Being involved in a pedestrian accident is frightening, overwhelming, and often life-changing. In the moments after the incident, your priority is naturally your safety and wellbeing. However, when it comes to making a personal injury claim later, the evidence you collect—or that others help you collect—can make a huge difference to the outcome.

Gathering evidence might sound technical or complicated, but it does not have to be. In fact, some of the most powerful pieces of evidence are simple things like photos, contact details, and notes taken while events are still fresh in your mind.

This guide will walk you through exactly what evidence you should try to gather after a pedestrian accident, why it matters, and how you can still build a strong case even if you were not able to collect much at the scene.

1. Start With Your Safety First

Before thinking about evidence, make sure you are out of harm’s way. Move to a safe location if possible and seek medical help immediately. Never put yourself in additional danger just to collect information.

Once you are safe and have received any urgent medical attention, then you can begin thinking about documenting what happened.

2. Take Photos and Videos of the Scene

Visual evidence is incredibly powerful because it captures the scene exactly as it looked—before anything changes or is removed.

• If you’re able, or if someone with you can help, take photos or short videos of:
• The position of the vehicle that hit you
• Skid marks, broken glass, debris, or damaged objects
• Traffic lights, signs, zebra crossings, or road markings
• Any CCTV cameras or nearby shops that might have recorded the incident
• Your injuries (cuts, bruises, swelling, bandages)
• Weather and lighting conditions

You don’t need professional photography skills. Even a few quick pictures taken on your phone can provide crucial clarity later when insurers or solicitors are trying to reconstruct what happened.

3. Get Contact Details of Witnesses

Independent witnesses can often be the difference between a straightforward claim and a disputed one. Without witnesses, the driver’s insurance company may try to shift blame or deny responsibility.

Try to collect:

• Full name
• Phone number
• Email address
• Brief note on what they saw (if possible)

If a witness is in a hurry, even securing their phone number alone is extremely helpful. Your solicitor can contact them later for a formal statement.

Don’t worry about asking strangers—most people are willing to help, especially if they saw what happened.

4. Exchange Details With the Driver

By law, the driver involved must stop and provide their contact and insurance details. Make sure to collect:

• Driver’s full name
• Address
• Vehicle registration number
• Insurance company and policy number
• Phone number

If the driver refuses to provide their details or leaves without stopping, this becomes a hit-and-run. In such cases, you can still make a claim through the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB), but reporting the incident to the police is essential.

5. Ask for a Police Report Reference

If the police attend the scene, they should provide an incident or reference number. This is extremely useful later, as the police record may include:

• The driver’s statement
• Witness details
• Preliminary assessment of responsibility
• Sketches or diagrams of the scene

If the police didn’t attend at the time, you should still report the incident as soon as possible. This helps establish an official record.

6. Keep a Record of Your Medical Treatment

Medical evidence is one of the strongest parts of any pedestrian accident claim.

Make sure you keep:

• Hospital discharge letters
• GP consultations
• X-ray, MRI, or CT scan reports
• Physiotherapy notes
• Prescription receipts
• Photographs showing your recovery process

If you didn’t go to the hospital immediately after the accident, make sure to visit your GP as soon as possible. A delay in seeking treatment can sometimes weaken your claim, as insurers may question how serious your injuries were.

7. Preserve Your Personal Items

Items damaged in the accident can also serve as powerful evidence. Keep, don’t replace:

• Torn or blood-stained clothing
• Damaged shoes
• Broken mobile phones or glasses
• Any personal belongings affected by the collision

Do not repair or clean these items until your solicitor advises you. They may be needed as physical evidence.

8. Write a Personal Account While Memories Are Fresh

it is surprising how quickly details can fade—even after a major incident. Within the first 24–48 hours, write down:

• What you were doing immediately before the accident occurred
• Where you were walking
• How the accident happened (as you remember it)
• The driver’s behaviour or anything they said
• Your immediate pain, symptoms, or emotional distress

How have your usual day-to-day activities been affected

This personal record will help your solicitor prepare your statement later.

9. Gather Evidence of Financial Losses

Your claim may also include compensation for expenses and losses such as:

• Lost earnings
• Taxi fares and travel costs
• Medication costs
• Care or assistance from friends and family
• Replacement clothing or medical aids

Keep receipts, invoices, bank statements, or wage slips. Your solicitor will use these to calculate your financial losses accurately.

Final Thoughts: You do not Have to Do Everything Alone

A pedestrian accident is stressful enough without having to worry about gathering every piece of evidence perfectly. Do what you can, but remember: your solicitor can help fill in any gaps by requesting CCTV footage, accessing police reports, tracing witnesses, and arranging medical assessments.

The most important thing is to seek help early and keep whatever information you have—even details can become valuable later.