After a pedestrian accident, it’s important to take the following steps to prevent accidental damage to your personal injury lawsuit.
Summary
- After a pedestrian accident, it’s crucial to stay at the scene to collect evidence, such as photos of the damage and skid marks, which can later prove the driver’s negligence.
- Exchange contact information with all parties involved, including witnesses, to have essential details for a pedestrian accident claim.
- File a police report immediately by calling 911, as most states require this for personal injury accidents, and the report can be vital evidence in litigation.
- Seek medical treatment even if symptoms are not immediately apparent, as some injuries have delayed symptoms, and medical records are crucial for your claim.
- Write down everything you remember about the accident as soon as possible to ensure your account remains consistent and detailed, aiding your claim process.
After a pedestrian accident, you may not know what to do. Many pedestrians suffer from severe injuries and have to wrestle with what their next steps should be. Should you prioritize your health? Do you need to collect evidence at the scene of the accident? What about contacting law enforcement to file a police report?
These are all important things for pedestrian accident victims to do to recover from their injuries and help future litigation. As a pedestrian accident victim, you may be overwhelmed with the number of steps you have to take after suffering a severe injury due to the negligence of another party.
At WHG, our team has exceptional pedestrian accident lawyers who can help with this process. We have experience handling pedestrian accident claims and can inform you on the best way to approach the process.
Our team can assist in the aftermath of a pedestrian accident by documenting damages, determining whose negligence caused the collision, and collecting evidence to prove liability. Reach out to us to schedule a free consultation at (800) 320-HELP or contact us online.
Stay at the Scene After a Pedestrian Accident to Collect Evidence
In the immediate aftermath of a pedestrian accident, you should try to stay at the scene to collect evidence. Pedestrian accidents ordinarily occur due to the negligent driving behaviors of a motor vehicle driver. For example, distracted driving, speeding, or drunk driving often lead to serious accidents.
If you are physically able to, you should stay at the scene of the accident. Then, collect evidence that can help prove the driver’s liability later on when you file a personal injury lawsuit. Some of the evidence that can help prove the at-fault party’s liability include photos of the damage to their vehicle, your injuries, and skid marks their car left.
It’s also a good idea to document traffic control signals in the area and anything else that proves negligent behavior occurred. You can use your phone to take photos and videos of the accident scene. Your pedestrian accident attorney can leverage this evidence in settlement negotiations. If necessary, they can also use it in a court case to show a serious accident occurred due to the driver’s negligence.
Exchange Contact Information With the People Involved
While you are at the scene of the pedestrian accident collecting evidence, you should also exchange contact information with everyone involved in the accident. This includes the driver, their passengers, and witnesses to the incident.
It’s essential to have the contact information of the person you feel was responsible for the pedestrian accident, as you will need to have a way to contact them if you pursue compensation for damages through a personal injury claim. You will need their name, phone number, and e-mail to contact them and their insurance company.
It can also help to exchange contact information with any witnesses to the pedestrian accident. Their witness statement can help to prove the at-fault party’s liability if they can say they saw the negligent action that caused the pedestrian accident. For example, maybe they noticed the driver acting drowsy before they hit you.
File a Police Report About Your Pedestrian Accident
Before leaving the scene of the pedestrian accident, you should call 9-11 to file a police report about the pedestrian accident. This guidance overlaps with recommended steps after a car accident. Most states require those involved in personal injury accidents that caused severe injuries to contact the police.
That way, the responding officer can assess the scene, the damages, and the victim’s injuries. After arriving at the scene of the accident, the responding officer will survey the scene and write down all of the information they can collect. This can include where it happened, who was involved, and what the scene looks like.
They will also take statements from the people involved to see what happened from their perspective. In the coming weeks and months of litigation, you can access this police report to use as evidence to prove the at-fault party’s liability.
Receive Medical Treatment for Severe Pedestrian Accident Injuries
A pedestrian accident can cause severe injuries, such as broken bones, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), and back and neck injuries. These can come with life-altering symptoms that can cause severe pain and physical limitations. It’s vital to go to the doctor after a pedestrian accident to have them treat your severe injuries.
After a pedestrian accident, you may not feel symptoms. You should still see a doctor because you may have delayed symptoms. If you leave a relatively mild injury like a concussion or sprain untreated, it can result in permanent damage. A healthcare professional can use diagnostic testing and a physical exam to see whether you suffered a severe injury.
Then, they can begin your treatment to avoid serious complications later on. This visit will go on your medical records, which you can use later to prove you took your severe injury seriously by pursuing medical treatment immediately.
Write Down Everything You Remember After a Pedestrian Accident
At some point in the hours or days after the pedestrian accident, you should try to sit down and write down everything you remember about the accident. This can include what happened, every detail you remember, where it happened, and how you felt.
This can help to establish your story about what happened. You may have to tell your side of the story multiple times, so having a record of it from when it happened can help. Your multiple tellings of the story cannot contradict themselves, so it’s important to settle on a story and keep track of the details early to prevent mistakes later on.
Hire an Experienced Pedestrian Accident Lawyer to Represent Your Interests
At some point after the pedestrian accident, you may need to file a personal injury lawsuit to pursue compensation for damages. Usually, this is because you suffered economic damages, such as medical bills, lost wages, and lost earning potential.
Most likely, you have also suffered non-economic damages like loss of enjoyment of life or pain and suffering. An experienced local pedestrian accident lawyer can help you file a pedestrian accident claim, account for relevant state laws, and assist you through the claims process.
A personal injury lawyer can also evaluate your damages to establish what your claim is worth and investigate to determine who caused the pedestrian accident. Other duties of a personal injury lawyer include explaining your rights, collecting evidence, speaking to expert witnesses, and negotiating a fair settlement with the at-fault party’s insurance company.
Contact Werner, Hoffman, Greig, & Garcia for Help With Your Pedestrian Accident Claim
The aftermath of a pedestrian accident can be complicated. It is common to feel overwhelmed as you try to juggle healing from severe injuries and pursuing compensation for damages. You will have to worry about receiving medical attention, collecting evidence, contacting the police, and so much more.
The pedestrian accident lawyers at Werner, Hoffman, Greig & Garcia can help you with this process. We have decades of combined experience representing injured clients. As personal injury lawyers, we offer personalized legal counsel catered to the specifics of your case. This includes guiding you on what to do after a pedestrian accident to protect your case.
At Werner, Hoffman, Greig & Garcia, we provide free consultations to allow potential clients to meet our pedestrian accident lawyers. Plus, it lets clients get a feel for how we can help with the process of pursuing compensation for damages. We encourage you to schedule a free consultation by calling (800) 320-HELP or contacting us online.
