Throughout the country, collisions between cars and pedestrians are far too common, with many resulting in serious injuries, and sometimes even death. Unfortunately, a split-second action or decision from a careless driver can cause a life-changing injury to a pedestrian, which can leave the pedestrian struggling, potentially for the rest of his/her life.
Kaiman & Crahan has a few tips for pedestrians who are struck by a vehicle, as well as if a driver accidentally hits a pedestrian when driving.
When a pedestrian is struck by a vehicle:
As we hope this never happens to you or someone you know, it’s important to know what to do. It’s likely some sort of injury will occur, and you may be unable to do anything except wait for help after the collision. However, if you are able, there are certain steps you should take immediately after being struck as a pedestrian:
- Get to safety: If you are struck in the crosswalk or on the side of the road, immediately move to a safer area.
- Request aid from others: Allow others to help you in any way they can. It’s likely you will be frantic or can’t comprehend what’s happening, so allow others to help you.
- Gather information / take photos: Gather the incident information of your surroundings. If you’re able to take notes in your phone, write everything you can remember about the incident. Also, take photos of the vehicle, landmarks around you, and the place where the accident occurred.
- Gather witness information: Hopefully a few witnesses will be able to come to your aid and help you. Get their contact information which can include, their name, phone number, email address, and more.
- Seek immediate medical attention: It’s likely you will be injured, so be sure to seek medical attention. This will help with your case down the road.
- Try and get the driver’s insurance company. If you are not in a position to obtain this information, see if a witness or first responder can help.
- Hire an injury attorney
Pedestrian safety tips:
- Increase your visibility at night by carrying a flashlight when walking and wearing reflective clothing, such as reflective vests.
- Cross streets at a designated crosswalk or intersection whenever possible.
- Walk on a sidewalk or path instead of the road. Walk on the shoulder and facing traffic if a sidewalk or path is not available.
- Avoid using electronic devices like earbuds when walking. They can cause distractions and impair judgement and coordination.
If you hit a pedestrian with your vehicle:
It’s natural to feel upset and frantic after any sort of accident – take a deep breath and take the following steps:
- Safety is first: Get any injured pedestrians to a place of safety and immediately call 911 for medical attention. Do not administer any medical attention beyond what is required of you, such as CPR.
- Document the accident: Take all the notes you can about what occurred. Do this immediately after so you can remember what happened.
- Try and give your insurance info to the person you hit.
- Contact your insurance company.
No matter the situation, take a deep breath and think through the logical steps. You can view Jefferson County pedestrian collisions from 2009 through 2019 here.
And if you’ve been hit by a vehicle when walking, contact Kaiman & Crahan today- 502-771-0741