what to do if you hit a pedestrian with your car

Steps to Follow in a Pedestrian Accidents Aftermath

Florida is not known for pedestrian friendliness and ranks amid the states with the highest number of pedestrian accidents per capita. In fact, nine of the xx U.South. cities with the near almanac pedestrian crashes are in Florida. Overall, every bit a state, Florida ranks number i for pedestrian deaths between 2008 and 2017 co-ordinate to Smart Growth America.

Are Florida Roadways Dangerous by Blueprint?

There is piddling doubt that sidewalks and crosswalks make pedestrians safer. However, other features including efficient public transportation, divide bike lanes, and pedestrian overpasses also contribute to pedestrian prophylactic. Florida is non a state that is easy to navigate on pes considering information technology is and then spread out. Florida'southward population is also growing as many retiree snowbirds are choosing to permanently move to the country, according to the Herald-Tribune. Based on this information, there are probable to go on to be more cars than ever on Florida roadways, making it even more difficult and dangerous for pedestrians to navigate the roadways safely.

When You are Struck by a Vehicle

If you are a victim of a pedestrian blow, you might suffer life-threatening injuries and you may exist unable to practice annihilation except await for help after the accident. Notwithstanding, if you are able, there are certain steps you should take immediately after an blow. These steps are as follows:

• Step ane: Get to prophylactic – The get-go consideration should be your personal condom. Make sure you are non in any further danger from other vehicles in the roadway. If yous were struck in a crosswalk, become dorsum to the sidewalk as soon equally it is safety to do and so.
• Step two: Request aid from others – If you have a cell phone, contact local law enforcement immediately. If you lot practice not have a cell phone on your person, ask anyone in the expanse to contact law enforcement on your behalf. When speaking with police force enforcement, make certain you practise not take responsibility for the accident.
• Stride iii: Get together information – You demand to get every bit much data every bit possible about the person responsible for the blow. If the commuter has stopped, get their proper name, driver's license information, license plate number, and the proper name of their insurance visitor. If they have fled the scene, ask if anyone saw the responsible vehicle and get every bit clear a description every bit possible.
• Step four: Obtain witness data – Inquire for names and contact data from any witnesses who saw the incident happen. This will be important for yous and for constabulary enforcement. There will likely be an blow reconstruction report developed at some point during the investigation and witnesses volition exist an invaluable resources for the investigators.
• Footstep 5:Take photographs of the blow scene – When a pedestrian is struck by a vehicle, a moving picture is worth a thousand words. Obtain relevant photographs including images of the firsthand area where you lot were struck and whatever other relevant perspectives on the scene of the accident like traffic signals, atmospheric condition weather, obstacles in the roadway, or anything else you lot think could potentially exist relevant. There is no such thing as also many photographs.
• Step vi: Seek immediate medical attention – Even if you do not believe your injuries are serious, you lot demand to seek immediate medical care. Being struck by a motorcar is hard on your body, and the sudden trauma will cause your trunk to flood with adrenaline. Whether you seek care from your own physician or from an emergency room, you desire your condition documented equally quickly as possible. If your body shows signs of trauma including bruising, scrapes, cuts, or torn clothing, make sure you take photographs.
• Step vii: Continuous monitoring – Later a medical professional has seen yous, continue to monitor your physical condition for several days after the accident. Make note of whatsoever unusual symptoms you may brandish including unexplained headaches, body aches, or stiffness. These could exist signs of trauma that were disregarded during your initial test.
• Step eight: Contact the driver's insurance company – If you accept the driver'south data because they stopped at the scene, contact their insurance visitor. When speaking with an insurance adjuster be certain yous practise not accept any responsibility for the accident. Provide them your name and contact information, and advise them that a police report has been filed. Avoid answering questions. These questions may seem innocent, merely they could be designed to trick you into saying that you lot are not injured or that you lot may have been at fault for the accident. If you accept motorcar insurance, you should too contact your own machine insurance visitor. Fifty-fifty though you lot were a pedestrian you have the right to file a no-fault merits with your own insurance company under Florida law.
• Step nine: Contact an attorney – Yous should consult with a personal injury attorney if yous were injured in a pedestrian accident. This is important because many victims of pedestrian accidents are unaware of their rights. Most attorneys will offer a gratis evaluation of your pedestrian blow, which is a good thing to take advantage of in case your injuries turn out to be more than serious than you lot idea and you lot demand long-term or expensive medical care.

