Close to 6,000 pedestrians are killed every year as a result of being hit by a car.
If you’ve been involved in a pedestrian accident, we know that you’re curious about your legal options. You want justice — but you’re also in extreme physical pain and emotional distress, and are concerned about your ability to make the right decisions about what to do next.
This post is here to help.
In it, we’ll cover some of the most important actions you need to take both immediately following and in the aftermath of a car-pedestrian accident.
Immediately After the Accident
With pedestrian deaths from traffic accidents at their highest levels since 1990, especially those who live in metropolitan areas want to preemptively understand what they should do immediately following a pedestrian accident.
If you’re able to do so, the absolute first thing that you should do is contact the police and an ambulance. If possible, ask a bystander to do so, as any movement on your part could potentially worsen your injuries.
Keep as still as you can while you wait for help to arrive. Even if you weren’t seriously injured by the accident, it’s still essential to call for help. You should also instruct the car’s driver to move their car out of the street to prevent additional accidents.
Depending on your injuries, you may or may not be able to move out of the street yourself — and if you feel like something is broken, instruct others not to move you until the professionals arrive.
Next, memorize or write down the driver’s license plate number and the car make and model. If physically able, take a picture of the plate number, the car itself, and even the driver.
If you’re not able to do so, remember that busy intersections will likely have traffic cameras.
If you can speak and move with ease, write down the driver’s contact information, insurance company information, and other important details. (Once the police arrive on the scene, you can ask an officer for help as well.) Also, get the badge number of any officers who come to your assistance.
Seek Medical Treatment
Once you’ve been cleared to leave the scene of the auto-pedestrian accident, you’ll likely be taken to the hospital or an urgent care facility to have your injuries examined.
This is the time to start collecting any and all medical records and bills that you receive so that you can submit them to the proper insurance companies later on.
Make sure that your doctor writes down a detailed account of the injuries, outlines the treatments/surgeries/medication needed, and outlines the potential short and long-term consequences of your injuries.
If you’re unable to work, keep a copy of any communication between yourself and your employer relating to time off due to injuries from the accident. This will help you should you decide to pursue legal action for lost wages due to the injury.
Remember that your insurance company will likely attempt to get you to settle for a lower amount of coverage than you’re actually entitled to. A good general rule of thumb here is to always refuse their first offer and to keep diligent records of the date/times of the calls and amounts offered.
Hire a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Especially if you’re facing more severe injuries as a result of your pedestrian accident, it’s a smart idea to hire a pedestrian accident attorney.
These professionals won’t just help to ensure that you have the documentation needed to get as high of a settlement as is possible.
They also have a solid understanding of how court proceeding work in personal injury cases. Remember, one misfiled document or missed deadline could throw off your entire case.
Legal professionals also have contacts within the medical field that can offer a more detailed explanation of the severity of your injuries and the lifelong impact they may have.
What to Look for in an Accident Attorney
When you’re interviewing potential accident lawyers, you need to learn more about their experience and qualifications.
Make sure you verify that they’re licensed by the American Bar Association to practice in your state, and ask to see a copy of their diplomas/degrees.
You should also connect with several past references to get a feel for the level of care and attention that the attorney is likely to give your case, as well as the promptness of their communication styles.
The best way to get to know whether or not a specific car accident lawyer is the best for you and your case is to book a consultation with them.
Pay attention to how they break down complex legal concepts, the time they take with you, and the suggestions they make about how to approach your case.
You Deserve Justice After a Pedestrian Accident
Knowing exactly what you should do after you’ve been injured in a pedestrian accident will help you to build a solid foundation for any future legal action you take.
You don’t want to end up having to pay for your own medical bills and having to deal with the other financial consequences on top of being in physical and emotional pain.
We strongly advise you to hire a pedestrian accident attorney to fight on your behalf.
Looking to learn more about what makes a quality attorney? Are you an accident attorney yourself, and in search of more information about the best ways to market your firm’s services online? Perhaps you’re a business owner who wants to know what they should do if they’re facing legal action from an employee as a result of a workplace injury.
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