What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident: 10 Essential Steps to Protect Your Health and Claim

By Emery Ledger on September 6, 2026

Do you know what to do after a pedestrian accident? What you do in that moment matters. That’s especially true when you have serious injuries. Taking action means protecting your health and safeguarding your right to recover your losses.

The first steps matter. It’s essential for health, evidence, insurance, and potential legal claims. Seek help immediately from a pedestrian accident lawyer from our firm.

What Is a Pedestrian Accident?

A pedestrian accident occurs when a person walking, the pedestrian, is struck by a car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle, or other vehicle. Pedestrian accident liability depends on the specific facts of the case. That includes local and applicable traffic and personal injury laws.

What Should You Do Immediately After a Pedestrian Accident?

The most important steps after a pedestrian accident are listed here. Put these steps first. Doing so protects your safety and medical needs. It then allows you to safeguard critical evidence and seek a valid insurance claim. Always follow these steps when it is safe. Your safety is paramount in every case.

Move Out of Harm’s Way If It Is Safe to Do So

Getting out of the way of additional injury is the most important initial reaction to have. If you can get up and move out of the roadway or roll away from incoming traffic, that limits the additional risks to you.

If you cannot move or believe you may have serious injuries, don’t move. Make your presence known and demonstrate however you can that you need help. Follow the recommendations by others around you offering guidance.

Call 911 and Report the Accident

As soon as you can safely do so, dial 911. Getting rescuers and police on the scene protects your future. If you cannot call yourself, ask someone close by to do so.

The medical professionals work quickly to protect your life and minimize risks to your future. At the same time, police work to gather evidence and maintain safety while you receive the care you need. This information will be on the accident report later.

Seek Medical Attention After a Pedestrian Accident

Don’t wait to get medical care. It is essential to do so even if you feel okay. Injuries may seem minor or you may feel fine. However, some injuries take time to develop and worsen. Some become life-threatening if you put them off. Seek treatment at a local emergency room. Then, maintain all records of that visit. It serves as valuable evidence in your case.

Document Your Injuries and Medical Treatment

Keep all of the information you receive about your injuries and medical care. This information serves as evidence. Keep your:

• Medical records
• Bills and anything you pay for related to your injuries
• Prescription information and costs
• Treatment instructions
• Appointment information

Consistent and comprehensive documentation establishes the nature of your injuries. It also shows how bad they are. That’s going to help you later to prove your losses.

Stay at the Scene and Gather Evidence

Do not leave the scene of an accident unless it is for medical emergencies. When medically possible and safe to do so, stay and wait for the police. You want police to record exactly what happened and where it occurred. There are other bits of information that can also be important such as:

• Photos of road conditions
• Photos of the debris in the roadway
• Vehicle position information
• Traffic signal images
• Injury location and type
• Visible hazards on the roadway

These details help you to document what happened. If you leave the scene, you miss all of those critical opportunities.

Take Photos and Videos of the Accident Scene

Use your phone to capture as much evidence and detail as possible from the scene. That includes:

• Vehicle damage
• Crosswalks
• Traffic signals
• Road conditions
• Skid marks
• Debris
• Visible injuries
• Surrounding area

Conditions change fast. The sooner you capture those pictures the better. You won’t miss valuable details that someone alters, for example.

Write Down Everything You Remember

As soon as you can do so safely, document what you remember. These details are fleeting, and it can be challenging for you to remember critical details right away. If you cannot write them down, record yourself making statements. You’ll want to capture information such as:

• The time and location of the incident
• Traffic conditions at the time
• Sequence of events
• Vehicle description
• Driver statements and implications
• What you saw before the accident

Memories pass fast. That’s especially true when you have serious injuries. Jot this information down now.

Exchange Contact and Insurance Information

Get the name and contact information for everyone involved in the accident. That includes anyone in the car that struck you. Get the name and contact information from anyone that stopped.

Pedestrians need this information to seek legal action. Ideally, you’ll get their name, contact information, driver’s license information, vehicle details, and insurance information.

Avoid any arguments or statements to this person. You just want facts.

Gather Witness Information After a Pedestrian Accident

Witnesses are a valuable resource you need in difficult claims. These are people you do not know that stop and help. They are pedestrians on the road with you or cars moving past the scene. If someone stops, get their name and contact information.

Witnesses can provide clarification on:

• Vehicle speed
• Location of the pedestrian
• Pedestrian movement
• Clarification of traffic signals
• Other disputed facts

File a Police Report After a Pedestrian Accident

A police report is a document that preserves critical evidence. Police visiting the scene of the accident create a police report at the time. This proves invaluable. The information there isn’t often challenged.

