Accidents happen, this is a fact that everyone needs to realize. There are plenty of hit-and-run cases the world over, and these occur for plenty of reasons: negligence chief among them. Whether or not you were at fault, there are certain things that you need to do if you hit a person with your car.
Check on the injured
Getting hit by a moving vehicle isn’t something you can shrug off. One of your first priorities should be to check for injuries to anyone in your vehicle, then on the person that was just hit. Check on them, but don’t move them, as you may not know the extent of their injuries.
If the victim remains conscious in spite of any injury, it is ideal that you keep them conscious until first responders arrive.
Call emergency services
Calling the authorities to report an accident is key to ensuring the survival of the person you happened to hit. The Philippine National Police’s (PNP) emergency response number is 117, and the Metro Manila Development Authority’s is 136. Usually other people will as well (if they aren’t too busy gawking and taking videos.), but it helps if the owner of the vehicle involved makes the call.
Have your driver’s license ready as well when they arrive, and give them all the details of the incident. While this may be obvious: be honest. Witness accounts can be somewhat conflicted, but can be corroborated by you and yours.
Stay where you are
The first instinct that comes to most people is to run. This is a reaction brought about a human being’s fight or flight instinct, and flight prevails at times. Getting into a vehicle accident is considered a misdemeanor; running will be viewed as a felony – more so if the hit was fatal.
Have your hazard lights on, and park the car nearby so that you can be present to report the details to the authorities when they arrive.
Of course, should there be reason to fear for your life, keep yourself safe as well.
Contact your insurer
This should be one of the next steps you take, along with all the details of the incident, as seen below:
- Date and time of the accident
- Location
- Details of your vehicle and anyone who may be traveling with you
- Photos of the damage to your car
Have your car insurance information and be ready to give your information to the victim (or their family) as well. Make sure to do this as soon as possible to avoid invalidating any claims you may need to make.
Be truthful when you inform the agent that your insurer dispatches to the scene, as your claim may again be invalidated if you omit details. You will generally be covered by your Compulsory Third-Party Liability Insurance, but there may still be costs that you will need to pay out of your pocket. Having a comprehensive policy on your car will help with this.
Contact a Lawyer
Incidences like these can be messy, what with people pointing fingers at one another. It may be wise to have a lawyer on retainer to assist you in navigating the situation you find yourself in.
Nobody ever wants these things to happen, nobody ever means for these things to happen. Figuring in an incident like this is difficult to process and it’s important to keep a level head on your shoulders while dealing with everyone involved. Driving safely is important, but knowing what to do if this happens to you is even more so.
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