What To Do After Being Hit By A Car While Crossing The Street In Detroit
Getting hit by a car while crossing the street can turn your life upside down in seconds. Pedestrians are especially vulnerable, so these accidents are often very serious. People may suffer broken bones, brain injuries, spinal injuries, internal injuries, or other conditions that need a lot of medical care. Physical recovery can take a long time, and the financial impact is often felt right away. Knowing what steps to take after a pedestrian accident can help protect your health and your legal rights in Michigan.
We help pedestrians who have been hurt by careless drivers in Detroit and across Michigan. No matter where the accident happened, at a crosswalk, intersection, parking lot, or other road, what you do next can affect your injury claim. Acting quickly helps save important evidence, keeps you eligible for benefits, and improves your chances of getting compensation.
Seek Immediate Medical Care
Your health is the top priority after a pedestrian accident. Even if you think your injuries are minor, get checked by emergency medical staff or go to a hospital right away. Some injuries, like internal bleeding, brain injuries, or organ damage, might not show symptoms right away.
Getting medical care quickly also creates records that link your injuries to the accident. These medical records are often some of the best evidence in a personal injury claim. Following your doctor’s advice and going to all follow-up visits shows how serious your injuries are.
Report The Accident To Law Enforcement
If the police are not already there, report the accident right away. The officer will look into what happened, talk to witnesses, check the scene, and write an official crash report.
A police report often includes:
- The driver’s identity
- Witness information
- Road conditions
- Statements from those involved
- Preliminary findings regarding fault
While the report does not decide who is at fault, it is often an important piece of evidence during settlement talks or in court.
Gather Evidence If You Are Able
If you are able, try to gather as much information as you can before leaving the scene. Useful evidence includes:
- Photographs of the accident scene
- Damage to the vehicle
- Visible injuries
- Traffic signals and crosswalk markings
- Skid marks
- Road conditions
- Contact information for witnesses
Many businesses, homes, and intersections in Detroit have surveillance cameras. Video footage can be lost quickly, so it is important to start investigating as soon as possible.
Understand Michigan’s No-Fault Insurance System
Michigan’s No-Fault Insurance Act, MCL 500.3101, provides important benefits to pedestrians injured in motor vehicle accidents. Even if you were walking at the time of the collision, you may qualify for Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits.
Depending on the circumstances, PIP benefits may provide compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Replacement services
- Attendant care
- Rehabilitation expenses
Figuring out which insurance company should pay these benefits can be complicated, especially if more than one policy might apply. We help clients find all available coverage and go after every benefit the law allows.
Determining Fault In A Detroit Pedestrian Accident
Drivers owe pedestrians a duty to operate their vehicles with reasonable care. Michigan law also requires drivers to exercise caution around pedestrians.
Several Michigan statutes address pedestrian and driver responsibilities, including MCL 257.612, which governs traffic control signals, and MCL 257.655, which addresses driver responsibilities involving pedestrians in crosswalks and other roadway situations.
Common causes of pedestrian accidents include: distracted driving, speeding, failure to yield, running red lights, impaired driving, or turning without checking crosswalks.
Insurance companies may claim that pedestrians are partly to blame for an accident. Michigan uses modified comparative fault rules under MCL 600.2959, so your compensation could be reduced if you are found partly responsible. We gather evidence to show who is really at fault and challenge any claims that are not supported by facts.t financial assistance, they do not compensate victims for pain and suffering.
Under MCL 500.3135, an injured pedestrian may pursue a third-party lawsuit against the negligent driver when the injuries involve death, permanent serious disfigurement, and serious impairment of body function
Many pedestrian accident injuries satisfy this legal threshold because they significantly affect a person’s ability to work, walk, care for themselves, or participate in normal daily activities.
Compensation That May Be Available
Depending on the circumstances of the accident, compensation may include:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical treatment
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Permanent disability
- Permanent disfigurement
Every case is different. The amount of compensation depends on the severity of the injuries, liability evidence, insurance coverage, and the long-term impact on the victim’s life.
Why Early Legal Representation Can Make A Difference
Evidence often disappears quickly following a pedestrian accident. Surveillance video may be erased, witnesses become difficult to locate, and insurance companies begin investigating immediately.
We take immediate steps to preserve evidence, obtain crash reports, interview witnesses, secure surveillance footage, review medical records, and work with accident reconstruction professionals when appropriate. Early preparation helps build a stronger case and places our clients in the best possible position throughout the claims process.
Frequently Asked Questions About Being Hit By A Car While Crossing The Street In Detroit
What Should I Do Immediately After Being Hit By A Car?
Your first priority should be obtaining medical treatment. If possible, call 911 or ask someone nearby to do so. Cooperate with law enforcement, avoid discussing fault with the driver, and preserve any evidence available at the scene. Even if you believe your injuries are minor, prompt medical evaluation is important because some serious injuries do not appear immediately.
Can I Recover Compensation If I Was Not In A Marked Crosswalk?
Yes. Being outside a marked crosswalk does not automatically prevent recovery. Michigan law evaluates the conduct of both the pedestrian and the driver. Comparative fault principles under MCL 600.2959 may apply, and compensation may still be available depending on the facts of the accident.
Does Michigan No-Fault Insurance Cover Pedestrians?
Yes. Pedestrians injured by motor vehicles may qualify for Personal Injury Protection benefits under Michigan’s No-Fault Act. Determining which insurance company is responsible depends on several factors, including available insurance policies and the specific circumstances of the accident.
What If The Driver Says I Stepped Into Traffic?
Insurance companies frequently dispute fault in pedestrian accident cases. We investigate these claims by reviewing surveillance video, witness statements, police reports, vehicle damage, and physical evidence from the accident scene. Every case should be evaluated based on the available evidence rather than assumptions.
How Long Do I Have To File A Pedestrian Injury Lawsuit In Michigan?
Most personal injury lawsuits arising from pedestrian accidents must be filed within three years under MCL 600.5805. Certain insurance claims and notice requirements may involve shorter deadlines, making prompt legal advice important.
What If I Suffered A Permanent Injury?
Permanent injuries often increase the value of a personal injury claim because they affect future medical care, earning capacity, mobility, and quality of life. We work with medical professionals and other qualified witnesses to fully document the long-term effects of catastrophic injuries.
Talk To Ravid & Associates, P.C. About Your Detroit Pedestrian Accident Claim
A pedestrian accident can leave you facing serious physical, emotional, and financial challenges. We work closely with injured pedestrians and their families to investigate the accident, preserve critical evidence, pursue available No-Fault benefits, and seek full compensation from negligent drivers. Our goal is to protect your rights while allowing you to focus on your recovery.
If you were hit by a car while crossing the street in Detroit or anywhere in Michigan, contact our Detroit pedestrian accident attorneys at Ravid & Associates, P.C. today by calling (248) 948-9696 to receive your free consultation. We represent injured clients in Detroit and throughout the entire state of Michigan from our office locations in Southfield, Michigan. Let us review your case, explain your legal options, and fight for the compensation you deserve.
