Pedestrian auto accidents are frequently life-altering or even fatal for the pedestrian. He or she may be thrown, crushed, or struck with such force that severe and potentially lethal injuries occur. Common causes of death, disability, and paralysis in pedestrian vs. automobile collisions include traumatic brain injuries, internal injuries, and spinal cord injuries. Of all persons who share the road, including drivers, passengers, commercial drivers, bicyclists, and motorcyclists, pedestrians have the least protection and the least visibility. Yet they are also among the most distracted, and any distraction on the part of the pedestrian or drivers on the road could result in tragedy. For these reasons, it is essential that we make a point of actively preventing such incidents, and also that we know how to respond when they happen.
Actively Prevent Pedestrian Auto Accidents in Greenville, South Carolina
In order to actively prevent pedestrian auto accidents, you must make it a point to be aware of pedestrians on the
road. This means that you must look for them, make eye contact with them, slow or stop as needed. Simply following the general rules of the road is not enough to prevent auto vs. pedestrian accidents. You may have the right of way, for example, but if a pedestrian darts out in front of your vehicle, it will give you little comfort to know that it was the pedestrian who was in the wrong.
Never make assumptions about what a pedestrian is about to do based on what they ought to do. Rather, notice what they are doing (stopping, continuing, chasing a pet or a ball), and whether or not they have also noticed you. The same advice applies to pedestrians, who also need to pay more attention to what vehicles are doing rather than what they would expect the vehicles to do.
Drivers and pedestrians should both be extra cautious around school drop off and pick up traffic, around busy intersections, and anywhere that vehicle traffic or foot traffic is high. Pedestrians are just as distractible as drivers, if not more so. Everyone must take into account the potential consequences of themselves and others not paying attention.
Not All Pedestrian Auto Accidents Can Be Prevented
While pedestrian auto accidents are primarily avoidable, this does not mean that all of them can be prevented. Drivers and pedestrians will not always see the hazard in time to prevent the collision. Drivers will continue to run red lights, and pedestrians will continue to make mistakes when crossing busy roads. While we want to do everything we can to educate pedestrians of all ages and all drivers in Greenville, South Carolina, to prevent these South Carolina auto accidents from occurring, we must also be prepared to respond appropriately when they do. Remember the following steps:
- Assess the Situation – Is the pedestrian responsive? Is he or she breathing, conscious, and moving? If conscious, does the pedestrian understand what has happened? Are there obvious injuries and broken bones? Is there a lot of blood? Your observations of the situation will tell you what to do next. Calling the police is the next step, though you can dial 911 while you are assessing the situation and cover both steps in one quick thinking and possibly life saving action.
- Call 911 – This is where you must be ready to relay information to the 911 operator for emergency response. The operator will likely help you to provide first aid by giving you instructions. They will start by asking questions, very similar to what we addressed in step one, and then they will tell you what to do. For example, they may instruct you on performing CPR, on putting pressure on a wound, or in keeping the victim calm and still. At the same time, they will be alerting the police and ambulance, so they can make it to you quickly.
- Remain at the Scene – You must remain at the scene of a pedestrian auto accident until you are permitted to leave by the responding officer. You will need to provide your insurance information and contact information and also explain what happened. You do not have to admit or discuss fault. Rather, you should simply state the manner in which the collision occurred, without explicitly putting blame on either side, to the best of your ability.
- Gather Evidence at the Scene of the Accident – Once you know that injuries are being attended to, you can turn your attention to gathering evidence at the scene of the accident. This could include gathering the contact information of witnesses and taking photos of the scene.
- Notify Your Auto Insurance Company of the Accident – Finally, you will need to inform your auto insurance company that an accident has occurred. You will have to explain what happened, but again, you can avoid placing blame on yourself or the other party. They will ask you several questions, but you can always explain that you don’t currently know the answer to any particular question. If you fail to notify your auto insurance company of the incident, then you may end up without coverage, as per your contract with that company. You should learn more auto insurance policy.
- Contact an Attorney – You will want to discuss the accident with an attorney. A lawyer will ensure that you are aware of your rights and options and guide you in what to do next.
Contact David R. Price, Jr. P.A. if You are Injured in a Greenville, South Carolina, Pedestrian Accident
If you have been injured in a pedestrian auto accident in Greenville, South Carolina, contact David R. Price, Jr. P.A. to schedule a free consultation. We will help you recover the compensation you need.
David Price is a Personal Injury, Civil Litigation, Collections, and Criminal Defense Attorney who practices in Greenville, SC. He graduated from the University of Georgia School of Law, and has been practicing law for 12 years. David Price believes in helping those who have been injured. Learn more about his experience by clicking here.
