Striking a pedestrian with a vehicle is a terrifying situation that no one ever wants to experience. The unfortunate truth is that pedestrian and vehicle collisions do happen from time to time. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recorded that roughly 60,000 pedestrians were struck by a vehicle in a single year. What makes these statistics even more terrifying is that if you happen to strike a pedestrian while you are going more than 30 miles an hour it can result in a serious injury and possibly even death. It is important to keep in mind that a driver can do just as much damage to a pedestrian while going 10 miles per hour as well.
From the driver’s point of view, it is important for you to know what to do as soon as you get in a collision with a pedestrian. All accidents lawyers in Middlebury, VT are going to tell you the same thing and that is staying calm and talking to all of the right people is going to decrease your liability. It is a good idea for you to also take the time to learn the basic rules of fault and how compensation for injuries works.
It is important for you to stop and take a few deep breaths after an auto accident. It is normal to get upset, but you need to stop and focus. First, you need to concern yourself with safety. Are you ok? Is everyone in your vehicle ok? Is the pedestrian injured? You should call for medical assistance as soon as possible if anyone is hurt. Outside of CPR, you should not try to do any other medical treatment.
You are also going to want to find time to contact one of the accidents lawyers in Middlebury, VT. While it does happen, it is usually not the pedestrian’s fault that the accident happened. Whether you were the driver or the pedestrian you are going to want a lawyer. A lawyer will be able to help you figure out what steps you should take next. Visit the law office of Schneider & Palcsik, Injury Lawyers to know more.
