One of the last things you ever expect to be involved in is a pedestrian versus car accident. However, in the blink of an eye, you can go from being an innocent walker to an injured victim in need of medical assistance. Given how fast an accident can occur, you might not know what to do next. Read on to learn more.
Get to a Place of Safety
Before you call an expert law firm like Blumenshine Law, it’s a good idea to move to an area of safety if you can. This might be an adjacent driveway, a footpath, or even the side of the road. However, if you have sustained severe injuries, remain where you are. Medical professionals can take all possible precautions when moving you to prevent further injuries.
Keep the Driver At the Scene
It can be challenging to think of the right things to say or do after being struck by a car. If you believe you have only experienced minor injuries, you may be inclined to tell the driver you’re okay and allow them to leave.
However, with adrenaline coursing through your veins, injuries may not present themselves right away. Sometimes, it’s not until hours or days later you realize you suffered bruising or even broken bones.
Ask the driver to remain with you, and if you’re in a position to do so, take down their personal information. If you are involved in a hit and run incident, take a mental note or a picture of their vehicle make, model, and registration information.
Call Emergency Services
Even if you believe everything is under control, don’t be afraid to call 911 to report the incident. Remain at the scene for them to arrive, and take advantage of the medical care being offered for your injuries. Along with the police and ambulance services being able to help you, they also take a detailed report of the incident. You may require this should you decide to file a personal injury claim.
Collect Evidence
It’s your word against the driver’s, but only if you haven’t collected as much evidence as possible to prove you weren’t at fault. Write down witness contact information, take photos of your injuries, clothing, and the scene, and request copies of medical and police reports. Once you talk to your chosen personal injury lawyer, all this information may prove useful.
Start the Insurance Process
Given that over 100,000 people visit emergency rooms as injured pedestrians annually, insurance companies are well-versed in handling the pedestrian injury claims process. Contact the driver’s injury company to start a claim, but only offer the bare minimum information, such as that you were a pedestrian hit by a driver, and it happened at a certain time in a particular city.
Contact a Personal Injury Attorney
There are hundreds of personal injury attorneys and law firms in the United States, which means you’ve got plenty of options from which to choose. A lawyer can walk you through your best course of action, including managing the insurance company and making a claim.
Being hit by a vehicle can be a terrifying and traumatic experience, especially if you’re unsure what steps to take. Some of the information above may prove useful if you ever find yourself in this unfortunate position.
