Would you stop and help someone if they where laying on the side of the road?

United States
March 29, 2009 6:18pm CST
Well today I was laying on the side of the road because I fell down and hurt my knee. I wasnt sure if I broke it or not so I layed there for awhile before getting up. Nobody stopped, many cars just drove by and one just beeped at me. Well I guess if someone is injured on the side of the road nobodys going to help them. I know I would of stopped to see if I could help them or call the abulance. Why wouldnt anyone help?
10 people like this
41 responses
@ankitshr (228)
• India
30 Mar 09
Ohh first of all its really bad what happened with you, well If I;d have passed by you or any one in that situation, i'd really have helped, I always do, and expect the same, I dont know how can people be that selfish and mean that they dont even care, its completely inhuman behavior, And Atleast people should stop to ask if they could help, its not every time you could help, but atleast one should try to know if they can.
2 people like this
• United States
30 Mar 09
I would of thought at least someone would pull over roll down there car window and ask if I was ok. Nothing just the rude beeping person.
1 person likes this
@sukumar794 (5040)
• Thiruvananthapuram, India
30 Mar 09
I would definitely not pass on without having a look.But I would not attempt to pick up the strange person as I myself am a little bit disabled.I would definitely try my best to catch public attention in such situations.
@EvrWonder (3571)
• Canada
30 Mar 09
I can't believe that people would just drive by and beep at you when it is obvious that you were in despair. How rude is that? This happened to me once as well. I was riding my bike and some guy in a car ran me right off the road. I fell off my bike into traffic. He even drove further ahead, pulled over, got out of his car and aggressively came up to me, screaming about 1/2 an inch from my face. He reeked like booze. cars were going past me, beeping also. I grabbed my bike and flew to the gas station and called the cops. I couldn't believe this guy, much less the passers by. I reckon that nobody would stop to help me because there was no where to pull over. The guy in the car pulled over, passed the side walk and onto a patch of grass. The guy was psycho. I am not sure why nobody stopped to help you. I guess those driving by thought that someone else would stop for you. I am sorry this happened to you and hope that you are alright. How did it happen? How are you? I definitely would of stopped to help you. Even more so since I acquired First Aid. I am bound by law to help if I happen upon an emergency. I sure hope that your knee is OK. Did you see the doctor? Use ICE. A bag of peas can work well.
• United States
30 Mar 09
I am also first aid cert so I would stop to help as well no matter what. I am so sorry to hear about what happened to you and the craZY man.
@EvrWonder (3571)
• Canada
31 Mar 09
Thank you and no problem, I wasn't hurt that bad. Just startled. How is your knee? How did you manage to fall? I hope that you are feeling better.
@brendalee (6082)
• United States
30 Mar 09
I use to be a volunteer for my local ambulance service so its "in my blood" to stop and help someone. If I was alone, I'd probably call for help first just in case. I guess some people are just afraid to get involved anymore.
1 person likes this
• United States
30 Mar 09
I dont understand why they would be scared to help a woman laying on the side of the road is beyond me lol. I of course would help.
@brew2x (3094)
• Philippines
30 Mar 09
It depends on where this incident will happen. To be honest I'm not sure if I will stop and ask the person especially if the area is isolated. It is not because I'm a bad person but here in where I am, the crime rate is pretty high and I just want to be careful not to be a victim. If I'm with somebody then I might as well stop and check the person on the side of the road.
2 people like this
@derek_a (10874)
30 Mar 09
Yes, I would stop and help. I know many people wouldn't because of the way the world is these days, but I think I prefer to be more trusting. I would be looking around with sharp eyes just in case it is an ambush. If it looked suspicious in any way, I always have my mobile phone with me and I would call for help. I believe in giving everybody the benefit of the doubt. - Derek
2 people like this
@bulaimi (15)
• China
30 Mar 09
I am sorry to hear that. But i am still believe that the world is full of love.Maybe someone is very busy and has not time to stop and ask you what happened .we can forgive this people.If i meet that ,i must stop and ask he/her can i help you.At that time you help someone ,maybe you are helped in your difficulty.So don't care it more,love accompany you ,maybe sometimes it's delay. i hope you have happy everyday .
