What runners should do after getting hit by a car

Most runners think about pace, hydration and nutrition, and sore legs. Few consider the possibility of being struck by a car. Yet a collision can cause serious injuries and keep someone away from running for weeks or even months. 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported 7,314 pedestrian deaths and approximately 68,000 pedestrian injuries in U.S. traffic crashes in 2023. Pedestrians accounted for 18% of all traffic fatalities that year. Runners using public roads are generally subject to the same pedestrian traffic rules. 

NHTSA also reported that approximately 77% of pedestrian fatalities occurred in dark conditions, while nearly one-quarter involved hit-and-run drivers. These figures highlight the risks runners may face during early-morning and evening runs.

Here is a guide to what runners should do after getting hit by a car.

Get safe, then get checked

If you are struck by a car, move out of traffic if you can. Call 911 if you’re hurt or if the driver is acting aggressively.

Even if you feel OK, see a doctor. Adrenaline can hide pain. Concussions, deep bruising and joint injuries often show up hours or days later. A medical record also ties your injury to the crash, which matters later.

Save what you can

You don’t need to act as a detective. Just grab the basics:

• Photos of the scene, the car, the license plate and your injuries

• Names and numbers of anyone who saw it

• The police report number

• Your watch or phone data, which can show your route, time and pace

  
  

If the driver left, tell police everything you remember. The car’s color, make, partial plate and direction all help.

Know the basic road rules

Pedestrian rules vary by state. In Colorado, drivers must yield to pedestrians in certain crosswalk situations under C.R.S. § 42-4-802. When no sidewalk is available, pedestrians must generally use the road shoulder. If neither a sidewalk nor shoulder is available, they must walk or travel as near as practicable to the outside edge of the road and, on a two-way road, on the left side facing oncoming traffic under C.R.S. § 42-4-805. 

These rules may become relevant when determining fault after a crash. Under Colorado's modified comparative negligence law, C.R.S. § 13-21-111, an injured person may recover damages if their share of fault is less than 50%.

Any recovery is reduced by their percentage of responsibility. Where you were running and which direction you were traveling may help establish what happened.

Be careful with the insurance call

An adjuster may call quickly and be friendly. Share only basic information. Avoid assuming speed or distance and don't use the word fine when an assessment has not taken place. Maintain all letters and claim numbers. Before you sign any release, read it to understand what it means and how it could end your claim.

Watch the deadlines

Time limits are short, and many people miss them while they heal.

• Some personal injury claims have a two-year filing deadline under C.R.S. § 13-80-102, depending on the type of claim. 

• Claims for bodily injury or property damage arising from the use or operation of a motor vehicle generally have a three-year deadline under C.R.S. § 13-80-101(1)(n). 

• If a public entity, such as a city or county, may be responsible for your injuries, the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act generally requires written notice within 182 days after discovering the injury under C.R.S. § 24-10-109. 

  
  

Communicating with an insurance company does not pause these legal deadlines. If you were injured and want to learn about your legal options, a Denver personal injury attorney can review the circumstances of your crash, available evidence, and applicable deadlines.

Run smarter, but don’t blame yourself

A few habits can lower your risk:

• Use bright and reflective clothing.

• Before sunrise or after sunset, use a headlamp and a rear light.

• Use one earbud or don't use them on loud roads. Even better, wear Shokz bone-conduction earbuds.

• If possible, choose trails or paths with sidewalks.

• Always make eye contact with a driver before crossing.

Still, even if you are careful, a crash may happen and it isn't your fault. Drivers have a duty to watch for people on the road. If it happens to you, rest, heal and take it one step at a time. Your running will be there when you’re ready.