Pedestrian Accidents: What Should You Do?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the United States nearly 6,000 pedestrians are killed in motor vehicle-related crashes every year. This means that one pedestrian dies in an accident every 1.5 hours. In addition to the fatalities, more than 120,000 other pedestrians are seriously injured and require emergency medical treatment for their crash-related injuries.

More Info on Pedestrian Accidents

Some people are at higher risk for pedestrian accidents than others are. The CDC reports that some of the known risk factors and groups include:

• Older adults: pedestrians who are 65-years-old and above account for approximately 20% of pedestrian deaths and 15% of the total pedestrian injuries;
• The majority of pedestrian accidents happen in populated, urban areas and not at marked intersections;
• Kids: children under the age of 15-years-old are more likely to be injured in pedestrian accidents involving motor vehicles;
• Drivers and pedestrians who are under the influence of alcohol: approximately every one in three fatal pedestrian crashes involves a driver or pedestrian with a BAC (blood alcohol concentration/content) of .08 or above, and:
• When vehicles travel at higher speeds it not only increases the chance for a pedestrian accident to occur, but also the likelihood for serious and/or catastrophic injuries.

There are a variety of reasons behind why pedestrian accidents happen. Some of the most common ones, however, include when a driver is distracted (like when a driver is using his or her cell phone behind the wheel), when a driver runs a stop sign or red light, and even when a driver fails to notice a pedestrian – who has the right-of-way – at a marked crosswalk or at a stop sign.

What to do if You Were Hit By a Car as a Pedestrian

First things first: if you were hit by any kind of motor vehicle and require medical attention, call 9-1-1—or ask a bystander to – right away. Getting medical care is the number one priority. If the striking driver (the one who hit you) stopped at the scene, be sure to exchange relevant contact (name, phone number, etc.) and insurance information. Exchange information with all individuals involved in the accident or who are at the scene, including any witnesses. Just one example for why it is so important to exchange information at the scene of an accident is so the injured party can pursue compensation for his or her medical bills by means of the responsible party’s insurance carrier.

Hit and Run Pedestrian Accidents

In some cases, a driver breaks the law and does not stop at the scene of the accident after he or she hits a pedestrian. In these situations, it is considered a hit and run, which is a crime. After a hit and run accident occurs, it is critical to file a report with the police. This will help the police have a clear idea of what happened, as well as who to search for and additional information to rely on if the suspect ends up being found. Hit and runs can be particularly difficult for victims to navigate. This is because most of the time, the injured individual is financially responsible for covering his or her medical bills until – or if – a suspect is found and taken into police custody.

Contacting a Lawyer After an Accident

Knowing what to do after being injured in a pedestrian and motor vehicle accident is tough but that is just one reason that it can be especially helpful to contact a lawyer. Not only will an attorney advocate for your rights, but he or she can also help make the time following an accident less frightening and stressful.

At our firm, we have several automobile accident attorneys who have successfully handled thousands of automobile accident cases, and who can answer your questions and concerns. If you would like to talk to a member of our legal team, please contact a representative at our firm directly.

Philadelphia Personal Injury Lawyers at Galfand Berger, LLP Represent Automobile Accident Victims

If you were injured in an automobile accident, please contact our Philadelphia personal injury lawyers at Galfand Berger. With offices located in Philadelphia, Bethlehem, Lancaster, and Reading, we serve clients throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. To schedule a consultation, call us at 800-222-8792 or complete our online contact form.