Pedestrian Accident 

Nearly 8,000 pedestrians lost their lives in traffic accidents in 2021 in the US. Approximately 104,000 pedestrians received emergency department treatment for nonfatal crash-related injuries in 2020. 

When you find yourself involved in one of these pedestrian-car accidents, you need to know how to respond, whether you’re the pedestrian, the driver, or just a person who comes across an injured pedestrian. Do you call the ambulance first or the police? Do you need a lawyer? Follow the same basic steps when encountering car accidents and pedestrians.

1. Call for Help

First, if you’re involved in an accident, assess yourself for injuries. If you’re able, move to a safe place, away from traffic, and out of harm’s way. Once you’ve established your own well-being, check if other drivers or pedestrians are also okay. Evaluate the environment to make sure the pedestrian is in a safe place. Then, call for medical help. 

If someone is injured in the middle of the road, determine if moving them is absolutely necessary. Ideally, you should not touch or move any other parties involved in the wreck, as this could worsen their injuries. Also, it can create a bigger legal mess.

2. Call the Authorities

Once you’ve called for medical help, call the police. Calling 911 will most likely automate the process but do not assume. When speaking with the emergency response team, request both police presence and the medical response team. 

The laws revolving around pedestrian accidents will vary by state. Therefore, regardless if the accident involved a car, commercial truck, motorcycle, rideshare (Uber, Lyft), or other motor vehicles, the protocols may be different in each location.

If someone leaves the scene of the accident, they could experience legal consequences. In some states, they may even be charged with a hit and run and find themselves facing criminal charges.

3. Collect Evidence

If you’re involved in the accident, document the details of it. Take pictures if you can of the scene of the accident, as well as your injuries. These pictures can serve as evidence, and they will also help you remember what happened. Immediately after the accident, write down what happened as best as you can remember it. Take note of details including:

• Date 
• Time 
• Location 
• Road conditions 
• Weather
• Names and contact numbers of everyone involved
• Insurance information 
• Names and contact numbers of witnesses

When police officers arrive on the scene, write down their names and badge numbers. Record the contact details of any witnesses to the accident as well. It’s best to have more information than less. If you or the pedestrian decided to pursue legal action against the responsible party, this evidence will prove to be very beneficial. 

4. Watch What You Say

Do not admit fault or say anything that appears to admit fault. Sometimes, even saying “sorry,” can be interpreted as taking the blame. Regardless of your role in the accident, watch your words carefully. Just focus on staying safe and contacting the proper authorities.

Then, when the police question you about what happened, clearly state the facts clearly and do not embellish the story. Do not assume anything. If you were one of the drivers and think you may be partially at fault, still do not accept liability. There’s a possibility that the pedestrian was inebriated or that the other driver involved was texting while driving. 

Until you have the full story, there is no way of knowing exactly what happened immediately after the accident or who caused it. Always be honest and direct when talking to the police. But also, seek the advice of an experienced attorney. They will know how to best help you when you’re involved in a pedestrian accident. 

5. Call an Attorney and Your Insurance

Before notifying your insurance or speaking to the other involved party’s insurers, always consult with an attorney first. You may need to take legal action, or you may find yourself on the wrong end of legal action. Either way, you will need an attorney to help you understand your rights and to advise you on what to do. 

In particular, look for an attorney with pedestrian accident experience. You want an attorney with a winning record, so ask them about their experience and their successes. You also want an attorney who is familiar with state laws. They will give you the best pedestrian accident advice for your particular situation. 

Contact Your Insurance Agent

If you’re directly involved in the accident, contact your insurance agent. Your pedestrian accident lawyer can also speak on your behalf. This is recommended as it will avoid any accidents in misspeaking or sharing too many details.

Your insurance agent should also fully understand your coverage and potential liabilities. They can best explain how your policy can help you. 

Car Accidents Require Attorneys

If you’re involved in car accidents that have pedestrians in the mix, you need an attorney. Whether you are the injured pedestrian or another injured driver, contact an attorney. They will advise you on your responsibilities and your legal rights. 

Attorneys who are experienced in pedestrian-car accidents understand pedestrian responsibility. They know how to help their clients when the clients cannot help themselves. If you’re a victim of an accident, contact Alpha Accident Lawyers. We will work aggressively to get you the compensation you deserve. 

Our accident attorneys guide clients through each step of the process. Furthermore, your only focus should be to heal from your injuries, so our team takes care of the tedious paperwork like obtaining police reports, filing claims, keeping track of medical bills, and setting doctor’s appointments. 

At Alpha Accident Lawyers, we pride ourselves on fighting for accident victims. Please, contact us today to schedule a free case evaluation.