The most important decisions after a hit-by-car are usually the ones made in the first hours and days.
1) Get medical care—even if you feel “mostly okay.” Concussions, soft-tissue injuries, and back/neck pain can show up later. In New Jersey, your medical records are often what insurance uses to challenge both the injury severity and the connection to the crash.
2) Report the crash and document the scene. If police respond, request the incident details. If you’re able, take photos of:
- the crosswalk or crossing point
- traffic signals and signage
- lighting conditions (including glare at dawn/dusk)
- vehicle damage and where you were standing
- any nearby bus stop or driveway where pedestrians commonly enter the roadway
3) Write down what you remember while it’s fresh. Include weather, whether you had the right-of-way, what the driver was doing (turning, accelerating, lane changes), and any witnesses who saw the impact.
4) Be careful with statements to insurance. Insurance adjusters may ask for recorded statements quickly. In NJ, what you say can be used to reduce liability or argue the injuries don’t match the crash.


