Accident........to stop or not?

[xylophone]

In my years of being here I have heard many stories that suggest that you do not stop at the scene of an accident because being a farang, you might well end up being fingered as the culprit, so I made up my mind never to stop.

Today I was slowly meandering past the back of Jungceylon on my motorbike (because the traffic was fairly heavy) when about 10 metres in front of me, from the other side of the road, I saw a young man trying to cross the road. He had successfully navigated the cars (moving slowly) on his side of the road, and was looking to cross the other side towards me, and as he stepped out from the line of traffic a speeding motorcycle came along the outside and hit him.

The speeding motorcyclist managed to do a little swerve so in fact his left shoulder caught the smallish young man on the side of the head and poleaxed him, so he basically fell where he stood and stayed very still. Needless to say the motorcyclist drove off at speed.

I was just a few metres away by then and instantly the thought of whether to stop or not flashed through my mind, if I stopped, I might well be accused of the crime, however I could just drive past and no one would stop me. As I drew level with this young man (probably about 16 or 17) I saw blood coming from his mouth and I just could not drive past without stopping to help, so I stopped the motorbike, motioned the traffic away from him and immediately tried to help.

Luckily enough I have first aid training so I wasn't about to move him and was very cautious about what could be done, so I kept redirecting traffic with one hand whilst carefully looking over him for more obvious signs of damage. By this time a lady from the other side of the road who had seen him laying there came over and told me that she knew his sister and she would get in touch, and I asked her also to get in touch with the hospital.

By this time there were quite a few onlookers, many of them Thai folk from the nearby shantytown of shops, who had watched all this and had done nothing to help. About this time another young man decided to try and move him from the road, something I was very sceptical about, however several people were motioning to get him to the side of the road, so I told them how to lift him whilst I supported his head and shoulders.

By this time I was able to get a better view of him and his face was extremely swollen but there was no blood coming from his ears although there was from his mouth so I told the others to tell him to stay still until the ambulance arrived. By this time a police car had drawn up and their immediate question, after pointing to my motorbike and me, to the lady on the telephone who was trying to phone his sister, was whether I was responsible (or this from what I could make out) however she pointed to me and gesticulated that I had tried to help and mention the word "jai dee".

I suggested to her that they took him to Patong hospital for an x-ray on his head, even though by this time he was starting to become conscious and move his head a little. However he had bloodshot eyes and I was not too happy to let him walk on his way (even if he could have), anyway, she said the ambulance was coming and that I could go now. Both of the policemen came over and thanked me, as did this lady and I thanked them back and went on my way.

No I'm not looking for accolades or anything like that, but I am so glad that I stopped to help, although it may well not turn out to be anything serious, having said that he was in serious danger of being run over by traffic. I had conditioned myself not to stop it in such instances, however I just could not let a young boy/man lay in the road with what could have been life-threatening injuries.

I can now live with myself and my conscience because had I driven by, I'm not sure that I could have. And just to round it off, the Thai lady who stopped and who knew his sister was marvellous, and couldn't stop thanking me.

That was enough and I am a happy man this evening.

[FrankBlunt]

Well done to you. It can be a dilemma as to whether to stop or not but you sometimes just have to do what you believe to be morally right and have enough faith in human nature that at least one of the witnesses / onlookers will speak up for you if necessary.

[bubblegum]

Yes, good on you! I remember a long time ago I had a minor accident and was worried about the safety of my wife who was riding the back seat.

I could not see her (could not see a thing because of the blood in my eyes) but these very nice Thai people came along and told me she was ok. It was just me who had to go to the hospital.

[CiaranO]

Well done sir to you - the world could do with more people like you

[JetsetBkk]

No I'm not looking for accolades or anything like that

Well, you're getting one from me. Well done!

[Shurup]

I have a camera on my car and a bike too! Better safe than sorry, it can cover your arse in this and even worse cases. Also you could have gotten the license plate of that little bastard who hit the guy and speed off! Well done!

[CBR250]

Good on you. But I have to admit I did the opposite one time. There were other people around to help the obviously drunk guy who had crashed his motorbike right in front of me, so I'm not too ashamed. My pillion passenger, a long time Thai expat, on observing others there, said "go, go , go!". I'd like to think that she was wrong, but have now heard enough horror stories of innocent drivers done over to find this question a true dilemma.

