Would you help this gentleman?

[4GS]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-102467 1/Dramatic-pictures-The-moment-pedestrian-stru ck-left-dead-hit-run-driver.html

[andy-hughes]

I could no more walk or drive past someone lying in the road than fly to the moon. i remember seeing people walk past an obviously passed-out tramp as he lay in the road. As soon as i saw him I roused him into conciousness and helped him to get up - how could anyone not?

This defies belief!

[jake-the-peg]

If nobody called an ambulance that's truely shocking

I witnessed a motorbike accident a few years back on a reasonably quiet street and called 999 immediately

At least 1 person had beaten me to it

[mrs_overall]

It's the way of the world, sadly.

Last year I saw an escaped toddler (18 months old) dash on to a busy road. I screeched to a stop in my car and grabbed him. Lots of pedestrians could have grabbed him but they all said the same two things, either

It's nothing to do with me
and
You can't touch kids in this day and age.

Whatever happened to common sense and caring?

[oldgrape]

that's horrible shows how great a country we are. shame on them i would have instantly helped the best i could

[shivvy]

Do you mean would I help the man who was knocked down? Absolutely I would. In fact I can't think why anyone wouldn't to be honest. Would you not help?

[joggerjayne]

OMG, that's awful.

[4GS]

Itb happened in the UDA Andy, when I was thered in 2003 we witnessed an accident on the freeway leaving New York, it looked very nast, the vehicle ended up upside down and we could clearly see the driver was in a bad way. Now as Army medics, my friend and I were screaming at our hosts (US Army medics) to stop the car we were in and render assistance. They refused on the grounds that if the driver died (which I heard later that he did) then his family could sue the British government for negligence.
Perhaps that's why the onlookers are refusing to help.

[4GS]

That should be USA

Sorry

[Gromit]

A couple of years ago I saw an frail old man who had collapsed in the road and couldn't get up. I must have saw ten cars steer around him and drive on.

I helped him to his feet and escorted him to the pavement and stayed with him while he recovered.

[jake-the-peg]

I think you were lied to 4GS

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Samaritan_la w

[keyplus90]

Once a man saw a scorpion drowning in a stream of water, he tried to help him out, of course the scorpion stung him. Although in pain he tried to pick him out again only to be stung once again. A passer by asked him that why was he trying to save the scorpion if it is keep on stinging him.

�Scorpion is not giving up his bad instinct to sting so why should I give up my good nature of trying to save him. He said.

Unfortunately due to lots of fears and problems created by us human in this material & compensation culture, people have and are giving up their good characteristics. I would say that in a situation like this I would do anything to save life of any one without even thinking about possible consequences which might put me off.

[Oneeyedvic]

This is nothing particularly new - these types of events have been happening for years.

Ironically, it is because that there are so many people around that nothing happens.

If the same thing had happened on a deserted street, help would have been given.

People act (and have always acted) differently in groups than they do when by themselves.

It is because that there are so many people around that everyone assumes that someone else is dealing with it.

[Abdulmajid]

By-stander apathy is a thing that occurs here too,sadly.

To answer your question, of course I would help, but to be honest I would probably drive after the driver with hands free assuming there will be somebody to help the old fella.

Then when I catch them, realising I would probably have an excuse in law to go through red lights etc, I'd make a citizens arrest of the driver, punch myself in the nose then give him, her or it a damn good whacking before the cops arrive.

Glorious account??? Probably.

[4GS]

Good answer Minter, however, two points;

1) Never ever assume that someone will help the old man (when you assume, you make an ass out of U + me)


2) You have no idea what the occupants of the car will do, they may be armed with a baseball bat, knife, or something worse like a pistol. There may be more than one occupant, more that you could fight off. best to try and get the number plate and allow the Police to deal with it, that's what they get paid for

[Eve]

There was a horrendous incident near me recently...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-559991 /Inhumane-motorists-drove-OVER-hit-run-victim- lay-dying-street.html

I'd always stop to help. The only time I've hesitated is when there was a guy who looked like they could be dangerous and I was on my own.

I'd never just leave them, I'd get someone to come with me to help or at least ring the emergency services.

I saved someone's life once by being persistent in getting medical assistance for someone.

I was told numberous times not to bother, he was just asleep. I persisted and when I finally got someone medical to check him his blood sugar was 0.7 and we have to squeeze glucose bags into his mouth to help him.

[ChuckFickens]

I would absolutely help the man in this instance.

I always would have said I would have helped if I saw anyone that I felt needed assistance, however the last time I tried to step in and help a woman who although was not being beaten as such she was being thrown about a bit and generally treated and handled in a way I was not comfortable in seeing I ended up getting quite badly beaten up myself. so I really sorry to say I would think twice now if I came across a situation like that again.

[wolf63]

A couple of years ago an old drunk took on a car in a fight and lost. The car just drove off - but I got the number. I helped the old guy to the pavement and pinned him to a wall (he was all for going after the bottle of booze still on the road).

A woman came along and I asked her to help but she dithered for 10 minutes over phoning the police and ambulance - the old guy just wanted to go away to meet up with his boozing buddy.

But he was obviously hurt (busted shoulder) and there could have been hidden injuries. I had to almost order the woman to phone for assistance. She didn't think that the emergency services would be interested!

During this time people just kept on walking by - not concerned about two women struggling with a drunk.

In the end it turned out that the woman was a social worker - aren't they supposed to care for the vulnerable people in society?

Do unto others.....