Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-10-29
0ldffee!d1 says:
WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF
ACCIDENT


ACCIDENT
The drivers of automobiles must
reckon with the possibilities of acct
dents. OF course, every operator
ought to carry insurance to the
general run of accident damage, but
not ~infrequently there occurs an acci-
dent which is not covered by the own
er's policy, whereby he is left to shout
der part of the financial responsibility
for whatever damage has been done.
1t is the purpose Of this article to
point out to the owner certain precau-
tons that should be taken when an ac-
cident involving his vehicle occurs. In
order to protect himself when the later
court proceedings begin. And these
precautions should be taken even
though the car is covered by an insur-
ance policy that seems comprehensive
enough for the particular case. The
law has a peculiar trick of springing
surprises. The operator may find that
a liability policy which seemed ample
is in reality too small to cover what
the jury considers just damages in
some accident cases. Where a fatality
of personal injury to a person is in
volved the damages may run up to
$4,000 and unless the owner is in
sured for that amount the portion
above his policy must come out of his
own pocket.
Investigate Immediately VI
1t is vitality important when an acct
dent has occurred, that the witnesses
of the accident and the circumstances
surrounding 1t should be investigated
Immediately. This should not be left to
the car owners alone; if possible, a man
trained in the law should be sent to
obtain the names of witnesses and a
careful diagram of the accident. Much
of the evidence in a case of this kind
is temporary in character and must
be gathered on the spot and at the
time, or it is gone forever. Witnesses
have a way Of vanishing unless you
nail them on the spot, wheel marks
disappear in a few hours or even min
utes. The best method of procedure
is to make such notes of the attendant
circumstances as they can and turn
all this data over to a competent in
%vestigator, who should Immediately be
dispatched to the scene of the accident.
One Of the most satisfactory bits
of evidence that can be presented in
court is a carefully drawn diagram,
with all the principal actors definitely
indicated and the various distances
shown.
Memory Is Uncertain
The question of distances frequent
ly has a vital bearing in accident
cases. The distance of the car from
the right hand curb may establish the
fact that the vehicle was in it's prop
er place. well over on the right-hand
side of the road. In case the acct
dent happens when the car is making
a TURF it will be important to be able
to show that it was making a wide
turn. in accordance with traffic rules.
In gathering evidence the investi-
gator should bear in mind that mem
DRY is a very uncertain quantity. Wit
nesses of an accident between the oc-
currence and the date of their ap-
pearance in court as likely to forget
vital facts which will have a direct
bearing on the case of the car owner.
Therefore, it is important to point out
to witnesses salient points which it is
desired to have them bring out in
court. For instance, witnesses should
be shown that the emergency brake
Of the car had been put on when
the accident occurred. If the witness
heard the driver sound his horn, this
point should be emphasized and firmly
established in the persons mind, so
that he will carry it with him into
court ONT WEEKS ldItI. II tHC IN
lent happened in rainy or snowy
weather or when the pavement was
for any other reason slippery, witnesses
should be impressed with the fact that
the wheels were properly fitted with
anti-skid devices of some kind, thereby
proving that the driver had taken rea-
sonable precautions.
Contributory Negligence
In cases Of accident at night, it will
be important to have accurate and cor
roborated measurements to show the
distance of the nearest street illumina-
ton to the scene of the mishap.
Judges Invariably lay particular
stress on the possibility of contributory
negligence on the part of the injured
person in an accident case. In cases
of this kind the owner should try to
get an accurate description of the be-
havior of the injured person immedi-
ately before the accident. For instance,
a recent case hinged on testimony that
an injured man was sheltering himmseli
behind an umbrella and was crossing
the street without keeping a reasonable
watch on traffic. Any testimony of this
kind, indicating that the injured person
was negligent viii tend to aid the case
Of the defendant car owner.
The important matter that ] want
to impress OF the minds of all owners
is that whenever an accident occurs
they should not sit tight under the shell