Being hit by a car is without a doubt a terrifying experience and a potentially life-threatening situation. Unfortunately, you still need to take the proper steps to protect yourself. By doing so, you will ensure your financial protection and most importantly, your safety.
In this article, we’ll review what you should do if you are hit by an automobile or any other type of moving vehicle.
Your first priority is to ensure you are safe.
This may seem obvious but often a person with a serious injury does not realize it due to shock and adrenaline.
If at all possible, move out of the way of other traffic away from the street. Try to collect yourself, breathe slowly and do your best to remain calm. You will more than likely experience various emotions such as fear, anger, as well as pain and adrenaline. Calming down will better help you evaluate yourself for injuries you have suffered. It will also make it easier for you to communicate with by standards who witnessed the accident as well as when talking to the police and describing what happened.
If you are seriously injured, please make sure you receive treatment as soon as possible by calling 911 and requesting an ambulance.
Do not leave the scene of the accident.
It’s very important the incident is documented and you are there to control the circumstances if at all medically possible. Keep in mind you may not feel injured at the time of the accident but you may in the future. You want to make sure you have the drivers, driver license information and insurance information and most importantly, the accident is documented by the police. Never under any circumstance leave the scene of the accident without following the above guidelines.
Do everything possible to make sure the driver does not leave the scene of the accident.
Very often an injured person may feel as if they are okay and not injured but as we discussed earlier, this is often due adrenaline. Make every effort possible to call the police immediately and request an ambulance if one is needed. Often drivers will tell injury victims, “you look okay” and try to persuade them to dismiss the accident so they can be one their way. Do not ever say you are okay and insist they remain until the police arrive. Do not be afraid to inconvenience the driver, you’re not wasting anyone’s time. If they insist on leaving the scene of the accident if at all possible, write down the license place number of the car or take a picture of it with your mobile phone.