What should you do if a car hits a person?
2 Answers
Call the police, report to the insurance company, and rescue the injured. If you flee the scene after a traffic accident involving hitting a person, you will be held accountable based on the consequences. If the other party has minor injuries, they will usually ask you to accompany them to the hospital and pay the bills. At this point, you should generally say you didn’t bring any money because the responsibility hasn’t been determined yet. In many cases, you may not be fully at fault. If you pay upfront and it turns out you’re not responsible, it will be difficult to get your money back. No matter what, don’t pay upfront. Just go to the traffic police station the next day and handle it properly—there’s nothing to worry about. Violating transportation management regulations, thereby causing a major accident that results in serious injury, death, or significant loss of public or private property, is punishable by up to three years in prison or criminal detention. Generally, when the police (110) arrive at the scene, the process is straightforward. If an ambulance (120) is needed, they will handle their duties. After you report the incident to your insurance company, they may not come to the scene unless it’s a major accident, as they can obtain scene photos from the traffic police station. For minor incidents, the insurance adjuster can issue an on-site damage assessment report. For larger incidents, the assessment is usually done later at a repair shop after disassembly. For most cases, the damage assessment report can be issued after disassembly and inspection. Fleeing the scene of a traffic accident or exhibiting other particularly egregious behavior is punishable by three to seven years in prison. If fleeing the scene results in death, the punishment is seven years or more in prison. If someone is injured, it’s generally important to preserve the original scene. For serious injuries, prioritize assisting in rescuing the injured—though it’s best to leave it to professionals like 120 responders. For example, moving someone with a spinal fracture improperly could worsen their injuries. For major cases, repairs are done gradually, with photos taken at each stage. Before the repairs are fully completed, the vehicle should be road-tested. If issues are found, more photos are taken. Finally, after everything is resolved, the final damage assessment report is issued. This ensures the repair costs don’t exceed the assessed amount. Otherwise, if the report is issued too early, it’s hard to make changes if problems arise later.
If you accidentally hit someone while driving, the first thing you should do is immediately pull over and stop—never flee the scene. After stopping, first assess the safety situation. Check how severely the injured person is hurt, and if immediate assistance is needed, quickly call 110 for the police and 120 for emergency medical services. Avoid moving the injured person casually to prevent worsening their injuries or causing secondary accidents. Staying calm at this moment is crucial. Document the scene information, such as taking photos or noting the time and location. Contact your insurance company to report the entire incident. In the future, pay more attention to road conditions and pedestrians while driving to prevent similar incidents. It’s also important to inspect your vehicle before each trip, as regular maintenance can help reduce risks.
