If I Am Involved in a Pedestrian Accident, What Are My Responsibilities?

Motor vehicles have a legal obligation to share the road. If you are walking or jogging, drivers don’t have the right to hit you just because you were in their way. However, as a pedestrian, you are much more vulnerable to injuries in an accident than the person inside the vehicle is.
Use Caution When Crossing the Street

We all have a responsibility to share the road with one another, including pedestrians and motor vehicle operators. When walking, that means using proper walkways and crosswalks to cross intersections, and doing so only when it is safe. At busy intersections, wait until you see the “walk” signal, and don’t attempt to cross in front of traffic. For your own safety, you should never step out from in between parked cars or obstructed areas without first looking both ways to make sure your path is clear. If drivers don’t see you, they won’t stop for you – and you could be the one left facing the painful consequences.

What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident

If you have been hit by a car while walking, the first thing you should is call for emergency help. Give at statement to the police who arrive at the scene if you are physically able to do so. It’s also a good idea to get statements from any independent eyewitnesses. Above all, get checked out medically. Because pedestrians don’t have the protective armor of a car to cushion the impact to their bodies, injuries in pedestrian accidents are often severe. Often, victims must take an immediate trip to the emergency room to diagnose and treat these serious injuries.

Hiring an attorney is another important action you should take as soon as you are well enough to do so. You may not know what legal rights you have or how to go about recovering compensation for your injuries.