What To Do If You Are Hit By A Car
Nobody ever expects to get hit by a car, but accidents can happen. Being involved in a pedestrian accident can be incredibly dangerous and even fatal, so it is vital that you know what steps to take if this ever happens to you. Some people will walk away with a few bruises and feel slightly shaken, while for others, it can be a life-changing incident. Hopefully, this is information that you will never have to use, but it is helpful to know what steps to take in case you are involved in a pedestrian accident or see someone else get hit by a car.
Assess Condition & Contact Emergency Services
First, you need to assess your condition to determine how serious any injuries you have suffered are. If the accident was in a public space, there should be someone who can assist with this. Even if you think that you are fine, it is a good idea to contact the emergency services – some injuries do not present themselves immediately (including internal bleeding), or adrenaline could be masking your pain, so you should always get checked over.
Move To Safety
If you are able to, it is important to move to a safe place away from traffic. Again, someone should be able to help you with this. If your injuries are serious, it is important that you stay put and wait for the emergency services.
Exchange Information With The Driver
If you can, you should exchange information with the driver. You should get their contact and insurance information as well as make a note of their license plate. You should also collect the contact information of any witnesses to the accident – this is critical to determining the sequence of events that led to the accident.
Document The Accident
Following this, you also need to document the accident as best you can for insurance and legal purposes. There are many ways that you can do this, including:
- Photos of the scene, injuries, and damage
- A detailed written account of the sequence of events as you recall it
- CCTV footage
- Witness contact information
- Dashcam footage
Contact A Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Finally, you need to contact a good pedestrian accident lawyer. The consequences of being hit by a car can be severe and life-changing, so you want to make sure that you recover damages from the accident. While compensation will not reverse what has happened, it is important to avoid financial losses and to build toward a brighter future. In addition to this, many people find holding the responsible party accountable can be helpful for closure. Having an experienced pedestrian accident lawyer working on your behalf will improve your chances of obtaining the maximum figure while also giving you the ability to focus entirely on recovery.
It is hoped that you never have to use the information in this post, but it is important to be well-prepared in case you or somebody else is involved in a pedestrian accident. These accidents can be life-changing, so knowing how to respond quickly can make all the difference.