Unfortunately, there are over 6 million car accidents per year within the United States. Unfortunately, many of these also involve pedestrians. To make matters worse, it can be exceedingly difficult to understand the steps you should take if you were hit by a car while walking. Fortunately, it’s not as complicated as it may seem at first.
Not sure where to start? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
Let’s take a look at everything you need to know.
Get to Safety
As you may expect, the most important step for you to take after you’ve been injured as a pedestrian is to relocate to a safe location. Although it’s common for traffic around you to slow after an accident has occurred, you can’t assume that other drivers on the road will see you as they pass by.
Staying in the road puts you at risk of getting hit by another vehicle, something that could easily prove to be catastrophic. If you’re unable to walk or otherwise relocate to safety on your own, ask people nearby (including the driver) to assist you.
As a general rule of thumb, it’s not recommended to have someone pick you up if you’re unable to move. If you have injuries to your neck or spine, this could cause further complications.
Instead, ask them to block off traffic as best they can so that they can secure a safe perimeter around you.
Call The Police
Once you’re in a safer environment, you should immediately call the police and report the incident. This is true even if you don’t feel like you have any readily apparent injuries.
Sometimes, medical conditions can manifest later at a later date. For instance, there’s even a condition called ‘Talk and Die Syndrome‘ that involves complications related to an epidural hematoma in the brain.
While not every scenario is this severe, the last thing you want is to discover weeks later that you have medical issues but have no evidence that the accident occurred. A formal report that’s taken down by an officer is a crucial piece of evidence that you can use to pursue compensation.
Ensure The Driver Doesn’t Flee The Scene
Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for a driver to flee the scene of a pedestrian-related accident. This is especially true if the accident occurs at night or within a rural area.
Even people who normally wouldn’t exhibit this type of behavior may end up doing so if they panic about the situation.
Do your best to convince the driver to stay at the scene so you can gather the necessary information from them. If you find that they do leave, make note of their physical appearance, the make and model of their car, and their license plate number so that you can provide this information to the police.
Gather Information From The Driver and The Scene
If the driver does the right thing and stays at the scene, there’s a handful of information you’ll need from them. This typically includes:
- Driver’s license info
- License plate number
- Insurance information
Afterward, take as many pictures as you can of the scene of the accident. This means you should acquire photos of their vehicle, the environment around the accident, your injuries, etc. All of this is evidence that can be used to support your case, so don’t neglect any of it.
Interview Nearby Witnesses
If anyone nearby saw the accident, it’s imperative that you take the time to interview them since people remember best immediately after an incident occurs.
To streamline this process, you can take an audio or video recording of the witness (as long as they consent). If you go this route, have them state their full name, a method in which they can be contacted, and the current date/time. Then, have them explain what happened from their point of view.
The more people you can interview, the stronger these witness accounts will be while seeking compensation for your injuries.
Seek Medical Attention
Even if you feel fine, it’s absolutely imperative that you seek medical attention after an accident to rule out any possibility of internal injury. You’ll also be able to obtain medical records in this manner, which are one of the most important pieces of evidence to have access to.
You may even have PTSD after this incident, and consulting a therapist can help prevent a wide array of complications (such as insomnia) from arising in the future.
Contact a Legal Professional
After you’ve completed the above steps, it’s time to get in touch with a reputable legal professional to help you with your case. They’ll be able to provide you with the greatest chance possible of the outcome being in your favor.
When searching for an attorney, it’s important to look for one who specializes in this area of law and has significant experience in the industry. You should also take the time to research what their past clients have to say about them in order to get a better idea of who you’ll be working with.
Taking the Right Steps After You Were Hit by a Car Can Seem Difficult
But it doesn’t have to be.
With the above information about what to do if you were hit by a car in mind, you’ll be well on your way toward making the decisions that are best for you and your recovery.
Want to learn more about how we can help? Feel free to get in touch with us today to see what we can do.
