.

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