How To Get Hit By A Car And Live

You step into a street you thought was empty – then you hear it. A car is careening toward you, tyres squealing as the driver slams on the breaks. You have less than a second to react and save your life. Here’s what you do.

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Before we get into it, know that your survivability when being hit by any vehicle greatly depends on the speed of that vehicle. If they’re going fast enough – 72km/h or more – you won’t have time to react, and the blunt force will be too great for any human bone structure to overcome. That said, there’s no harm in trying to dodge a speeding car headed your way.

The trick is to lift, leap, protect and roll. The most important thing, according to professional stuntwoman Tammie Baird, is that you try to get up on the hood of the car. Otherwise, you’ll bounce off the bumper or grill and back into the road – where you’ll land hard on the asphalt, and possibly be flattened onto it.

So, lift the leg closest to the car, so there’s absolutely no weight on it. This positioning will ensure you get swooped up instead of knocked down, says Baird.

Once you’re in a lifted leg stance, it’s time to leap. Propel yourself up with your weight-bearing leg so your butt or hip lands on the hood of the car first. As you come down on the vehicle’s hood, bring your arms and hands up to protect your head. If possible, spread yourself out as you hit the hood to reduce the force of impact.

After that, it’s time to roll. Prepare for the momentum of the car to either roll you up onto the windshield and over the vehicle, or roll you back down the hood of the car because they have stopped. Whichever direction you go, don’t stop protecting your head. Remember: Lift, leap, protect and roll.

When you’ve stopped moving, get up immediately if you’re able to. You don’t want to stay in the street and risk being hit again. Ask the driver to stay there (note their plates and take photos of the car anyway), call the police to report the incident, then go directly to a hospital. Just because you don’t feel any pain right then doesn’t mean you aren’t hurt. Don’t let the adrenaline rush fool you. Seek medical attention and get yourself thoroughly checked out.