The Accident and Its Aftermath

A pedestrian accident can be traumatic for all parties involved, including the driver, the pedestrian, and witnesses. It is something that could pose a lot of harm and suffering to the people involved.

Understanding The Circumstances of The Car Accident

The effects of this traumatic event are not just physical, they can manifest in mental anguish too. If someone purposely jumps onto oncoming traffic to commit suicide, the driver or their passengers in the car can be affected too.

The driver may also wonder if they are responsible for the collision and the pedestrian’s harm or death. They may also worry about being held liable for what occurred. In short, it is a situation that can leave lasting psychological effects if not treated early on.

What Should You Do if a Person Jumped in Front of Your Moving Vehicle?

Call Emergency Services.

When you encounter a traumatic event, such as a person jumping into oncoming traffic, it is best to be highly alert to avoid taking the wrong step. You should immediately call the police.

Immediately file an accident report and gather witnesses before anything else can happen. It is important to be able to figure out the details of what happened to determine who may be held liable.

An accurate police report could also be essential evidence in a court case that could prove and protect the innocence of the drivers involved. This is especially important in accidents where a pedestrian has been killed due to getting hit. It can also be useful when filing your insurance policy claim.

If the pedestrian has life-threatening injuries, call the emergency services to get them to an emergency room as soon as possible.

Do Not Leave the Scene.

Driving away from the scene without providing help or failing to exchange information with the affected pedestrian could also be considered a hit-and-run in Michigan. The police may arrest you until an investigation clears you.

This is true even if someone purposely jumps in front of your car and causes the accident. Ultimately, leaving the crash site is against the law and is a felony.

What Should Happen to You After the Accident?

Any affected party needs be examined and checked by professionals after the accident. A full diagnostic test should be done to find any possible injuries, may it be a physical head injury or psychological injury.

When determining the existence of psychological trauma, time is of the essence. The sooner symptoms are found, the sooner they can be addressed.

If this happens to you, do not attempt to ignore psychological symptoms as doing so may lead to extremely negative outcomes.

Traffic Laws to Prevent Pedestrian Accidents in Michigan

Following traffic laws can help the streets be safer for both drivers and pedestrians. Here are some examples of traffic laws in Michigan:

Speed Limit Laws

By law, Michigan has different speed limits for different locations. Such locations include highways, freeways, residential areas, or school zones. The 85th percentile speed, which is the speed at which 85% of cars are traveling in a particular area, is the basis for the speed limits.

If a driver is speeding before a collision, they could be held liable or partially at fault. When speeding, a driver would not have enough time to respond to pedestrians who purposely jumps in front of their vehicle.

Crosswalk Laws

In Michigan, motorists have to yield right-of-way to pedestrians in street crosswalks. This is done so that a collision between a vehicle and a crossing pedestrian does not happen. However, it is different in freeways.

However, pedestrians crossing outside of marked crosswalks in intersections have to yield right of way to any approaching car.

People walking on the street should also get on the sidewalk to avoid getting hit by a car or any other vehicle. If found to be violating crosswalk laws during a collision, the driver could be held liable.

Legal Consequences of a Car Accident Involving Pedestrians

Determining Fault and Liability

The circumstances of the incident, such as the person’s mental health or the driver’s actions, may considered when determining liability.

If someone intentionally jumps in front of your car, gets hit, and dies, you may not be held legally liable. However, this will only be the case if it’s determined that you had no control over the situation.

The fault can vary depending on the circumstances. While the pedestrian who jumped in front of the car may be primarily responsible, you could also share some blame. For example, if you ran a red light and hit someone who jumped out of your car on purpose, you could still be held liable.

Emotional Consequences and Support: Coping With Trauma and Guilt

Coping with trauma and guilt

A car accident involving a suicidal person who jumped into the path of a car can cause traumatic stress to the driver or their passengers. The driver, and everyone who was able to witness the scene, may feel guilty and fearful that the incident may happen again.

Traumatic stress is a normal example of possible reactions to an abnormal event that happened. Even though the brain can rewire itself to heal, it is imperative that all affected parties seek professional help.

Not doing so may lead to worsening symptoms and a downgrade in quality of life due to sustained injuries.

Insurance Company Involvement

The role of insurance companies in determining fault

Insurance companies use fault as a way to decide whether to pay claims against insurance policies issued to policyholders. In a case where a random guy jumps in front of your car, determining whose fault the collision was is essential.

They assign adjusters to investigate accidents and collect evidence to help them make that decision. If it is found that you are partially at fault for such a collision, it may affect the amount of compensation you receive.

It is important to get a medical report after a crash of this nature if you sustained injuries, physical and mental, to sue for pain and suffering. However, you can sue for no-fault benefits or personal injury protection to get help regardless of who is at fault.

However, their determination is not always binding. If you disagree with an insurance company’s decision about fault, you typically have the option of taking the insurance company to court.

Conclusion

Final thoughts and considerations

If someone jumps in front of a car and dies, the driver may not be held liable if they were not found to be at fault.

The incident alone may not be a result of the driver’s actions, but the driver could face significant legal issues if other discrepancies were to be found.

Either way, it is best to call the police and report the incident as soon as possible for both documentation and for immediate aid.

The driver should consider seeking therapy, such as guided desensitizing therapy or EMDR therapy, to aid in recovery. They should also consider getting advice on how to cope from counselors if they can.

How an attorney can assist in a pedestrian accident case

A thorough investigation is required in a pedestrian accident that involves injuries or fatalities, may it be a fatal injury or just road rash. In cases where a pedestrian jumps in front of a moving car and gets killed, it is essential to determine the truth of the matter.

You can easily get in trouble without an attorney to protect your interests. To avoid the risk of prison time and a more complicated case, drivers should lawyer up after such an accident.

An attorney can also help determine fault and responsibility if such accidents were to happen which can aid you in seeking compensation. They can also help you receive damages for injuries and lost pay.

The attorney can provide advice and support to help you navigate the legal process. They are well equipped and are more knowledgeable of the law.

Seek Legal Help and Guidance from The Clark Law Office. Contact us today.

If you ever run into trouble or get hurt in an accident involving the jumping of a pedestrian, contact a personal injury lawyer at The Clark Law Office. With our knowledge in traffic laws, we can help you with your case and determine who is truly at fault.

If you got injuries in such a car accident, we can also help you demand appropriate compensation owed to you. We will do our best to ensure that you get what you deserve in your case.

Give us a call at +1 (517) 347-6900 or email us at info@theclarklawoffice.com for any further discussion of your case. Head to The Clark Law Office and get top quality legal help today.