Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-15
CRASH AGREEMENT
ON STREET ADVISED
Metropolitan Policeman Says
Settlement on Scene
LID Better Than Court.
BY K. J. ALLEN,

and their way to q courtroom to Be
adjudicAted could have been settled
right where they happened, and in q
very few moments, II the occupants OF
both cars were willing to employ q
little courtesy: as well as some under.
the matter.
Accidents and the details attendant
thereto are rapidly becoming the largest
single phase OF work that the police are
called upon to do.
All motorists are familiar with the
fact that an accident soon conjures a
policeman sometimes all the way from
one to DOZEN to the scene, who i'm
mediately becomes busy with notebook
and pencil. Very often he places one
or two of the principals under arrest
before he leaves.
Policeman's Role.
It might be we'll to pause here and
set down q brief description concerning
the part q policeman IS required by his
duties to assume in the case OF an
accident, for the benefit OF those who
have often witnessed but rarely under
stood the methods Of the "burly man
in blue and brass" at the scene OF an
accident.
His first and most important duty is
so, he must see that they are dis
patched to the hospital. Next he must
try to secure the names and addresses
Of persons who witnessed the accident,
II any. He must note carefully whether
the street is dry or wet; whether the
light is bright, dull or dark, etc. the
operators permit must be examined
and registration cards as well, II their
owners haven't been hurt. He must try
AieaAnAr And pnAARftre Rki6 marks. II
any, and note carefully their exact po-
sition. Then he must draw q sketch
and save it for future reference, show
ing the positions of the two cars IN
relation to the intersection, center OF
street, etc. If the policeman should
decide that either one Of the principals
in the accident was undoubtedly Gull
pable, he arrests him then and there.
II not, he notifies both drivers to meet
him in court next day, where he lays
all the facts he has gathered before the
proper authority for adjudication as to
who was to blame.
But whether or not the case is taken
TO court, and regardless of any other
disposition that may have been made
the policeman must make q complete
written report Immediately. In every
police station house there is maintained
q book called Traffic Accident Rec
down as nearly complete account oi
each accident as the policeman who
took care OF the case was able to gather
This book Is also open to the public
Any one may examine 1t for details OF
any accident they might be interested
in. The following is fair sample OF
such a report as required by police
regulations:
Sample Report.
At about 3 o'clock this pm. John
Brown, 26 years, white, married, 5416
r street northwest, whose operators
permit is No. 12495, while proceeding
east on K steet northwest in a Chevro-
let coupe, D. C.. license No. X-240,
struck at the intersection of Twentieth
street Ford sedan, D. G.. No.z-680,
which was proceeding south on Twen-
tieth street, operated by Robert Smith
"a years, colored, single, and who lives
at 1929 T street northwest, D. G. oper-
ator's permit No. 1889. No one was in
jured. There was one witness: Johnny
Jones, As years. white, married, and
who lives at Sab G street northwest
John Browns car suffered little or no
damage, but Robert Smiths car receiv-
ed bent fender and one smashed head
light. Brown admitted full RESPONSE
bility for the accident and agreed to
pay for the repairs to Smiths car. Nc
one was arrested. The matter will not
be taken to court. The street was dry;
the light very bright. Oficer not q
witness. (signed by the oficer)
So from all Of the foregoing you may
readily understand that policemen
should be very familiar with automobile
accidents
Personally have more than once de-
plored the attitude some motorists took
at the scene of accidents in which ]
was the officer required to handle the
matter.
Most collisions at street intersections
are of more or less minor nature. The
damage, If any, could often be settled
for a very few dollars.
In cases of serious accidents the mat
ter invariably passes out of the hands
of the ones involved. In such cases
official adjudication is absolutely nee
serious nature will have no place in
this article. 1t is hard to be courteous
when you are being loaded onto a
stretcher. Or when some one is assur-
ing you half -heartedly that they are
sure you will soon be up and about
and probably look almost as well Is you
ever did.
Causes Apparent
Rarely does an accident ever occur
In which the fault that caused 1t Is not
readily apparent. Furthermore, the
one at fault usually realizes 1t more
fully than any one else.
If a motorist should be 50 unfortunate
as to have a minor accident and realize
that 1t was his fault, he should ap-
proach the other driver Immediately
and not only accept all the blame, but
he should apologize as well.
When a notorist. through some act
OF carelessness on his part causes an
other motorist damage, he not only
causes the other fellow great incon-
venience, loss of time, mental worry
etc. Besides when through your own
fault you have endangered another per-
sons life, or limb, you have subjected
him to q risk that no apology, MOI
money, can ever atone for.
In the cases of such minor collisions
the police will rarely ever take any
punitive action If the motorists them.
damage. On the other hand, II they
are not willing to settle the matter
themselves, Just think Of the time ant
trouble they will be forced to expend
I have known of cases where on,
party would be willing to make al
amicable adjustment, but not so thu
other. This darned fool ran into me,
the first fellow would say, land dom
intend to let him off just because he i
willing to fix my fender" This displa.
of unreasonableness would make tn
second fellow angry and he would say
alright, let's go to court. I can go j
he feels that way" The court would b
Just as likely to say the first fellow wa
wrong IS the second, because sometime
when the facts are judged impartially
they throw O different light on the sub
ject.
There have been many bitter damag
suits costing thousands OF dollars
lawyers' fees. court costs, etc., wherea
the initial damage didn't amount to SIS