According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, pedestrian accidents are one of the few road fatalities that are on the rise. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 4,743 pedestrians were killed in a traffic accident in 2012 and 76,000 were injured. In fact, the CDC states that pedestrians are one and a half times more likely to be killed in a car crash than a vehicle’s passenger.
So let’s say you’re driving down the road when a pedestrian walks out in front of your car. You are unable to stop in time and you hit the person. What happens next? Will you be charged with a crime?
First, you must calm down. You won’t be able to help anyone if you are panicking. Once you got your emotions under control, follow these steps:
- Make sure everyone involved with the accident is ok. If you can, try to get the injured parties to a safe place, such as a side of the road. However, if the person is alone, it’s best to leave them alone.
- Call 911. You may want to contact a personal injury lawyer at this time to be on the safe side. If you have been doing something illegal at the time of the accident, such as drinking and driving, the sooner you call your lawyer, the better.
- If the pedestrian is not seriously injured, make sure you exchange contact information. Whatever you do, do not admit fault. Also, avoid talking to the pedestrian’s attorney or insurance company without your lawyer.
Remember that getting into a pedestrian accident can be scary, but the procedure is like any car accident. If this happens to you, contact the Law Offices of Anthony Carbone for a free consultation.