I Was Hit by a Car as a Pedestrian What do I do In The UK
When we talk about Road traffic accidents most people automatically think about collisions between vehicles, however collisions between cars and pedestrians are much more common than you may think. During 2023 Gov.UK reported that 19,235 pedestrians were injured in road traffic accidents across the country.
As a pedestrian if you are involved in any sort of collision with a vehicle the effects can be extremely damaging both physically and psychologically. This is why if you are unfortunate enough to be involved in a road traffic accident as a pedestrian you should make a pedestrian injury claim.
If you are unsure how to go about making a personal injury compensation claim the expert team here at Tylers can help. We have many years experience of helping clients successfully claim the pedestrian injury compensation that helps them get their lives back on track.
Within this blog post we are going to look at the main types of injury sustained in road traffic accidents, what you should do if you are hit by a car, the claims process, the compensation you could be entitled to and how Tylers can help you get the full amount of compensation you deserve.
What are The Most Common Types of injury suffered by Pedestrians Involved in a Road Accident
Pedestrians hit by vehicles can suffer a variety of injuries ranging from minor cuts and bruises to extremely serious and even death. When looking at pedestrian injuries the police usually put them into five categories which are:
- Slight Injuries – These include things such as Whiplash, bruising, sprains and minor cuts
- Less Serious – Less serious injuries include minor head injuries, deep cuts and lacerations, broken bones and fractures such to areas of the body such as shoulder, collar bone, upper and lower limbs.
- Moderately Serious – This covers partial loss of limbs, chest injuries, deep and penetrative cuts and fractures to the thigh or pelvis.
- Very Serious – Included in this category are severe head and chest injuries that result in a loss of consciousness, crush injuries that make it difficult to breathe, broken neck, spinal and all internal injuries.
- Finally Fatalities
What Should you do after a Pedestrian Car Accident
If you are unfortunate enough to be injured in a collision with a vehicle it is imperative that you take the appropriate action. Now we fully understand that it is a traumatic experience that can leave you disorientated however doing the right things can help make sure you get the pedestrian injury compensation you deserve.
- First of all your health and safety must be your primary concern. Even if you feel your injuries are only minor ones you should still seek medical attention. Injuries often manifest themselves much later on so it is important to ensure you get the correct type of help. This could be calling an ambulance or visiting A&E or your GP.
- Call the police and report the incident
- Record any injuries sustained and, if possible, obtain the driver’s information, including their name, phone number, and insurance details.
- Take names and details of any potential witnesses, along with the make, model and registration number of vehicles involved in the incident.
- Contact a legal specialist to discuss your case and the viability of a claim.
What Sort of Evidence Would Help to Support Your Pedestrian Injury Claim
If you are involved in a road traffic accident that wasn’t your fault and are looking to make a claim for compensation you need to collect as much evidence as possible. The sort of evidence that will assist you when making a claim for pedestrian injury compensation includes:
- Footage from dash cams or CCTV
- Copies of Your medical; records
- Photographs of the scene and the injuries you sustained
- Contact details of witnesses and observers
- A Copy of the police report on the incident
At Tylers our experienced team of no win, no fee personal injury solicitors will help you gather the evidence you need to assist with your claim. They will work closely with you and guide you through the process to ensure you do not have any added worry or stress.
What are the Types of Driver Negligence That Lead to a Pedestrian Injury Claim
There are several things that drivers do which breaches their duty of care resulting in injury to a pedestrian. For instance:
- A driver failing to check their mirrors while reversing out of a parking space, therefore colliding with you leading to you sustaining injuries.
- A driver under the influence of alcohol, who is unaware of their surroundings and as a result veers onto the pavement hitting you resulting in you sustaining serious injury.
- Drivers exceeding the speed limit meaning they are unable to stop in time to avoid collisions
- Drivers who lose concentration because they are looking at their phone instead of the road
Pedestrian accidents can lead to severe injuries like brain damage, spinal cord damage, and broken bones. To find out whether may be eligible for compensation for the injuries you have suffered in a road traffic accident contact the team here at Tylers today.
How does the claims Process Work
The first thing to do is to get in touch with an experienced personal injury solicitor who will assess the viability of your claim. If it is apparent that there was negligence on the part of a third party they will progress your claim. Our advice would be that you start your claim as soon as possible as this will allow you to gather all evidence before it has the chance to get lost and while everything is clear in your mind. If you satisfy the following criteria you are likely to be eligible to make a claim:
- The accident occurred within the last 3 years
- Your Injuries are the result of negligence by a third party
Can you Make a Pedestrian Injury claim on Behalf of Someone Else
Because unfortunately road traffic accidents sometimes result in pedestrians being killed or suffering injuries that are so serious they cannot function normally then a claim can be made on their behalf.
Making a claim on behalf of a friend or relative can help relieve the financial burden if that person is no longer able to work, or needs specialist care and attention because of the injuries they sustained.
In the case of fatalities while no amount of money can compensate for the loss of a loved one pedestrian injury compensation could help alleviate any financial pressure you may be under.
To Summarise
As a pedestrian being involved in a road traffic accident can be especially traumatic which can make it difficult to deal with the intricacies of making a pedestrian injury claim. Our team can help you with any challenges you may face such as:
- Disputed liability
- Negotiations with insurance companies and other parties
- Time limits
- Evidence gathering
If you are a pedestrian who has been injured in a road traffic accident, get in touch with the team here at Tylers today to find out how we can help you get the compensation that can help you move on with your life.
