What Happens With Your Car Insurance If You Hit a Pedestrian?

Last Updated on December 22, 2025

When you collide with another vehicle, you generally know what to do: pull over, exchange info, and file a claim. But what happens with your car insurance if you hit a pedestrian?

Pedestrian crashes can turn into large injury claims quickly, and the insurance rules can feel confusing—especially if there’s a dispute about who had the right of way. Here’s how coverage typically works, what your insurer will do, and what you should do next.

Key Takeaways

• If you hit a pedestrian and you’re at fault, your bodily injury liability coverage typically pays for their injuries up to your policy limits, and your insurer usually provides a legal defense.
• Pedestrian injury claims can exceed state-minimum limits quickly, which can leave you personally responsible for damages above your coverage.
• Your car’s damage is generally covered by collision (not liability), and MedPay/PIP may help with your medical bills depending on your state and policy.
• After a pedestrian accident, call 911, get a police report, document the scene, and report the incident to your insurer promptly without admitting fault.

First: What to Do Immediately After Hitting a Pedestrian

1. Stop, stay at the scene, and call 911. If anyone is hurt (or you’re not sure), request medical help right away.
2. Call the police and get an incident report number. Use this guide if you need help: How to file a police report after an accident.
3. Document everything (photos/video, crosswalk signals, skid marks, weather, lighting). Get witness contact info.
4. Exchange information if possible (name, phone, address). If the pedestrian is transported, ask police how to provide your details.
5. Notify your insurer ASAP and stick to the facts. Don’t speculate or argue fault at the scene.

If you’re wondering whether you need a report to open a claim, this explains how insurers treat it: Do you need a police report to file a claim?

Your Liability Insurance Can Cover Pedestrian Injuries

Most auto policies include liability insurance. If you’re found at fault for hitting a pedestrian, your bodily injury liability coverage typically helps pay for the pedestrian’s medical expenses and other damages (up to your policy limits). Your insurer also generally provides a legal defense if the pedestrian sues you (even if the claim ends up being denied or limited by exclusions).

Liability coverage isn’t just for other drivers. It can apply to pedestrians, cyclists, and anyone else you injure with your vehicle.

What Your Liability Coverage May Pay For

If you’re at fault, your insurer may pay (up to your limits) for things like:

• Medical bills (ER care, surgery, rehab, follow-up treatment)
• Lost wages if the pedestrian can’t work
• Pain and suffering (varies by state and claim severity)
• Other documented losses (for example, in-home care needs or mobility-related accommodations)

Important: Some damages may be limited or excluded depending on your policy and state law. For example, punitive damages (awarded to punish extreme behavior) are often excluded or restricted by law and are not something you should assume your policy will pay.

If you also damage the pedestrian’s property, property damage liability can help. For instance, if you hit a cyclist and damage their bike, your property damage coverage may pay to repair or replace it (up to your limit).

Your Limits Matter a Lot in Pedestrian Claims

Your insurer will only pay up to your liability limits, and pedestrian injury claims can exceed minimum coverage fast. State minimums vary widely, and many are still relatively low compared to today’s medical costs.

To see the minimum required limits where you live, check: State-by-state auto insurance requirements. If you’re deciding what limits you should carry (not just the legal minimum), start here: What auto insurance limits should I have?

If the pedestrian’s damages exceed your policy limits, you can be personally responsible for the difference. That can lead to a lawsuit, wage garnishment (where allowed), liens, or other collection efforts depending on your state.

What About Your Car’s Damage?

Liability coverage pays other people’s damages. To repair your vehicle after hitting a pedestrian, you’ll typically need:

• Collision coverage (most common for impacts), and/or
• Comprehensive coverage (for certain non-collision losses)

If you’re debating whether those coverages are still worth it on an older car, read: Should you drop collision and comprehensive coverage?

What If You (the Driver) Are Injured?

Driver injuries are less common in pedestrian crashes, but they do happen. Depending on your state and policy, your medical costs may be covered by:

• Medical payments coverage (MedPay)
• Personal Injury Protection (PIP) (in no-fault states and some others)
• Your health insurance (often primary in many situations)

When the Pedestrian Might Be At Fault (or Partly At Fault)

Pedestrians can be found at fault—fully or partially—depending on the facts (signal timing, crosswalk use, visibility, impairment, sudden dart-outs, etc.).

In many states, fault is shared using comparative negligence rules. Your insurer may assign each side a percentage of responsibility. Learn how that works here: Can both parties be at fault in a car accident?

If you disagree with the fault determination, you can contest it—just know that police reports, witness statements, and scene documentation typically carry a lot of weight.

Will Your Rates Go Up After Hitting a Pedestrian?

Often, yes—especially if you’re found at fault and the claim is large. Pedestrian claims tend to involve serious injuries, so insurers may treat them as high-severity losses. Your exact increase depends on your state, your insurer, your prior record, and whether the claim is paid under liability or your own coverage. For more on how claims affect pricing, see: How much will your rates rise after a collision claim?

If You’re the Pedestrian: Will Your Auto Insurance Help?

If you’re hit while walking, coverage may come from the driver’s liability insurance—but other coverages can also apply depending on your state and your policy. This guide explains the pedestrian side of the claim: If I’m a pedestrian and get hit by a car, will their auto insurance pay?

If the driver is uninsured or doesn’t have enough coverage, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) can be a key safety net in many states. In no-fault states, PIP can also play a role in paying medical bills regardless of fault.

FAQs on Hitting a Pedestrian

Final Word on Car Insurance and Pedestrian Accidents

If you hit a pedestrian and you’re at fault, your bodily injury liability coverage typically pays for the pedestrian’s injuries up to your limits, and your insurer generally provides a legal defense. Your own vehicle damage is usually handled through collision coverage, and MedPay/PIP may help with your injuries depending on your policy and state.

The best protection is (1) safe driving, (2) strong liability limits, and (3) fast, accurate documentation if a crash occurs.