“What Should I Do If I Get Hit By a Car While Walking?”

In effort to live healthier lives, many people are opting to institute activities, such as walking, running, and jogging into their daily fitness routines. It’s an easily accessible form of exercise, as it can be done just about anywhere—from your neighborhood cul-de-sac to your local park to the bustling streets of your city. But getting around on foot can open pedestrians up to traffic risks.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Traffic Safety Facts report, there were 4,743 pedestrian fatalities and 76,000 pedestrian injuries involving motor vehicles in 2012. The same report states that those stats equal out to about one death every two hours and one injury every seven minutes. Of course, there are plenty of things you can do to ensure your safety while traversing your town on foot:

1) Use designated crosswalks. If the intersection has a walk/don’t walk sign, follow those directions, as well. A good practice, regardless of whether there is a sign present or not, is to look both ways and check that the path is clear for you to cross before making a move.

2) Be aware of your surroundings. This includes looking and listening. You may, in fact, hear a car’s engine or its screeching tires before you see it speeding toward you, giving you enough of a head’s up to get out of the way. Leave the earphones at home; it’s much safer that way.

3) Don’t text and walk. Anything that takes your eyes off of the road—whether you have the right of way or not—is a danger to your safety. Wait until you’ve successfully made it to the other side of the street before sending a text or placing a call.

4) Know your neighborhood’s walkability score. Sometimes, walking really isn’t an option. There may not be any sidewalks in your area; you may live where there’s too much vehicle traffic to walk safely; your area may not be well-lit—it could be a number of things. If your town’s website doesn’t publish its walkability score, you can use this checklist to determine it for yourself.

Following pedestrian guidelines and laws at all times is your best bet to avoiding a crash; however, if you do find yourself involved in one, here’s what you should do:

1) Call the police. Before you do anything else, alert the police that there has been an accident, so that the responding officers can arrive quickly and begin investigating the scene, taking your statement to file a report, and interviewing witnesses.

2) Exchange insurance information. If you’re proven not to be at fault, the driver’s insurance may cover any necessary medical bills that you incur. Remember, though, to never apologize, admit to any possible wrongdoing, or discuss the details of the accident with the insurance company.

3) See a doctor. To confirm that there are—or are not—any serious injuries, including internal ones, let the medical professionals conduct a full examination.

4) Establish a visual record. Take plenty of photos of the accident scene, any visible injuries you may have, and any other damage. This can be used as evidence in your case or settlement.

5) Contact Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys for your free consultation. As pedestrian accident and personal injury attorneys, we have more than five decades of experience and a well-established track record of winning large settlements and court cases for our clients. Schedule your consult by calling us at 855-866-5529 or by filling out our contact form.