Accidents can happen anywhere, even when you’re simply walking down the street or crossing at a crosswalk. In fact, drivers struck and killed more than 3,300 pedestrians in the United States during the first six months of 2024.
Pedestrian accidents can also happen because of distracted driving. Even momentary distraction can cause a driver to fail to notice a pedestrian in time to avoid hitting them, according to a pedestrian accident attorney in Manhattan Beach.
If you unfortunately got into an accident or hit a pedestrian, you should never leave the scene, as this could result in legal troubles should the pedestrian decide to sue. Get the victim to a safe place and alert other drivers. Your actions during the accident both extend and alleviate your empathy for the injured.
Here’s what to do next:
Ensure Safety and Call for Help
As mentioned, when a pedestrian has been hit by your car, the first priority is to ensure safety for all involved. Quickly evaluate whether the area is secure; check oncoming traffic and get to a safe place. If it is your position, ask the drivers to slow down or stop. Keep an area secure so that it may not cause a further accident.
Call for help immediately. Dial emergency services and disclose the details of the incident, the location and the number of people involved, then stay on the line until help arrives.
If the area is safe, try waving down other drivers or bystanders who can help. Your quick action could go a long way in preventing further injury.
Assess the Injuries and Provide First Aid
If you’re the driver, here’s what to do in a hit and run situation. Once safety is assured and help has been called, you need to assess the injury sustained by the pedestrian.
Calmly ask the victim if they can talk. Check for wounds, bruises, and swellings. Check first if the bleeding is more than you expected or if the victim is having trouble breathing or losing consciousness after a serious trauma.
If the pedestrian is conscious, try to encourage him to be as still as possible so that the injuries are not further aggravated. Lay sterile absorbent material on the wound and apply gentle pressure to stop the bleeding.
If you think a pedestrian has injured their back, you shouldn’t move them unless they are staying where they are in danger.
Document the Scene and Gather Information
Once the pedestrian has been ensured safety and gotten first aid if required, document the scene and gather information.
Clear photographs of the accident scene must be taken, showing the position of the vehicles, skid marks, and landmarks around it. Get the date and time of the accident, plus the weather conditions, because some weather conditions will be treated as an external factor affecting the case.
If there are any witnesses, obtain their accounts and contact information, as this information may be important later. If you can, write down the driver’s details, including their name, insurance information, and license plate number.
Make your own notes of what you saw-they will be useful when you need to recount the event. Your documentation will become important for insurance purposes and perhaps for court proceedings, so be thorough and organized.
Report the Incident to Authorities
Incidents must be reported to the appropriate authority to ensure the procedure is followed correctly, including the proper recording of the accident.
From the accident area, make sure you call 911 or the emergency number of your locality for reporting the collision, giving all details on the incident such as place of occurrence, number of people involved, and injuries involved, if any.
Stay there and meet with the authorities to narrate what you saw and whom you might have witnessed, together with any pieces of evidence collected. Refrain from accusing anyone or making statements that might be taken in ill terms.
Obtain a copy of the report once it is done by the authorities, for it might be helpful later in claims or for investigations.
Seek Legal Advice and Understand Your Rights
Seeking legal advice becomes necessary when either you or any family member is hit by a vehicle due to the negligence of the driver and sustains injuries.
The lawyer will deal with the personal injury law system to make sure you are fairly compensated for medical expenses, lost wages, pain, or insults to your feelings. He or she will discuss in exhaustive detail the facts associated with your case, gather evidence, and even deal with insurance companies.
Remember that you have your rights, regardless of if you are the victim or the driver at fault. Having a legal representative will allow your rights to be upheld.
