What to do if you are pedestrian who has been hit by a car

It can be a terrifying ordeal to be a pedestrian who is involved in a road traffic accident. If this happens to you, you will likely be injured, shaken and be unsure of what steps to take. In this article, Abbie Kemp from our personal injury team explain the steps you should take if you have been hit by a car as a pedestrian.  

If you have been a pedestrian injured in an accident involving a vehicle, when in a position to do so, you should do the following:  

  1. Get to a safe space – Understandably, you will be shaken, and you may be in the road. Make sure you get to a safe space away from the road before you carry out the following steps. 
  2. Exchange contact details with the driver – You should ask the driver for their contact details including their name, address, phone number and vehicle registration number. This information is vital is you wish to pursue a personal injury claim for your injuries. 
  3. Exchange contact details with any witnesses – If there are any witnesses, you should ask for their name, phone number and address too. This can help your claim, especially if the facts are disputed. 
  4. Contact the police – If your accident was minor, the police may not attend the scene, however, it is vital to report the accident within 24 hours of it happening. This will help support your claim and you will also have a log of the accident details. 
  5. Take photos and videos – Take photographs and videos of the accident scene, surrounding areas, and your injuries. It is vital to get a photograph of the offending vehicle with the vehicle registration number in shot as they may be unwilling to exchange contact details. 
  6. Seek medical advice – If your injuries are minor, an ambulance may not have attended the scene. It is important to book an appointment with your GP or attend your local hospital with regards to injuries as it will provide a log of the injuries you sustained and medical attention was given. 
  7. Keep a log of damaged property and losses – During the accident, you may have sustained losses such as a broken phone, ripped jeans ext. Keep the damaged goods. You may have also had to take taxis to and back from medical appointments, paid for prescriptions etc.  Keep the receipts as they may be needed as evidence when we try to claim back your losses in your claim.  

We hope that you are never a victim to a pedestrian-car accident. However, if you ever find yourself in this situation, please contact our personal injury team on 033 3344 9600 or email [email protected] with as much detail as possible.

 

Author: Abbie Kemp, personal injury.