MD sees a car wreck. Now what?

I've discussed the hypothetical situation of seeing a car wreck and if I'd stop with my white coat on and see if anyone needed help. He's been a little nervous about the situation for litigation reasons. He thinks I should stop and help and just not mention being a doctor.

I've passed car wrecks since we've talked about this. At first I didn't stop because I was a medical student and heck, I'd read lots of books but didn't trust my clinical exam or ability to think clearly in a possibly scary situation. Since I got the MD letters behind my name I haven't passed one that hasn't had lots of sirens at it; I figure those are under control. There were no sirens today.

I was driving along the highway and saw the slow down up ahead. I was a little miffed and hoped it wouldn't take long to pass because I wanted to get home to see my baby (the last few days I've only gotten to spend 45 minutes at most with her - makes me want to quit - but that's another post). Then I passed the three scrunched up cars with no sirens in sight and decided that baby could wait.

I pulled over and my heart started beating very fast. What if there was lots of blood? Though I'm a doctor, I have to avoid the traumas in the ER because I faint. What if someone doesn't slow down enough as they are going by and I get hit? What if hubby is right and I get sued? I grabbed my pen light and stethescope and put on a good game face and walked calmly over to the first car.

The other two cars were empty and the drivers millling about but in the first car a young girl was sobbing with bruises already forming on her face and arm. The air bag had deployed and she had diffuse bruising rather than a face in the steering wheel; G-d bless airbags. I talked to her for a bit and she was A and O x3 (alert and orientated to person, place, time). No neck pain, but her face and arm hurt. After a quick physical she seemed not to have broken anything and seemed to just be crying mostly from the emotional trauma but I'm sure her face didn't feel good. At this point, the sirens arrived and a police officer came over and asked my assesment. I told him she'd probably be fine but a trip to the ER was in order. She probably needed a head CT and to be watched for awhile. I talked and reassured her a little bit and then left.

Should I have left? When is the right time to leave? I wasn't doing anything more but was the Aura Of The White Coat reassuring her? I was still tachycardic and didn't want to get too involved in things (isn't that what all people use as an excuse?). She was going to be fine. I don't know. I kind of feel like I should have stayed at least until EMS got there. I don't know.