Totally shocking video out of Hartford, Connecticut. A 78 year old man, Angel Arce Torres, was hit by two street racers as he was crossing the road. Watch what happens next:
Yes, exactly nothing. There’s a man clearly lying on the road, in bad need of help. People gawk, a few call 911. But that behaviour of the motorists is appalling. Backing away, pulling U-Turns, generally pretending nothing has happened.
I guess it’s true that nobody wants to get involved. There was an interesting Brainiac: Science Abuse episode that showed people are far more likely to ask someone if they are on an empty street. On a busy road, people just assume someone else will deal with it. But you know how that one ends- if everybody thinks that, then nobody helps. The Hartford video is a horrifying example of the “It’s Somebody Else’s Problem” principle in action.
So, if you see someone lying on the road, just stop. Seriously.
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Not to condone their behaviour by any stretch, as I agree it’s appalling, but in America there is a misguided legal stance on situations such as these. In a nutshell, you have no duty to help a person in need. However, if you choose to help, you now expose yourself to serious risk of liability, both civil and criminal (though admittedly the former would be only in extreme circumstances.)
I personally am certified in first aid. I also have a conscience. While I have no doubt that I would help as best I could, I also have no doubt that it would cross my mind about the liability of doing so. In a litigation-happy country, the threat of that liability is very real.
And by former I mean latter…it is the criminal suit that would be unlikely.
I think people are blowing this out of proportion. 5 people called 911, and the cops were there within a minute and a half. I imagine most of the other people were in shock.
when you think of people being so ignorant.. it disgusts me that people dont realize someone is in dangerous help. God, ur supposed to go him, comfort him, ask if anything hurts, and call frgin 911 \
everyone on that street is DUMB