Unfortunately, pedestrians and cyclists being struck in car accidents is quite common in the USA and beyond. While it may not happen to you, thousands upon thousands of people are hit each year. And if it hasn’t happened to you or someone you know, there is a good chance you might not know what to do.
In an effort to help you be able to react to the situation as quick as possible if you are ever faced with it, this article will take a look at what you should do if you or someone else is hit by a vehicle.
Steps to Take If Someone is Hit By a Vehicle
Check For Injury and Safety of All Parties
The first thing that you should do when a car accident with a pedestrian or cyclist is to check for injuries. These accidents can be fatal and as such, time is of the essence when it comes to checking for injuries. You should make sure everyone is responsive, check for any cuts or breaks and more.
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Of course, if you want to be best suited and prepared for these type of events, brushing up on your first aid skills and knowledge could be a good idea. You should survey the scene for no more than a minute or so before calling authorities, as they are better equipped to deal with this sort of thing. But first thing to do is check and make sure everyone is okay or at least try and see their condition.
Report the Incident to Police and Ambulance
While checking for injuries is important, so is alerting the authorities as soon as possible. As mentioned, you should try call the authorities as soon as possible after the incident. They will normally arrive within minutes and will know exactly what to do to help the victims, as well as the next steps that should be taken.
While you may not think it is warranted to call the police (especially if it was a relatively small accident with no injuries) you should still do it. It is good to have evidence and record that this event took place, in case of future injury or other reasons.
Keep the Driver There or Look For Witnesses if Possible
Whenever a car accident, especially with a cyclist or a pedestrian takes place, you need to do all you can to keep the driver at the scene, to be able to exchange information with and speak to the authorities together about what happened. Most of the time the driver will stay, of course, but sometimes, the driver will leave the scene of the crime, which is known as a hit and run.
If the driver does leave the scene, you should try and record their license plate and/or be able to identify them. If they do leave, you should speak to any available witnesses who are going to be able to backup your story when the police and ambulance.
Reach Out to a Lawyer If Need Be
Depending on the severity of the incident, and the injuries sustained, it might make sense to reach out to a Waco truck injury lawyer or other lawyer to seek restitution for damages. Of course, you will need to be able to prove that the driver was responsible for your injuries or damages, which is why it’s so important to get the driver information or have witnesses.
Wherever you are located, there are likely lawyers who can help and have decades of experience helping accident victims get what they deserve.
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In conclusion, getting hit by a car (or seeing someone get hit) is a horrible experience and something that no one should have to go through. But if you are prepared and know what you should do, these tips and steps will be able to help.
