{"id":383349,"date":"2025-10-15T16:55:15","date_gmt":"2025-10-15T21:55:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/?page_id=383349"},"modified":"2025-10-15T16:50:06","modified_gmt":"2025-10-15T21:50:06","slug":"what-happens-if-you-accidentally-hit-a-pedestrian","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/car-accidents\/what-happens-if-you-accidentally-hit-a-pedestrian.html","title":{"rendered":"What Happens If You Accidentally Hit a Pedestrian?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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What Happens If You Accidentally Hit a Pedestrian?<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Christie Nicholson, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Laura Temme, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n

Hitting a pedestrian typically results in serious injuries<\/span> and significant legal consequences<\/span> for the driver. These accidents can lead to both criminal charges<\/span> and civil lawsuits<\/span>, depending on the circumstances surrounding the incident. The driver may face penalties ranging from traffic citations to felony charges, along with potential financial responsibility for the pedestrian’s medical expenses<\/span> and other damages.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Most motor vehicle<\/span> accident cases involve two (or more) cars. Rarely do they involve pedestrians. However, when a motorist<\/span> hits a pedestrian with their car, the pedestrian tends to suffer serious injuries<\/span>, regardless of how minor the impact. It should come as no surprise that drivers in pedestrian accidents<\/span><\/a> often face serious consequences due to the crash.<\/p>\n

When a motorist<\/span> hits a pedestrian, be it in a crosswalk<\/span> or on a local road, they can face both criminal and civil penalties. The fault in pedestrian accidents<\/span> varies depending on the specific circumstances. While pedestrians can share fault in certain situations, drivers often bear significant responsibility due to their duty of care.<\/p>\n

Here, we\u2019ll describe the most common causes of pedestrian accidents<\/span> and discuss the potential criminal and civil consequences of being involved in them. We will also explore whether a pedestrian can ever be partially at fault<\/a> for a pedestrian accident<\/span>.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re facing criminal charges<\/span> after a pedestrian accident<\/span>, or if the victim in a pedestrian accident<\/span> is suing you for damages, it\u2019s important to have someone on your side. Contact a criminal defense lawyer<\/a> or a personal injury<\/span> defense attorney<\/a> right away to discuss your case.<\/p>\n

Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents<\/span><\/h2>\n

When the police officer<\/span> arrives at the accident scene<\/span>, they will do a thorough investigation and include their findings in their official police report<\/span><\/a>. They will also attempt to determine fault based on the position of the vehicles, the victims\u2019 injuries, and statements from the people involved in the crash.<\/p>\n

Some of the more common causes of these incidents include:<\/p>\n