When motorists are involved in a vehicle accident, the law requires them to stop, assess injuries and assist injured persons where they are able to do so.

Legal experts explain certain immediate steps to be taken during the discussion on The Wheels of Justice with Daniel Nadunya.

Namibia does not, however, have a general Good Samaritan law that compels members of the public to render assistance to accident victims. 

Lawyer Thomas Andima explained who does and does not have a legal duty to assist in the event of a vehicle accident.

"As a driver of one of the vehicles involved in an accident, there is a legal duty as per section 78. And that, should you also, let me say, be involved in an accident and fail to stop or to ascertain the injuries or to render any reasonable assistance you can, you may also be charged with it. Apart from being charged with reckless and negligent driving, should it appear that you were reckless and negligent, you could also be charged with failure to stop and ascertain injuries or to render reasonable assistance. But for the bystanders or just somebody that is also a common road user that just says, "Oh, there is an accident," and just drives past and so on, there is no such legal duty on you. You will not be charged for that."

The manager for legal services at the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund, Fenni Nashilundo, shared a message for Namibian drivers about those first five minutes after a vehicle accident. 

"In the first five minutes, make sure that the scene is safe for you firstly before you attempt to rescue anybody. And only pull out a person if there's an immediate danger to their life. And, every time you come across an accident scene, please call the MVA Fund call centre, number 9682; it could definitely be saving your life."