Columbus Police respond to numerous crashes, domestic violence calls, and public scuffles throughout the day. Not to mention their traffic stops. But most drivers expect a cop to show up at an Ohio car crash site. You’re trying to clear up this uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous situation with a stranger that may be very mad at you or even mad with themselves.
The issue that people run into when they’re looking for a reason to get a cop out is that if there are no injuries, a police officer won’t respond. Or at least they won’t respond in most situations that don’t involve injuries.
If you’ve been injured in a wreck, you should call the police. You may also need to contact a Columbus, Ohio car crash attorney.
It’s Probably Not a Serious Scene
Most local police departments have certain criteria in place to determine if it’s worth it to respond to a scene. For example, if someone is bleeding or seriously injured, then they would respond without question. However, if it’s a fender bender in a parking lot, then no one is going to show up at the site.
Although it is difficult for some people to comprehend, small accidents just aren’t on a police department’s radar. Unless you’re in danger at the scene, then there’s no need for police help. Their assistance is a resource that must serve the entire city, and to do that, they’ve chosen to eliminate appearing at crash scenes just because someone wants a police officer to file the crash report instead of doing it themselves.
Don’t Leave Without Exchanging Information
When police don’t respond, that doesn’t mean you get out of the crash. You must exchange the necessary information with the other driver, and you must do so as amicably as possible. Often accidents are a combination of the fault and genuine accident. Usually, the other driver did not mean to cause the crash, so exiting the vehicle with a fire and brimstone attitude won’t get you anywhere. In fact, if you’re hostile, the cops may respond because you’re aggressive.
If You’re Worried About Your Safety – Contact Emergency Services
There are various times that you might be concerned about your safety or the safety of others involved in the wreck. If you’re in an Ohio car crash on the freeway and are near the central meridian, then you need someone to coordinate traffic so you can both have your cars towed or get back onto the freeway safely.
Another safety element is hostile drivers. If you notice that the other driver is possibly under the influence of drugs or could become violent, then don’t leave your vehicle. Stay put, and contact emergency services straight away. Understanding the full situation can help a dispatcher identify when they do or do not need to send someone out to manage the situation.
Safety concerns are serious issues and should not be taken lightly. Aggressive drivers and people acting out of road rage have led to murders and assaults across the nation. Don’t put your safety in jeopardy; about 37% of aggressive driving events involve a firearm.
Ohio Police Don’t Need to Respond to Every Wreck
Because drivers get information on how to handle a crash during their license training and insurance companies provide reps to help the drivers, they should be able to handle it on their own. Drivers should not need someone to hold their hand, but they do need someone to respond to emergencies and establish safety.
If you don’t need someone to facilitate your safety or handle your medical emergency after a wreck, then you should not expect a local police officer to arrive. You should still contact the local police department, not through 911, and inform them of the wreck. What that does is start the formal log and documentation.
After the crash is cleared up, then you can go through and file an official crash report. That report will stand as a document with all the information relating to the crash.
Get in Touch with an Ohio Car Crash Attorney
After any Columbus wreck, you should consider the opportunity of hiring a car crash injury law firm in Columbus. Ohio car accident lawyers serve as the people who help victims that need support. You might not have gotten the support you needed from Columbus PD, but you can from a local attorney.
Contact 1Ohio for more information on your wreck. It’s possible that there was no need for a police response, and that your injuries presented themselves later. All the same, we understand that the lack of support during your crash has left an impact. We won’t let it happen again; with 1Ohio, you get the support you need.
