If you pass by a car accident

[C.Ann]

Yes I would - and since I always have my camera with me, I would also offer to take photos of the accident scene as well as damage to the vehicles..

I also carry disposable gloves in my car in case I come across an accident where there is blood involved and help is needed..

 

[golfgal]

I can see where the police wanted you to move along. There are many times where someone stops and ends up getting hit by someone else gawking at the accident. If you do stop you are supposed to stop on the same side of the road PAST the accident, not behind the accident.

 

[staley7580]

Yep. I would, and I have. When I was in high school I was driving down the road and saw my best friend had driven off the road. Her mom was there, and the police were there.. But they had me take home another friend that was in the car with her.

 

[Carly_Roach]

I pulled over out of traffic and rolled down my window, yelled her name and asked if she was okay. She responed with my name and said Yes, she was fine and before I could see if she needed help the cop started yelling at me to "keep moving", then the tow truck driver yelled at me "she's fine, just keep driving!

I was like WTH?????

You probably should have pulled over and parked nearby, then walked to the scene to check on your friend. That would have indicated a valid concerned friend or family member to the responders on the scene and you wouldn't have gotten yelled at.

It's very likely that your vehicle was either impeding traffic, the cleanup of an accident scene or both regardless of whether you think your car was in the way or not. It's also possible that the officer on scene and the tow-truck driver didn't think this was a good time for a victim of an accident to walk over to a waiting car window to have a chat with some woman who just drove up.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

If it was a friend, I would stop if I could.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

I would stop for a friend for sure. I agree with the others who said that it was probably because you didn't get out of your car. Even though you didn't think you were in the way of traffic, the police officer might have seen it differently.

And OT, but MIGrandma, who took that picture of the bear in your sig and how close were they?

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Yes I would stop. If the police are there it must mean it is really bad...they do not come for fender benders. If you call them for a fender bender I think I heard they can bill you for taking the report.

Where I live, police are called to the scene of an accident routinely, no matter the extent of the accident or damage. We are always charged a fee for the copy of a police report. Maybe this is a rural thing, where less police are available to respond? I think a copy of a police report here is $15 or so, payable when you pick it up. Are you talking about a much higher fee? Just curious.

Anyway, yes, I would stop to assist a friend, or at least to offer my assistance in making calls, transporting passengers, etc. Don't let the police make you doubt your decision. I feel you did the only acceptable thing, given the situation.

 

[OK!]

Yes I would stop. If the police are there it must mean it is really bad...they do not come for fender benders. If you call them for a fender bender I think I heard they can bill you for taking the report.

I've called the police for fender benders before. Better to have an impartial party document everything for insurance purposes, etc., if there's ANY damage to either car.

And yes, I'd defnitely stop if I saw a friend who'd had an accident.