If you do not file one at the scene, visit the local police station. Some cities allow you to file the report online. Doing so helps protect you.

Notify Your Insurance Company After a Pedestrian Accident

You can document your accident with your insurance company. If you or someone in your home has car insurance, you may be able to file a statement. If you do so, do not make any statements that put blame on you. Always provide just accurate facts of what happened. Avoid any speculation.

Keep Detailed Records of Your Pedestrian Accident Claim

Gather and maintain a list of all of your losses. The following records are valuable:

• Medical bills
• Lost-wage documentation
• Insurance correspondence
• Police reports
• Photographs
• Witness information
• Transportation expenses
• Other accident-related records

Each of these documents helps demonstrate what this accident cost you. It becomes incredibly valuable when you need to build a claim.

Avoid Common Mistakes After a Pedestrian Accident

What you do now matters. These steps after a pedestrian accident protect you. Avoid the following common mistakes:

• Failing to seek medical care
• Leaving before documenting the scene when safe
• Admitting fault
• Posting about the accident on social media
• Ignoring medical instructions
• Discarding important records
• Giving unnecessary recorded statements

Always protect your rights. And that often means speaking to a pedestrian accident lawyer.

What Compensation May Be Available After a Pedestrian Accident?

You have the right to pursue a claim against the at-fault party for any type of losses you have. Your compensation depends on the local laws and the details of your case. Most often, you can recover:

• Medical expenses
• Future medical treatment
• Lost income
• Loss of earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Other legally recoverable damages

The value of your claim depends on how well you can verify these. It also matters whether you’ll heal.

How Is Fault Determined in a Pedestrian Accident?

Fault depends on evidence and the state’s laws. However, details that matter include:

• Demonstrating negligence. This includes proving that the driver failed in their duty of care, causing an accident, and creating losses.
• Pedestrian contact, including why you were in the roadway
• Traffic signals and what they indicated at the time of the accident
• Whether you were in a crosswalk or if there wasn’t one
• The visibility the driver had
• The speed the driver was traveling at

When Should You Contact a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer?

Always turn to an accident attorney when you have questions about your rights or there are disputes about fault. Serious injuries, disputes over fault, and complications with insurers are all valid reasons to call them. Make sure you act within the state’s statute of limitations.

How a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Can Help

Your attorney handles the entire process for you. They will:

• Investigate what happened
• Gather and preserve evidence
• Communicate with insurers
• Evaluate damages
• Negotiate the value of your claim
• Pursue litigation if needed

Protecting Your Rights After a Pedestrian Accident

These are some of the most important steps to take after a pedestrian accident. Always put your health first. Then, document what happened and the evidence present. Get the medical care you need. Then, speak to our personal injury attorney.

Ledger Law provides you with hands-on support to handle these cases with confidence. Let our experience work in your favor.

FAQs About What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident 

What should I do immediately after a pedestrian accident?

Move out of the way of any harm. Then, call 911 to get the help you need.  

What are the most important steps after a pedestrian accident?

Documenting injuries, getting medical care, and preserving evidence are important after these accidents.  

What evidence should I collect after a pedestrian accident?

Evidence should include anything available. Photos, videos, and witness statements are the starting point.  

Who is responsible for a pedestrian accident?

Drivers have the obligation to stop for pedestrians if they can do so. However, there are some situations where pedestrians could be at fault.  

Can I still recover compensation if I was partially at fault?

You may be able to recover damages. This depends on your state’s comparative negligence laws.  

What compensation can I receive after a pedestrian accident?

You can receive compensation for medical losses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. You’ll need to document your losses clearly.

How long do I have to file a pedestrian accident claim?

This depends on the state’s statute of limitations. This is typically 1 to 3 years. 

Should I hire a lawyer after a pedestrian accident?

Hire an attorney. You have serious injuries and losses that demand legal support.

Emery Ledger

Emery Brett Ledger brings more than 27 years of experience to personal injury law. He founded & led The Ledger Law Firm in securing over $100 million in compensation for clients with life-altering injuries & complex claims. Licensed in California, Texas, & Washington, Emery earned his law degree from Pepperdine University School of Law. His practice areas include car & truck accidents, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, maritime claims, & mass tort litigation. He has been recognized by The National Trial Lawyers’ Top 100, Mass Tort Trial Lawyers Top 25, and America’s Top 100 Personal Injury Attorneys. Emery also received the 2025 Elite Lawyer Award & holds a perfect 10.0 Avvo rating with Platinum Client Champion status. His legal work has been featured on CNN, Forbes, NBC, & ABC.