What Should I Do If a Car Hits Me or a Loved One While We’re Walking?

A 34-year-old mother lost her life recently in a Johnston County pedestrian accident, per a WRAL-TV report. The woman’s 8-year-old son was also hit by the same car that claimed her life. While he is expected to recover, he suffered severe injuries, including a broken jaw. The woman’s 7-year-old daughter was with them at the time of the incident, but escaped without injury.

Prior to the deadly collision, the young mother was walking her children to a bus stop on Barberry Drive. Around 8:30 am, as she and her children were walking down Barberry Drive toward the bus stop, a Kia heading south on Barberry hit the woman and her son. The driver of the Kia, a 49-year-old woman, told the North Carolina State Highway Patrol troopers on the scene that she could not see the woman and her children walking before her car struck them, because the sun was in her eyes.

A spokesperson for the NCSHP reported that the driver of the Kia did not have a driver’s license at the time of the fatal wreck. However, since Barberry Drive is a private street, she cannot be charged with driving without a license as a result of the crash. As of this writing, NCSHP was still investigating the incident, and charges are pending against the driver of the Kia.

What to Do If You’re the Victim of a Pedestrian Accident

CityLab, an offshoot of The Atlantic, featured a story about what people should do if they are hit by a car as a pedestrian or cyclist, which included the following list of tips:

• If possible, try to get out of the street.
• If you can, make sure that the driver does not leave the accident scene.
• Call the police and/or 911.
• If you or anyone else is injured, make sure to seek immediate medical attention.
• If you can, stay at the accident scene until the police arrive and you have given them a statement.
• Get the contact and insurance information of the driver. Also, get the contact information of any passengers and witnesses.
• Take pictures of the accident scene, your injuries and the vehicle.
• Do not talk to the driver’s insurance company until after you have spoken to an experienced personal injury attorney.

Following a pedestrian accident, victims and their families should speak to an experienced personal injury lawyer. The driver’s insurance company will do whatever it can to minimize the driver’s fault in the wreck, which could limit the financial help that injury victims and their families receive. An attorney can answer your questions, explain your rights and discuss the best options available to you and your family.