Any automobile accident can be a traumatic experience. If you are a pedestrian that has been hit by a car, the emotions can run even higher. Because of the emotions and the trauma of the incident, many people make crucial mistakes in the moments and days that follow the incident.

As a chiropractor, I have experience treating people that have been in all sorts of car accidents, and this includes treating injuries that are associated with incidents where pedestrians have been hit by cars. In this post, I am going to provide you with some advice concerning what to do after an accident where you have been hit by a car.

The moments following the accident

Your actions at the scene can make a big difference. Mistakes in this situation can affect the outcome of any injuries, and it could also have an impact on your legal rights. Assuming that your injuries are not too severe, you need to try to stay calm and move out of the road. If your injuries prevent this, then you need to get someone to call emergency services, and wait for assistance.

You need to keep the driver at the scene and you need to call police and an ambulance. Even if you feel like your injuries are relatively minor at the scene, you need to seek medical care. At the scene, your emotions are running high, and the adrenaline could easily mask serious injuries. What seems like a few bruises and scrapes could be something such as a broken rib, you could have fractured bones, a back injury or any number of soft tissue injuries.

If it is possible, you should collect as much information as you can. Get the driver’s insurance information, take down the license plate number and talk to any witnesses that happen to be at the scene. If you can, use your phone to take some pictures of the scene. When the police arrive, be forthcoming about the events and make sure that they get your side of the story.

Medical Attention

When an ambulance arrives at the scene, you should let the emergency personnel assess your injuries and you should go to the hospital. Even if the pain is not extreme at the scene, that does not mean that you are uninjured. It is best to go to the hospital to ensure that you receive immediate treatment for any injuries that may exist.

Following the initial treatment after the accident, you may need weeks or even months of follow-up treatment. Your doctor might recommend physical therapy and you might be required to spend time away from work.

Following an accident like this, seeing a chiropractor can be beneficial. Many of the common injuries that are associated with car accidents affect the musculoskeletal system. A chiropractor can use chiropractic adjustments to treat a wide range of back injuries. Chiropractors also treat many other conditions such as headaches, should pain, hip pain, knee pain, and more. They specialize in soft tissue injuries, and many chiropractors offer physical therapy services that are specifically designed for treating the injuries of car accident victims. Chiropractors can also treat acute injuries such as bruises, swelling, sprain/strains using low invasive therapies. Therapies used to treat acute injuries include electrical muscle stimulation, manual traction, therapeutic ultrasound, rock tape, etc. These therapies help decrease pain, reduce swelling and increase range of motion.

Insurance and Legal Rights

Aside from taking care of any medical issues, these accidents tend to come with a variety of financial and legal issues. You may need to file a claim with the driver’s insurance policy, and you may need the assistance of a personal injury lawyer to recover the cost of all of your medical expenses.

If your medical expenses are low, you might be able to handle the insurance company on your own. As the cost of treatment goes up, the need for representation tends to increase. You can consult with a lawyer before accepting any settlement from the insurance company. A personal injury lawyer will tell you whether your claim rises to a level that will require representation.