What to do when involved in a Pedestrian Accident in Arizona

Not every motor vehicle collision involves just motor vehicles. You may be a pedestrian, bicyclist, or scooter rider that gets hit by a motor vehicle and suffers injury. If you find yourself in such a position, you may still be entitled to compensation for your injuries. And in certain circumstances, your own automobile insurance policy may provide you benefits as well.

As such, they often don’t look right and sometimes hit a pedestrian or bicyclist crossing from their right to left. Therefore, as the pedestrian or bicyclist seeking to cross a driveway or crosswalk, make eye contact with the driver exiting that driveway or waiting to turn through that crosswalk. Don’t presume they see you because they look in your direction as they may well be looking past you, or through you. Make affirmative eye contact so you know if they’re going to wait for you to cross before proceeding.

1. Medical Payments coverage is “no-fault” benefit option offered by most auto insurance carriers. It allows a certain amount of monetary compensation for medical bills if injured by a motor vehicle, regardless of fault. Med Pay is also portable, meaning you don’t have to have been in your own vehicle to use your Med Pay coverage. If, as a pedestrian or bicyclist, you are hit and injured by a motorist, you can use your Med Pay coverage.

2. Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage is another option offered by most auto insurance carriers. It covers your entire injury claim (medical bill, lost wages, pain & suffering) if you are injured by an uninsured or hit & run motorist, even if you were a pedestrian or bicyclist.

3. Neither Med Pay or UM coverage is very expensive so you should explore adding it to your own auto coverage.

1. Don’t admit any fault. Any you say could potentially be used against you later.

2. Call 911/police/paramedics. If your injuries seem severe, don’t move until your medical condition can be assessed by a professional (law enforcement officer, paramedic, etc.)

3. Don’t move any debris/physical evidence until law enforcement can observe it and/or take measurements, as whereupon the roadway the collision occurred could impact proving liability on the motorist

4. Get the contact information for any witnesses (names, phone numbers, addresses, business cards, etc.). Don’t presume law enforcement will preserve their information and/or include it on their Accident Report because they often leave out such vital information

5. Call an attorney to assess your rights.