Sharing the highway with reckless drivers without regard for rules and traffic lights can be pretty dangerous. The sad reality is that pedestrians enjoying a brisk walk on the pavement are also at risk of being hit by cars. You can now add inattentive or drunk drivers to your list of potential hazards as you step out to take a walk. The procedure of getting compensated is pretty straightforward if you drive your car and get hit by another motorist. However, you might be wondering what to do when you get hit by a car while on foot. Well, let’s delve in and discuss steps you should take when a car hits you as a pedestrian.
Go for a complete medical evaluation
If you are unconscious after the crash, the driver or the witnesses are responsible for taking you to the hospital. However, if you are still conscious, it is upon you to seek urgent medical attention to determine the full extent of your injuries. A common mistake pedestrians make after an accident is to neglect medical attention because they feel fine. Ensure you call 911 or visit the nearest healthcare facility for a complete medical evaluation.
Call the police
The next action you should take after calling for medical assistance would be to call the police. Please resist the urge to avoid involving the police because you think the accident was minor. You will need an official police report to present to your attorney. The police will also help you record a detailed timeline of events that you might not be in a position to do due to the initial shock and confusion caused by the accident.
Document your injuries
After the crash, you might be in a daze or highly confused. A car accident is, after all, a traumatic event. However, letting the confusion cloud your judgment wouldn’t be a good idea. While waiting for an ambulance to arrive, take inventory of your injuries. Figure out where you are feeling pain by touching your head, limbs, and body extremities. Please take note of any bleeding areas and report to the medical staff as soon as they arrive.
Hire an attorney
The driver’s insurance company might deny the claims you file and try to make you look guilty. You might also be unable to handle the case independently due to your physical, emotional, and psychological trauma. Therefore, it would be wise to hire a pedestrian accident lawyer who will protect your rights and ensure you get maximum compensation for all damages suffered. If the driver’s insurance company offers you a settlement, your lawyer will help you evaluate it to ensure it is adequate.
Reach out to your insurance company
After receiving the green light from your attorney, it would be a good idea to contact your insurance company. Failure to provide the details of your accident could prevent you from making an accident claim and collecting compensation. Ensure you enquire whether your insurance provider offers coverage for pedestrians in a car accident.
Avoid disclosing the details of your accident
You probably have heard that anything you say will be used against you in court. Even though the other driver was clearly at fault, you might not know all the legal aspects involved in handling a pedestrian accident case. You wouldn’t also want to say anything that could hurt your case. Therefore, we suggest watching what you say and avoiding discussing the case details with anyone else apart from your attorney and insurance provider. It would also be wise to avoid posting any details of your case on social media lest the drivers’ insurance company uses your words to deny your claim.
Ensure your paperwork is well-organized
Now that you are ready to press charges or prove the validity of your claim, it would help to keep good documentation of the event. These documents will further prove the driver was at fault when they hit you and put a value to the damages that require compensation. Ensure you keep witness statements and their contact information, police reports, medical bills, test results, torn or bloody clothes, driver’s statements, and photos of the accident scene. It is even better to create an accident file to help you store all these documents neatly.
Wrapping up
As a pedestrian, you should do your best to protect your safety as you use the roads. Use designated pathways and follow the traffic rules to avoid accidents. That said, there is only much that you can do to protect yourself. Accidents do happen without a warning. The best you can do is to protect your health and rights in the aftermath of being hit by a car as a pedestrian.
Collaborative post. Photo by Jeff James on Unsplash