Posted in Pedestrian accidents,Personal Injury on September 15, 2023
If you sustain an injury after being struck by a vehicle while walking, you may be able to recover compensation for your losses. However, there are various steps you can take to help improve your chances of success with an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit.
Check for Injuries and Seek Treatment
If you get struck by a vehicle when you are out walking, the number one priority is your well-being. Use a cell phone to dial 911 immediately and let the dispatcher know where you are and what happened. They will send EMS and law enforcement officials to your location.
Even if there are no obvious signs or symptoms of injuries right away, please know that is not uncommon. Sometimes, the symptoms of pedestrian accident injuries do not appear until hours or even a day after the injury occurs. Pedestrian accident victims should seek medical care right away so they can establish a strong link between any injuries that do arise and the incident.
Call the Police
The police need to come to the scene of any pedestrian accident that occurs in California so they can fill out an accident report. Law enforcement officials will investigate the incident in order to determine what happened. If necessary, they will issue citations to at-fault parties. Sometimes, they may make an arrest depending on the type of violation that occurred.
You, as the pedestrian accident victim, need the police to come to the scene so you can obtain a police report to turn in to your pedestrian accident attorney in Long Beach. The report will be needed for the insurance claims process and during any potential personal injury claim.
Gather Evidence
It may be possible to gather evidence at the scene of the incident. This can be done by using a cell phone to take photographs of injuries, other vehicles involved, debris, skid marks, traffic and weather conditions, and more. If you see any nearby surveillance cameras, perhaps on homes or buildings nearby, make a note of them. You may be able to request the footage at a later date.
If there are any eyewitnesses, their names and contact information should be written down quickly. These eyewitnesses can help bring valuable information to the case, and they may be able to give statements to insurance carriers or during a personal injury trial.
Reach out to an Attorney
A skilled pedestrian accident attorney can help individuals recover compensation for their losses. If you have been struck by a vehicle, we encourage you to contact an attorney as soon as possible. Your lawyer will be your advocate throughout the entire process, beginning with an investigation into the incident. They will handle all negotiations with other parties and even fully prepare the case for trial.
Go to Follow-Up Medical Visits
Even if you start to feel better after the incident, we encourage you to continue all medical treatment recommended by your doctor. An early discontinuation of care, against medical advice, could be used against you by the insurance carriers or other parties involved. Continue all medical treatment until the doctor has determined you have made as full of a recovery as possible.