Witness to a Motor Vehicle Accident.

[Bagor]

So .... I'm driving into Ottawa about 07:40 this am.

Roads are in pretty bad shape after about 15cm of snow being dumped in the latter part of yesterday. Ploughed, but still have the post storm treacherous feel about them. They are quiet ... early Saturday morning quiet.

I pull onto the highway near the end of the on ramp with no problems as there is only one car coming along on the highway, about 200m behind me in the fast lane. Just as I enter the highway I notice in my rear view mirror a 4 x 4 speeding (and I mean speeding even for normal conditions) down the on ramp towards the highway.

As I said the traffic was quiet and he had plenty of room to enter on the entrance lane but decides to cut across at speed directly onto the passing lane and rams the car already there sending both of them into a 360 and into the recessed area dividing the 2 highways. The car in the passing lane simply had no place to go (unless you consider driving directly off the road an option). Miraculously, neither of the vehicles rolls but (I'm guessing) there is probably significant bodily and vehicular damage.

By the time I've processed all this I'm about 500m down the road and given the conditions and distance along with that the hard shoulder is a bus lane I decide it is too dangerous to stop and call 911 to report the incident.

My question is ... will the cops follow up with me for a statement or is it up to me to initiate contact? The 911 lady took name and number. It's just that IMO it is such a clear cut black and white incident regarding that it was the totally irresponsible and reckless driving of the 4 x 4 that basically took the other poor driver out and I have no qualms about saying that. Frankly, this kind of recklessness that endangers the lives of others RGMG.

Thoughts and advice appreciated.

[WhiteTiger]

Well, if they need to, they'll contact you. They may as the person who reported it anyhow. It may be clear cut to you, but if the driver of the car says one thing and the driver of the 4x4 says another thing, you will likely be hearing from them.

But basically, you've done your part. If the cops need/want more from you, they know how to get in touch with you.

[Northendzone]

I am guessing that 4x4 guy was late to wherever it was that he was going to

[4X4]

Too bad you didn't give your info to the person that got hit. I doubt the cops are going to intervene in the insurance adjustment process.

Goddamn 4x4s.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

I am guessing that 4x4 guy was late to wherever it was that he was going to

Hell

[GoinAllTheWay]

Plan to exterminate all 4x4's within 10 yrs....

[Rjcsjc62]

Wow, I just looked it up and I had no idea that Plowed could be spelled like that.

And as a witness to 2 accidents in my life, in both cases the 2 parties had conflicting accounts of what happened dispite both being quite obviously having one party in error.

My police report was the difference between the 2 parties being 50/50 at fault and the rightful person not having to be at fault. I felt a little guilty being a snitch, but I decided that it was a lesser evil than the wrong person having to fix their vehicle on their own dime.

I would imagine that if you gave the police your contact info they will be asking you to fill out a witness report.

[Zevo]

Originally Posted by Rjcsjc62

Wow, I just looked it up and I had no idea that Plowed could be spelled like that.

And as a witness to 2 accidents in my life, in both cases the 2 parties had conflicting accounts of what happened dispite both being quite obviously having one party in error.

My police report was the difference between the 2 parties being 50/50 at fault and the rightful person not having to be at fault. I felt a little guilty being a snitch, but I decided that it was a lesser evil than the wrong person having to fix their vehicle on their own dime.

I would imagine that if you gave the police your contact info they will be asking you to fill out a witness report.

Why would you consider being a witness to an accident the same as being a snitch? That makes no sense to me.

[Otto29]

Physics tells me the when you are driving on ice...it doesn't matter if you have a 4x4 because all four wheels are still on ice....

[DropIt]

Originally Posted by Otto29

Physics tells me the when you are driving on ice...it doesn't matter if you have a 4x4 because all four wheels are still on ice....

Logic tells me you either have never driven on ice, or driven a 4x4 on ice.

Also, Physics isnt on your side here either

[Jimmy Stang]

I witnessed a fender bender near Chinook a few years ago (on that stupid bridge over Glenmore at 5th Street). The lady in front of me ran a red light and hit another car. I helped get everyone off to the side and, nearly as an afterthought, I gave a business card to the not-at-fault driver. I even said something like "it's pretty clear cut, but just in case, here's my number."

Within the hour I got a call from the police. The lady who ran the red light was now claiming that the light was green and I was the only witness that left info. Although it is easier to disappear down the road, it did feel good to know that i helped prevent an innocent driver from getting screwed by a lying wench.

I never heard anything more about it, but I assume that the police included it in the report and that may have been enough to prevent the insurance of the at-fault lady to peruse her claim that the light was green.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by DropIt

Logic tells me you either have never driven on ice, or driven a 4x4 on ice.

Also, Physics isnt on your side here either

I think he was talking about braking. I don't see 4WD helping much in that respect.

[trackercowe]

nm

[blankall]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Too bad you didn't give your info to the person that got hit. I doubt the cops are going to intervene in the insurance adjustment process.

Goddamn 4x4s.

If OP gives his info to the police it will go into the file. The lawyers will most likely request the police file. This will give them access to the OP's info.

OP if you can help at all in the insurance process, I would do so. Often lawyers deny liability in a collision for strategy reasons or because their client is lieing about causing the collision. This can be a huge detriment to a person who is injured and potentially unable to work. With a strong independent witness statement, it could potentially really help out an innocent party.