Films and TV series often fail to show the immediate psychological shock after an unexpected event or trauma. Not everyone runs away screaming. Some just stand there dumbfounded, some just freeze.
Years ago my young daughter and I were in a Dollar General store at the check out, when we heard a commotion out front. Turns out a pedestrian had been struck by a car in the parking lot/car park. I told the employee we need to call 911; she said she wasn't getting involved in this. So I asked for her phone and called 911. I then walked out into the street. The woman was sitting in the middle of the street, awake and alert, but moaning, saying her leg/ hip hurt.
I kid you not... there were several people standing around her, not doing ANYTHING to assess or help, just talking to each other and observing. The driver of the car that hit her was standing right there, on her cell phone... saying "I just hit someone in the parking lot" In fact, her car was still running!
As a physician, I quickly assessed the injured woman (she did not appear to be critical, no head or chest injuries that I could see), I turned to the driver of the car and said, "Ma'am, turn off your car" and at that point EMS was almost there. The interesting thing was that it was like people were WAITING to be told how to respond, and told what to do.
