Serious injury and death happen at a higher ratio than accidents that do not involve pedestrians. So while accidents involving pedestrians are rare, they are more likely to be serious.
It is important to know what to do in the event of a pedestrian accident, whether you are a driver or a pedestrian.
Read on to discover the vital steps to take in the event of an accident.
Ensure the Safety of Yourself and Others
The first thing to do in the event of a pedestrian accident is to make sure that you are as safe as possible.
If there are injuries to yourself or someone else, contact the emergency services immediately.
There are other reasons you will need to contact the police, such as;
- If there is a road blockage
- If you think the accident may have been caused intentionally
- If you think the driver may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol
If you call an ambulance, inform them of your injuries when they arrive as well as any injuries to others you are aware of.
Note Down Details of the Pedestrian Accident
It is of paramount importance that you note down as much information about the accident as possible. Take details of each person involved, as well as any injuries and damage to vehicles or property.
Note down your own injuries in detail. Shock after an accident is normal, and the events may be blurry but if you can keep a record of what hurts, it may help to determine exactly what happened.
Don’t Accept Blame or Accuse Another
It would be natural to assume that in a pedestrian accident, the motorist is at fault. However, there are a number of reasons that the person driving the car may not be the cause of the accident;
- pedestrians wearing dark clothes at night
- hazardous weather conditions
- pedestrians under the influence acting carelessly near roads
- poor road conditions or inadequate lighting
Whether you are an injured pedestrian or the driver in a pedestrian accident, do not discuss blame at the scene of the accident.
Contact Your Insurer
Your insurance company will always prefer to hear from you before they hear from the insurer of someone else involved in the accident. Also, from this point onward you can direct any communication with yourself to your insurer.
Pedestrian accidents can be traumatic, so it’s best to pass some of the burden onto your insurer. They are trained to handle matters of vehicle or property damage so that you don’t have to.
Seek Legal Advice
Pedestrian accidents can become complicated, often with multiple insurance companies attempting to pass the blame onto other parties involved.
It is important that you seek assistance from a professional pedestrian accident attorney. Contact the team at Portner Bond, PLLC to learn about your rights and discover if you may have a case.
Stay Safe
The best way to protect yourself from a pedestrian accident is to be prepared and aware, and take care on the road, whether you are a driver or a pedestrian.
While some accidents may be unavoidable, you can decrease the likelihood of being at fault by observing road traffic laws as well as pedestrian laws.
Check out some of the other articles in the blog for more information and advice in all areas of life.
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