[Rumblecat]

I stopped for an accident once (the only one I've seen)- was on foot, motorbike side-swiped an illegally parked black van that it didn't see- this was at night. Driver was a mess, traffic wouldn't stop for him- luckily one Thai guy did stop and managed to direct the traffic but there was little that could be done for the motorbike driver whose injuries were horrific- I've done first aid courses and even used to work in a hospital but he passed away before the ambulance arrived. Police seemed more concerned about whether it was a hit and run, they didn't even take my name- they were visibly relieved when I told them he'd crashed into the van himself.

Incredibly sad and I'll never forget those horrendous first moments when the motorbike was still flipping and turning, the rider thrown and not one car stopping to help the poor guy.

So, yeah, well done to you.

[NomadJoe]

Its an urban legend that you will be blamed because you are farang or because you helped. Having said that, it is always possible that you might be temporarily detained during the initial investigation until the police determine who is involved, a small price to pay if you are able to help save a life. I will pretty much always stop, especially if I am a witness. I make sure I give the non-guilty party my contact details if they want a statement.

[stevenl]

Good on you. But I have to admit I did the opposite one time. There were other people around to help the obviously drunk guy who had crashed his motorbike right in front of me, so I'm not too ashamed. My pillion passenger, a long time Thai expat, on observing others there, said "go, go , go!". I'd like to think that she was wrong, but have now heard enough horror stories of innocent drivers done over to find this question a true dilemma.

Yes, I also hear many stories. They're hardly ever true.

[KarenBravo]

Good on you. But I have to admit I did the opposite one time. There were other people around to help the obviously drunk guy who had crashed his motorbike right in front of me, so I'm not too ashamed. My pillion passenger, a long time Thai expat, on observing others there, said "go, go , go!". I'd like to think that she was wrong, but have now heard enough horror stories of innocent drivers done over to find this question a true dilemma.

Yes, I also hear many stories. They're hardly ever true.

What about the police having to protect the mini-van driver that killed the young woman on the motorbike? This is a very common story.

If the accident happened at a busy place with witnesses and I was not at fault, I'd stop, if not, I'd drive straight to the nearest police station.

[stevehaigh]

as a general rule, i would get the f out of there but i guess you need to take every case by its merrits, especially if it looks very serious.

also, in the OP's case it was a farang injured, so helping is probably less risky than helping a Thai, that could easily backfire on you.

Edited July 29, 2014 by stevehaigh

[xylophone]

as a general rule, i would get the f out of there but i guess you need to take every case by its merrits, especially if it looks very serious.

also, in the OP's case it was a farang injured, so helping is probably less risky than helping a Thai, that could easily backfire on you.

It was a young Thai guy and when I saw him hit and spin round and crumple like he was poleaxed, I thought it was serious.

I really did have these bad thoughts running through my mind, but as I drew up closer to him and looked, I really couldn't drive by without trying to help. I actually thought that a young life could go to waste all for the sake of someone stopping..........so I did.

What was surprising though was that the traffic on the side of the road on which he was laying just kept on going, trying to navigate past him, and no one bothering to stop, neither did any of the traffic on the side of the road on which he was originally hit, although they must have seen it.

Quite sad now I think of it again.

[stevenl]

Good on you. But I have to admit I did the opposite one time. There were other people around to help the obviously drunk guy who had crashed his motorbike right in front of me, so I'm not too ashamed. My pillion passenger, a long time Thai expat, on observing others there, said "go, go , go!". I'd like to think that she was wrong, but have now heard enough horror stories of innocent drivers done over to find this question a true dilemma.

Yes, I also hear many stories. They're hardly ever true.

What about the police having to protect the mini-van driver that killed the young woman on the motorbike? This is a very common story.

If the accident happened at a busy place with witnesses and I was not at fault, I'd stop, if not, I'd drive straight to the nearest police station.

Somebody causing an accident and stopping or not can hardly be compared to somebody witnessing an accident and stopping to help.

[KarenBravo]

If there were no witnesses that could corroborate that I did not cause the accident, then, I wouldn't stop.