How to Survive a Getting Hit by a Car, According to a Professional Stuntwoman

Let’s admit it, getting hit by a car is generally going to make for a bad day, but it doesn’t always have to mean you’re going to die, though it certainly can be a life-ending encounter. Luckily, we have some tips for you to help ensure your survival should you have an unplanned front bumper encounter.

The most important thing is to get off the ground an onto the hood of the car. Generally, thanks to aerodynamic advantages, windshields are laid back at fairly low angles, so as long as you can get over up off the ground and onto the hood, there’s nothing vertical to really hit you that hard. Also, getting off the ground keeps you from being knocked down onto the ground in front of the car, which could subsequently roll over you, causing more devastating injuries. The professional stuntwoman who demonstrates what to do says the #1 thing to keep in mind is trying to get your weight off of the leg closes to the oncoming car. As you can see in one clip in the video, that’s often a first instinct for people who are suddenly faced with a car bearing down on them.

Experts point out that an increase in car vs. pedestrian incidents in recent years can likely be attributed to people paying more attention to their phones and not being aware of their surroundings, or wearing headphones and not hearing the approaching vehicle. Doctors also strongly recommend taking a trip to the hospital even if you feel like you’re fine, as vehicle impacts can often cause injuries that aren’t immediately obvious. This isn’t a corner we’d cut either, as you never know what’s going on inside your body after such an incident. Or, you could always just pay attention to what’s going on around you and not get hit by a car to start with. Whichever works best for you!