Nowadays, Motor vehicle accidents are a very common phenomenon throughout the globe. And the car-pedestrian accident is one of the most common among those accidents.
But unfortunately, if a pedestrian is hit by a car, do you know what to do next? Would you go to jail for hitting someone accidentally by your car? It is quite normal to have those questions in your head.
In this writing, we will clarify all of your questions regarding what happens if you accidentally hit a pedestrian. Keep reading to learn more.
Things That You Need to Go Through After Hitting a Pedestrian by a Car:
Driving on a public road is a big responsibility. Because it is involved with people safety and also yours. That is why you also have to be always careful while driving your car. Then again, bad things can happen even if you are always very careful.
If you accidentally hit a pedestrian by a car, it is quite inevitable that you need to go through certain lawsuits. First and foremost, the personal injury lawsuit. And when you hit a pedestrian, it is assumed that you were at fault because you were driving the car.
There are also some lawsuits and criminal charges that you may need to go through if you hit a pedestrian by your car. Now lets us discuss some of the factors in the following:
1. Lawsuits for the Personal Injury:
Whenever you hit a pedestrian by your car, in the majority of the cases, you will be on the fault side. You may need to compensate the injured person. Compensation to the injured person may include the medical and treatment bills, loss of income of that person, pain, and suffering of that injured person.
Most of the personal injuries are settled by the court, and the compensation is settled by the driver’s insurance company. If there was no intention for any evil offence at the time of the accident, then the driver may not have to go through any sort of imprisonment.
2. Lawsuits for Wrongful Death:
Losing the loved one from a vehicle accident can be a very stressful and traumatic experience. Study shows that almost 10% of people die from all traffic accident in Canada. If you accidentally hit someone by your car and if that person dies as a result of an accident, then the surviving member of the deceased person’s family can file a civil lawsuit against you.
The civil lawsuit will state that the death of that person occurs because of the negligence of the driver. In that case, you may need to pay the compensation to the surviving member of the person who died in that accident.
3. Criminal Charges for Fleeing the Crime Scene:
If you hit a pedestrian with your car by mistake, stop, or any other valid reason, in that case, you may only go through some sort of lenient sentence by the court. But if you hit a pedestrian and flee from the crime scene, then most likely, you may need to go through imprisonment.
Even though you had no mistake in that incident, leaving and feeling from the crime scene shows that you are very much disregarded about other lives. And in such a situation, the court may take your action into account in a very harsh way.
What if You were Driving Under Influence?
If you are found driving under the influence of any sort of drugs or alcohol, in that case, you may need to go through some serious consequences. Because when you drive a car under the influence of any intoxicants, you are more like to hit another car or a pedestrian.
If you accidentally hit a pedestrian while driving under the influence, you can expect to have heavy fines or jail time by the civil court. However, your driving license also can get suspended for doing such offences.
What if the Pedestrian Dies After Being Hit by a Car?
If you hit a pedestrian with your car and if that pedestrian eventually dies, then it may be considered involuntary vehicular manslaughter. And in such cases, it is quite normal that you will be convicted for reckless driving. As a result, you will go through some criminal charges.
However, if the court proves that the accident occurred for your reckless driving or negligence, then you will most likely have some jail time. Also, you need to compensate the loss to the surviving member of the deceased person. Sometimes, the consequences of such cases may be very serious, depending on the situation.
Things to Do After a Vehicle Accident:
In most cases, vehicle accidents are involuntary and accidental. Then again, there are some potential reasons behind those accidents. But if you have ever experienced such a scary situation, then there are certain things that you need to keep in your mind.
First and foremost, after hitting someone with your car, you need to be as calm as possible. After that, you should call the emergency for medical help. However, you should never hit and run from that accident scene because it will be considered a very serious offence. Your driving license may get suspended for a lifetime. And also, you may end up with a long jail time.
Bottom Line:
In conclusion, we can say that accidents are involuntary in most cases. That is why you always need to be very careful while driving the car. Then again, if you accidentally hit a pedestrian by your car, then you should not be stressed out.
You should try to call the police as early as you can. You can also inform your insurance company about the accident. As a result, the insurance company can visit the accident scene and can review your case. Hopefully, now you have understood what really happens if you accidentally hit a pedestrian by your car.
