According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 17% of all traffic fatalities recorded in the United States in 2019 involved pedestrians.

Like various auto accidents, pedestrian-related accidents seem to be ever on the increase. These encounters can result in severe injuries and even death. And while the motorists are usually at fault, there may be times when pedestrians are to blame.

Therefore, knowing the right course of action to take if you accidentally hit a pedestrian with your car is essential. And that’s what this post shall attempt to explore. This article offers expert tips on what you do if you ever knock a pedestrian down with your car.

Pull Yourself Together

As a motorist, you’re bound to feel confused or upset right after hitting a pedestrian with your car. However, the chaos and confusion resulting from car accidents will only impair your judgment further.

That explains why experts recommend getting your act together. You can do that by taking a deep breath. This will allow you to relax and focus on the situation with more sobriety.

Check That Everyone Is Safe

After getting control of your emotions, ensure that everyone is safe. That includes yourself, any other occupant of your car, and the pedestrian you’ve accidentally knocked down.

Should you discover that some people have sustained injuries, take the injured persons to a place of safety where they can receive emergency medical treatment. However, do not attempt to administer first aid yourself unless you’re adequately trained for the same.

Get Medical Assistance

Regardless of the extent of the injuries, it’s always prudent to get medical assistance immediately. But as already indicated, you should avoid administering emergency treatments unless you’re trained in first aid practices like CPR.

Your best bet would be to contact medical care providers nearby. Alternatively, call 911 and other local law enforcement officers.

It’s also essential to give a true account of the accident. That will help them determine the nature of medical assistance to administer to the victims.

Demonstrate Some Empathy

Getting hit by a car while crossing the street is one of the worst experiences pedestrians can go through. Therefore, it’s essential to reassure the victims by demonstrating some empathy. That’s especially if the victims have sustained more grievous injuries than yourself.

Now, there are various ways to empathize with the pedestrian’s predicament. The first is by arranging emergency medical assistance.

Besides, you could talk to the victim and try to find out more about their identity and home address. Showing that you’re concerned can help speed up recovery from the physical and emotional trauma resulting from road accidents.

Exchange Contact Information

Experts recommend exchanging contact information with everyone involved in the accident. The amount of information you give will depend on the nature of the injuries. If the victim has not been incapacitated, you could exchange names, phone numbers, email addresses, physical addresses, and insurance information.

However, keep everything brief. Note that the information you give is only for any litigation or compensation processes that may ensue following the accident. So, avoid extensive engagements with the pedestrian or other parties involved in the accident.

Most importantly, do not admit fault or make certain statements that could put you at a disadvantage. It’s okay to say you’re sorry for the victim’s injuries. But don’t make it appear as if you’re feeling guilty for their whole predicament. Remember, whatever you say during such critical moments may be used against you in a court of law or similar proceedings.

Gather Evidence About the Accident

The law enforcement officers will do a great job of collecting evidence at the scene of an accident. However, that doesn’t stop you from gathering any crucial piece of evidence that you can use to argue your case in the event of litigation.

If you can, take pictures of the crosswalks from both sides of the crash. Also, capture clear photos of traffic signal devices, bodily injuries, vehicle damage, and anything that might tell an accurate story of how the accident happened.

If you can, collect first-hand witness accounts. Just be sure to rely on credible witnesses and not any overexcited onlookers.

Engage Your Attorney

Now that you have crucial pieces of evidence from the crash scene, it’s time to contact your attorney and fill them in on all the details of the accident. An auto accident lawyer will perform the all-too-important task of establishing fault.

Remember to furnish the lawyer with all the evidence collected from the scene plus any other documents relevant to the accident, such as police reports.

Contact Your Insurance Company

Your insurance company will rely heavily on police reports and other pieces of professionally gathered evidence to determine whether to compensate you for any vehicle damages or not. Some companies maintain in-house car accident lawyers and other expert personnel whose advice will be useful in determining if you qualify for compensation.

Therefore, you must contact your auto insurer while still on the crash scene. Depending on your cover, the company may compensate you and the injured pedestrians.

Summary

The aftermath of accidents involving pedestrians can often be challenging to navigate. We hope you can rely on this article as your handy guide in the event of pedestrian-related car accidents.