5 Steps to Take After a Pedestrian Accident: A Legal Guide

Accidents involving pedestrians can be traumatic and devastating. Sadly, pedestrian accidents continue to occur despite strict traffic regulations aimed at protecting pedestrians. If you ever find yourself in an accident, it is essential to understand what steps to take right after. This is because the restitution process for pedestrian accidents has nuances that can complicate the claims.

Hence, hiring a pedestrian accident attorney to process the restitution claim is advisable because it is paperwork-heavy and requires an understanding of local and national regulations. This article discusses five crucial steps you should take following a pedestrian accident.

Step 1: Seek Medical Attention Immediately

After being involved in an accident as a pedestrian, the first thing you need to do is get medical attention immediately. Even if you don’t feel severe pain or injury, it’s advisable not to overlook any detail related to your physical condition following the incident.

Seek immediate medical attention not only for your health but also for legal purposes. Medical records prove that you sustained injuries from the incident as they establish the damage, acknowledging how much compensation should cover all losses or injuries incurred by the victim.

Step 2: Document the Accident Scene

After an accident happens, especially when someone suffers injuries, there’s usually chaos at the crash scene. This could result in missed information necessary for insurance claim processes and personal injury claims on both sides. Ensure that:

• You take pictures of property damage caused during the accident.
• Take pictures of visible injuries suffered and the duration of treatment.
• Get contact details (name and phone number) of all witnesses present before, during, and after the incident.
• Obtain information like driver’s identification/driver’s license, registration, insurance coverage, policy number, and name of their insurer.

These details will help build the evidence necessary for filing an insurance claim against any third party where applicable. Third-party negligence caused suffering due to accident-related causes.

Step 3: Stay Quiet About Your Case

If one gets hit by a car while crossing the road, possibly due to a preventable reason, such as distraction or carelessness of a driver, your insurance agent (who you contact after an accident has occurred) may collect information about specific details related to such accidents. During these exchanges with insurance agents or representatives, refrain from speaking in ways that may downplay or twist the severity of your injuries or admit fault/perceived fault. Keep the conversation formal and straightforward while telling them facts, although it does not require detailed explanations beyond what’s necessary for carrying out procedures.

Step 4: Get in Touch with a Pedestrian Accident Attorney

After being hit by a car as a pedestrian and sustaining injuries from the crash, seeking immediate medical attention must never be ignored. Equally important is contacting a competent pedestrian accident lawyer next. An experienced pedestrian attorney will guide victims on the appropriate legal steps to file personal injury claims against liable parties responsible for incidents arising from their negligence/carelessness.

Many reasonable attorneys offer free consultation services to assess potential suits and determine if cases stand a chance at trial courts, alternative dispute resolution forums, etc. Additionally, having legal representation that understands cases involving pedestrian laws in your state can help speed up recovery time instead of dealing alone with compensation companies who place going concerns before adequate compensation settlements.

Step 5: Gather Required Legal Documents

Evidence collection is vital for building strong cases supporting personal injury claims. Collect all important documents that will help your case.

• Ensure existing medical records include injuries sustained during the accident.
• Keep all treatments, prescriptions/reports/diagnostics indicating pain and suffering.
• Retain police reports documenting traffic collision events, including commentary from witnesses who observed the event.

These documents will become the cornerstone of your legal case. The more evidence you can provide, the higher the chances of securing maximum compensation.