1 person likes this
@sisterjinx (1135)
• United States
30 Mar 09
Would I? Absolutely! Have I? More than once. One time I stopped to check on this lady that was laying on the side of the road near her truck. She had some kind of stroke I believe was what the end result was but at the time I didn't know that. She thought I was her daughter and wouldn't let me leave her side. I sent my oldest child to the nearest neighbor to call 911 and stayed with this lady until help arrived. Even then she didn't want me to go. So, knowing that she was terribly confused and afraid and believed I was her daughter, I said "mom you have to go with these folks to get better and I'll be along shortly". She went and 3 days later she dropped a thank you letter in my mailbox. (the hospital gave her my name)
1 person likes this
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
30 Mar 09
that was really ugly that noone stopped to help you. the one that beeped the horn was a smarta$$. i know i would have called him an ugly name. i'm sorry u were treated that way. people are so hateful & sooooo self centered it's a shame they have come to this.
1 person likes this
• United States
30 Mar 09
Oh yes the one that beeped the horn really ticked me off.
@jshekhar (1562)
• India
30 Mar 09
Hello friend, I really feel sorry for you but these days people do not trust each other. There are a lot of cheats around and that is the reason people do not want to take a chance. I do, however, stop if I see someone in trouble, though I initially take my time in deciding if the person really needs help. If yes, then I would trust my gut feeling and help him out.
1 person likes this
@cieldz (709)
• Indonesia
30 Mar 09
well....in my country thers'a a lot of poor and homeless (and also jobless) people who laying in the side of road asking some money... if i pass the street and see them, i often give them money or fruits that i steal from my house (ssttts...dont tell my mom if im the one who steal the apples and pears)....but im picky too, not all of them i gave my money...cos some of them pretend to be "sick" to get free money without working...so, i only give to the people who really need the money and the food, like old woman, or armless and legless guy (the guy doesnt have both arms and legs...!)
1 person likes this
• United States
30 Mar 09
well i dont know if i would stop, it would really depend on the situation. if it was day time and a lot of cars or people were around then heck yeah i would stop especially if i thought the person was hurt. now the reason why i would NOT stop is if it was night and not many people around and even if there were cars around i wouldnt stop you never know pepople are CRAZY and im not risking my life like that. sorry.
• India
30 Mar 09
yes i surely stop and help the person laying on the roadside because it is a noble cause and i definetly like to donate towards this nobel cause....
1 person likes this
• United States
30 Mar 09
Was there a lot of people around when it happened? There have been studies that show the more people around the less likely someone is to help because they are less likely to feel responsibility for helping. If I saw someone laying on the side of the I would like to think that I would help that person, but those findings are scary.
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Mar 09
So sad that nobody stopped to see if you were okay. I would have pulled over to see if you were okay. Some people just don't want to get involved. I have heard of people getting sued for injuries they inflicted upon a person whom they were trying to assist. Perhaps that is what happened. How would they have known if they didn't stop to ask? Shame on them.
1 person likes this
@underdogtoo (9579)
• Philippines
29 Mar 09
It would be a good thing if people helped other people. I saw someone lying on the sidewalk and he was sleeping, probably drunk. What can you say about people like that?
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
30 Mar 09
I would stop and see if they were alright if I was by myself. If I had my kids with me I would be using my cell phone to call for some help for them. I would want someone to do the same for me in I were in that position.
1 person likes this
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
29 Mar 09
That's terrible! When I lived in Maryland there were certain areas of the state where I didn't feel comfortable and so I wouldn't have stopped but I would have called 911. Down here in the south *of course* I would have stopped and so would everyone else around here because this is a safer atmosphere.
1 person likes this
@dlr297 (5409)
• United States
30 Mar 09
I would have stopped to see if i could have helped, I do not know if i would have gotten out of my car Until i felt i was safe, but i would have at least made a phone call. Their are to many bad people out their today, people are afraid to get involved anymore.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
30 Mar 09
Well, it greatly depends on the situtation or location of a person needing... I would've at least check on my safety first as a precaution... we wouldn't want to be deceived or ambushed by some muggers around having to help someone I need to be intelligent myself in that case to avoid making worst decisions... If we were walking or traveling in numbers i would've... or if I may be alone driving in a secluded rarely travelled road I would have at least call or alert some authorities police or ambulance rescue team for medical situations or something...
1 person likes this