For a free legal consultation, call 833-552-7274

Common Injuries Later Existence Hit past a Car

If you are in a automobile accident and yous are in a vehicle, you are offered some protection by the car'due south safety features. As a pedestrian, you lot accept no protection from the collision and at a minimum you are going to be thrown to the basis. Some of the following injuries can consequence from existence a pedestrian struck by a motorcar:

• Scrapes, bruising, and lacerations – While these types of injuries may seem simple enough to identify and care for immediately post-obit an blow, they tin can result in scars that you will have for the remainder of your life. Additionally, deep lacerations or scrapes can also pb to infections. Make sure you follow your medical provider's instructions for the proper care of these types of injuries.
• Cleaved bones – Because pedestrians are near always thrown to the basis during an accident with a motor vehicle, there is a adventure that you will suffer a cleaved bone or multiple broken bones. Broken bones can result in lost time from piece of work, may crave surgical procedures for proper healing, and in some cases may result in a permanent limp or disfigurement.
• Head and neck injuries – Depending on the trajectory of your fall, the position yous were in when yous were struck, and the size of the vehicle that struck you, y'all could exist dealing with head trauma. Concussions are common if you strike your head on the route surface, adjourn, or the vehicle's fender. A resulting brain injury can have life-long repercussions. Make sure y'all study whatsoever symptoms of head trauma including blurry vision, headaches, or mood changes to your doc. You should seek medical attention immediately if you start feeling dizzy, nauseous, or unusually tired afterward any head trauma as these symptoms could be signs of a serious brain injury.

Pedestrians who are struck past a auto may also suffer other injuries including back injuries, internal organ impairment, or other potentially life-threatening injuries. In some instances, pedestrians do not survive the trauma associated with being struck by a motor vehicle.

Pedestrians Are Normally Not at Fault

While there are rare exceptions when a pedestrian may exist at fault for the injuries they sustain after being hit past a motorcar, the operator of the car is usually at error. According to Florida statutes, cars generally must yield the right of way to a pedestrian. The statute reads, in part: When traffic control signals are not in identify or in operation and in that location is no signage indicating otherwise, the commuter of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-fashion, slowing down or stopping if need exist to so yield, to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a crosswalk when the pedestrian is upon the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling or when the pedestrian is approaching so closely from the contrary half of the roadway every bit to be in danger.

Rights to Fiscal Recovery

Physical trauma is a concern after beingness hit by a car. However, the fiscal difficulties you may face as a event of your injuries can be just as concerning as yous start on the road to recovery. Depending on the severity of your injuries you may be out of work for several days, weeks, or months while you lot heal. Because Florida is a no-error state, your options for financial recovery may exist disruptive. First, if you own a auto that is insured, you must file a claim with your ain insurer, even though you were a pedestrian at the time of the accident. At that place are too restrictions on filing personal injury lawsuits, which your attorney can explain to y'all in more detail. Generally, the rules state that you must take suffered a serious injury, which may include disfigurement, the loss of a actual function such as your hearing or vision, or a permanent injury. If your insurance coverage is insufficient to cover your medical bills, lost wages, and other monetary costs, you may have the right to file a merits with the responsible driver'south insurance company even if yous do not come across the personal injury lawsuit requirements. If your attorney believes yous are eligible to file a personal injury lawsuit, y'all may be able to recover compensation for both monetary and non-monetary losses. Monetary losses include wages you cannot earn during your recovery, medical expenses for md's visits, nursing intendance during recovery, medications you may need, surgical procedures, and rehabilitation costs where applicative. Not-monetary losses may include pain and suffering and punitive damages when a court determines that the motor vehicle operator acted in a negligent manner, which resulted in your injuries.

Pedestrian Accidents and Wrongful Death

Unfortunately, pedestrians do non always survive a vehicle accident, particularly if they are a child or an elderly person. A family unit who has lost a loved one in a pedestrian auto accident should contact an attorney immediately for advice. Wrongful death claims must be filed by a person appointed by the deceased person'southward estate. The person who caused the death by acting negligently is responsible for the same damages they would have been liable for had the person survived. For surviving family members, no corporeality of coin will supersede the loss of your loved one to a driver's negligent actions. However, you should non accept to comport the financial costs associated with such a devastating loss. A wrongful death lawsuit can assist you recover fiscal amercement including medical bills associated with your loved one'south care earlier their decease, the unexpected costs of funeral and burial expenses, and wages the deceased person was earning or expected to earn before their expiry that are lost to your family every bit a consequence of their death. Wrongful death claims must exist filed within 2 years of the death. Pedestrian accidents are frightening, and equally populations in Florida increase, these accidents are only probable to increase. Statistically, with increases in population, there is besides an increase in the number of vehicles traveling on the roadways. The more than cars in that location are on the road, the college the risk of injury or death to pedestrians attempting to share the roadway. It is understandable to be angry and confused if you were a pedestrian hit by a car, or if you lot lost a loved one to an blow with a negligent driver. Yous should make sure you empathise what rights yous take under Florida laws to seek monetary damages from the responsible political party. The best way to empathise your rights and whether you have the ground for a ceremonious personal injury lawsuit is to contact a Florida pedestrian accident attorney who has experience working with clients who were hit by cars while walking. Dolman Law Group Blow Injury Lawyers, PA 800 North Belcher Road Clearwater, FL 33765 (727) 451-6900 https://www.dolmanlaw.com/legal-services/pedestrian-accident-attorneys/

Telephone call or text 833-552-7274 or complete a Costless Example Evaluation class

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Source: https://www.dolmanlaw.com/pedestrian-hit-by-car/

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