How To Properly Handle Being In A Car Accident As A Pedestrian

Pedestrians are the most vulnerable people on the road. Sometimes, car accidents happen and you or someone else is hit by a car. How will you know what to do next? This post will help answer your questions about car accident protocol for pedestrians.

Stay calm

If you are in a car accident as a pedestrian, the first thing to do is try to stay calm. As much as possible, try not to panic and be mindful of your surroundings. Rather, think about whether or not there are any hazards nearby that could cause further injury.

Do not move if you are in pain

If the car has only clipped your clothing or pushed you slightly, there is no need to move. If it was a more serious car accident and you have been hurt badly – depending on where the injuries are – then carefully get up into a sitting position when it’s safe to do so.

Call 911

Once you are safely sitting up after the car accident, call for emergency medical services immediately. Do not try to move if it is impossible or unsafe to do so because that could cause further injury and even death in severe cases. Make sure someone else calls on your behalf if you cannot speak to yourself due to shock, pain, and blood loss. A seasoned pedestrian accident attorney in Ann Arbor suggests that you also get in touch with a lawyer if you are capable of doing so. Apart from being able to help ensure that you are compensated for the injuries you have sustained according to Michigan laws, they will also be able to guide you with the process.

Do not agree to move the car

Even if the car is blocking your path and you have been asked by someone – including a law enforcement officer – to get into another car or move out of the way, do not comply unless it’s safe for you to do so. Request that they wait until emergency medical services arrive on the scene. If you feel that it is an urgent matter and they refuse, then take as many pictures of the car accident as possible – including any damage to either car involved to prove your case.

Do not admit fault

Lastly, do not admit fault on social media or otherwise if there was a car accident involving you and someone else. If you are unsure of who was at fault, then do not make any hasty conclusions until your car accident lawyer can assess the situation and give you proper advice on what to do next. Do not admit liability for car accidents if it’s unclear that you were responsible or not.

Keep a record of information

Be sure to take note of all information related to the incident including what happened, who was involved, where it occurred, as well as when it happened to name a few. If possible, get names and contact information from any witnesses before they leave so that you can follow up with them, later on, should you need to.

Keeping a car accident journal will help keep all the information organized which can prove invaluable when it comes time for insurance claims and court proceedings if necessary. If you aren’t able to write down what happened at the moment, take some time once everything has settled down and create your car accident diary so that nothing gets forgotten or lost in the fray.

Be honest and submit a full car accident report

When you file an insurance claim for damages after being involved in a car accident as a pedestrian, it’s important to be completely truthful with your records. As tempting as it might be to leave some details out or “forget” about certain aspects of the car crash, insurance companies can use any omitted information to deny your claim.

If it turns out that you’re at fault for the accident and were not obeying traffic laws or if there is anything else that was misreported due to intentional deceit, damages will be much more difficult to receive as a result of dishonesty. Be sure to submit a car accident report as accurately and honestly as possible to ensure that your claim is taken seriously.

With these tips in mind, next time you find yourself in a car accident as a pedestrian, be sure to stay calm and assess the situation. You are not alone – there are plenty of people who have been in your position before so don’t hesitate to ask for help if needed. All these are geared towards ensuring that you will be back on your feet in no time.