Personal Injury

What Should I Do After Being Involved in a Pedestrian Accident? | Pedestrian Accident Personal Injury Lawyers, Wichita, KS

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 6,205 pedestrians were killed in fatal traffic accidents in 2019, with a pedestrian dying every 85 minutes due to a traffic accident. Pedestrian accidents are considered accidents in which a vehicle strikes a person walking, jogging, skating, or scootering. Even when a vehicle is operating at a low speed, the damages caused by a pedestrian collision can be severe and even life-threatening for the injured party. Our pedestrian accident personal injury lawyers in Wichita, Kansas, at the Prochaska, Howell & Prochaska LLC Law Firm have detailed everything you should do after being involved in a pedestrian accident below.

Causes of Pedestrian Accidents

Pedestrian accidents occur daily in the United States and are caused by various factors but are generally attributed to a driver’s negligence. Whether it be due to everyday distractions such as texting, eating, and talking on the phone, or physical impairments, pedestrian accidents can result in life-altering consequences and are oftentimes entirely avoidable. It is important to note that a claim for a pedestrian accident can still be brought even when the pedestrian may be partially at fault. Drivers have a duty to keep a proper lookout for pedestrians at all times and thus can still be held responsible. Some of the most common causes of pedestrian accidents include the following:

  • Failure to yield the right of way to pedestrians on crosswalks
  • Improperly crossing an intersection or roadway
  • Poor visibility
  • Being under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or prescription medication
  • Texting or talking on the phone
  • Disobeying traffic signs and signals
  • Turning without looking

What To Do

If you have ever been involved in a pedestrian accident, you can understand the shock, confusion, and trauma that result for both parties, particularly the person struck by a moving vehicle, as they have virtually no form of protection against being thrown, crushed, or experiencing broken limbs. Even at relatively low speeds, the probability of a pedestrian surviving a collision with a car traveling at 40 MPH is extremely low, and the likelihood of experiencing head injuries, organ failure, bone fractures, and internal bleeding is relatively high. If you are ever involved in a pedestrian accident, our pedestrian accident personal injury lawyers in Wichita recommend practicing the following protocols:

  1. Find Safety: If you have been involved in a pedestrian accident, you should first get any injured persons to a safe place and check if they are okay. Do not attempt to administer medical treatment beyond what may be required, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
  2. Obtain Medical Help: Whether either party is believed to be injured, it is essential to contact medical care providers to receive a thorough medical evaluation and determine any unseen injuries. Additionally, you should contact local law enforcement and cooperate as much as possible, giving your best and most truthful account of what has transpired.
  3. Exchange Contact Information: Before you part ways, it is important to exchange contact information with all parties involved in the accident. If you are capable of doing so, exchange full names, phone numbers, email addresses, and insurance information, but avoid talking extensively about the accident. Our pedestrian accident personal injury lawyers advise not making generalized statements such as “I feel so guilty” and avoid speaking directly to the other party’s insurance company.
  4. Contact an Experienced Attorney: Immediately following your accident, contact an experienced attorney to help you navigate the difficulties of communicating with insurance companies and gain fair compensation for your damages.

Avoiding Pedestrian Accidents

The best way to eliminate the dangers and consequences of pedestrian accidents is to take some preventative measures to ensure you understand and practice “defensive driving.” This means always being aware of individuals walking, cycling, rollerblading, operating a wheelchair, etc. It is particularly important to pay extra attention when driving in areas with young children. When walking on foot, abide by all street signs and traffic lights, and avoid jaywalking, as these may help reduce your chances of being involved in a pedestrian accident.

How PHP Law Firm Can Help

When you contact the PHP Law Firm pedestrian accident personal injury lawyers in Wichita, we can schedule a free consultation to discuss your situation before making a recommendation. If our team feels that you are the victim of driver negligence and you would like to proceed with legal action, you will not be charged any fees unless we win compensation for you.

Contact us directly at (316) 683-9080 to schedule a free consultation. We look forward to speaking with you!


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Our highly qualified and compassionate team is available to listen and evaluate your case. We do not charge any fees unless we win. Call us at (800) 266-0036 to get started!

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