Whether you’re a pedestrian or a driver, you have to be more aware of your surroundings as long as you are on the designated crosswalk or road and take the necessary precautions to ensure driver and pedestrian safety.
Unfortunately, people don’t always obey traffic laws meaning that pedestrian accidents happen every now and then, resulting in injuries, loss of life, and property damage.
If you are hit by a car while walking, the potential consequences may not be as severe as if you were in the car, but it can still be a very scary situation. There could be an injured pedestrian, pedestrian fatalities, a subsequent investigation by police, and lots of unanswered questions for both parties.
If you want to know the right way to react should you find yourself in a situation where you or someone has been injured in a car accident, read on for steps to take after a pedestrian accident, as well as helpful advice from our team of personal injury lawyers.
Check Yourself for Injuries
The first thing that you need to do is check your body for any signs of injury and make sure you check again once you’re out of shock and have had some time to process the event. If you or any other party has sustained severe injuries, you need to call the emergency services (911).
Make sure to document any injuries, so you have a record of them to provide to your doctor as part of your treatment. If you did sustain bodily injury and are unable to work, you may be able to get compensation from the driver’s insurance company.
If there are no life-threatening pedestrian injuries and everyone is conscious, ask them their names and contact details so that you can stay in touch with them as their primary contact while they recover.
If they have any mobility issues or other special needs, ask if they have any assistance programs that can provide help (doctors, home care nurses, etc.).
Note that you may have sustained injuries that are not immediately apparent. A lot of pedestrian traffic fatalities happen as a result of internal bleeding, so you may want to have a health specialist take a look at you.
Exchange Contact Information With the Driver
If you’re the one who was hit, make sure to get the driver’s name and contact information before you leave the scene.
Even if the accident seems minor, you should still exchange information with the other driver just in case there are long-term effects from the accident that you don’t notice until later. If the accident was serious, you might even want to take the other driver’s information down at the hospital.
Serious traffic crashes can become a matter of public record and can help your case if you decide to file a personal injury claim against the driver. If the driver of the other vehicle is uncooperative or leaves the scene, you can try to take down the license plate number and make and model of the car.
Report the Accident to the Police
If the accident was serious enough, you should report the accident to your local police department. Filing an accident report will help you get the ball rolling if you decide to file a personal injury claim.
In many cases, you need to file a report before you can file a claim for damages from an accident. The report will help your claim by providing the police with information about the accident that can help them find and penalize the other driver.
Take Photos of the Scene and Your Injuries
If the accident was serious enough to warrant a trip to the hospital, you should take photos of your injuries and the scene of the accident before you go. This will make the process of filing a claim much easier and less stressful.
If possible, take photos of the other driver’s car to help show that they were at fault in the accident. Take photos of the damages to your own car and any other visible damages. This will help you get an estimate for repairs and help you dispute the other driver’s insurance company if they try to deny your claim.
Get an Estimate for Repairs to Your Vehicle and Any Other Property Damage
If your car was damaged in the accident, make sure to get an estimate for repairs as soon as possible.
If you have collision insurance, you may be able to file a claim for your damages. Your own car insurance may be able to help you get repairs done or help you replace your car. If the damage is serious enough that your vehicle is considered a total loss, your car insurance may also be able to help you get a rental car until you can get a new car.
If there was damage to other property, like a broken window or other damage to your home or someone else’s, you would want to get an estimate for how much it will cost to fix it. Make sure to keep all receipts for repairs and property damage.
Try To Find Witnesses Who Can Help Build Your Case Against the Negligent Driver
After the accident has been reported to the police, look around for any potential witnesses who may have seen the accident. This is very important, especially in the event that the accident resulted in multiple pedestrian deaths, as they can help you make a case against the other party.
Ask them for as much information as they are willing to provide, including their names and phone numbers, so that you can let them know when they are needed during the case.
They can testify on your behalf to help prove that the accident was not your fault. They can also testify about what the other driver did or did not do, which can help determine fault.
Contact a Lawyer
The sooner you contact a lawyer, the more time they have to investigate the accident and help you build a strong case against the negligent driver. A lawyer can help you file a claim for damages and help you navigate the often confusing and difficult process of getting compensation.