Why don't some people react quickly when confronted with a car accident.
I won't bore you with various stories & details of the numerous times I've intervened when I've seen people gather around an accident, gawping & not doing a thing to help when someone may be trapped.
Some years ago I was coming up past the Ladybower Inn when the traffic slowed down & for at least half an hour the traffic was crawling up the road, eventually, just before the left turn to the Strines Inn, I could see a car on its roof, with bodies moving in it, I ran past all the cars that were slowing down & couldn't believe that people were just stood looking at the car, I instinctively tried to open the doors but they were locked, luckily I managed to remove the rear window & (on my own) dragged four elderly people out of the car, who, thankfully were not badly hurt, I then crawled back into the car to switch off the ignition, silly I know, but with all the people around the car & the strong smell of petrol, it could easily have exploded.
I gave all the gawpers a right telling off & demanded they give me a hand to turn the car back on it's wheels.
It was all so wierd & nobody said a word, as soon as I knew the scene was safe, I left.
To this day I often think that if I had not done what I did, those trapped people may have perished.

I think it is because people assume that others are dealing with the matter.
I have seen accidents where too many people have tried to help, sometimes causing more problems than helping.

In my experience, inaction by the public boils down to:
- fear
- ignorance of the correct cause of action
- lack of basic safety and first aid skills

In the circumstances you describe, it would perhaps have been better to turn off the ignition and assess the car for immediate danger - mainly sources of ignition (eg people smoking nearby) or life-threatening risk to the occupants (cardiac arrest or major injuries) before making the decision to remove the people from the car.

In a rollover RTC, there is a higher probability of spinal injury caused by the mechanism of injury. This is compounded in elderly people where osteoporosis (brittle bones) is common. Movement without specialised spinal immobilisation equipment is not recommended unless not doing so would kill the casualty.

I'd recommend a first aid course to anyone - they cover a good range of subjects including the basic principles for managing an incident like the one you describe. St John Ambulance, the Red Cross, local colleges and the ambulance service all run first aid courses for the public, usually from 1 to 4 days duration.

Might be in part the fact that they could try and sue you for some injury caused to the person, even if you havent.

I must say I agree with what you did, im sure i would have done the same by helping them

I knew about the dangers of moving someone involved in an accident but my gut instinct was to get them out asap & switch off the ignition, which I could only do once they were out of the car, I know I took a risk & could have injured them & myself getting them out, but I was not prepared to just watch those poor people suffer or go up in smoke as everyone else seemed to be doing, they must have been in that car upside down for at least half an hour or even longer before I got there.

It's bizzare that no-one else had helped in the time that had gone by (I'd like to say dissapointing but it's not that surprising :() - good on you though datal!

the same happened to me outside Morrisos @ Hlafway, the ignorant barstewards actually scowled at me 'cos they had to divert around a crashed car whilst we gave cpr.
sorry to slowed them down whilst trying to save someones life.

I knew about the dangers of moving someone involved in an accident but my gut instinct was to get them out asap & switch off the ignition, which I could only do once they were out of the car, I know I took a risk & could have injured them & myself getting them out, but I was not prepared to just watch those poor people suffer or go up in smoke as everyone else seemed to be doing, they must have been in that car upside down for at least half an hour or even longer before I got there.

I wasn't having a go - I wasn't there and it wouldn't be right to second-guess you. I was making more of a general comment.

If they'd been in the car for half an hour, then a few more minutes wouldn't have hurt.

Well done for having the decency to try to help though :)

I wasn't having a go - I wasn't there and it wouldn't be right to second-guess you. I was making more of a general comment.

If they'd been in the car for half an hour, then a few more minutes wouldn't have hurt.

Well done for having the decency to try to help though :)
It's ok, I know your not having a go at me, there are things that we have to consider in situations like this, it was just a totally wierd situation as the car was not badly damaged & I could not work out how it happened, their was no blood, the occupants were all pretty big & just stood there saying nothing when I got them out, obviously in shock & as I said, I left straight after as my kids were alone in my car.
I do hope the people in the car didn't suffer any after effects of the shock.