Sometimes the worst can happen at the most inopportune times. This may be true if you were a pedestrian hit by a car. Being involved in a pedestrian accident can be terrifying. Your life may flash before your eyes. However, if you survive, you must know the proper steps to take next. These can be very important for any legal case that may come out of the accident.
Call the Police
Your second priority after ensuring your own safety should be to call the police to report the accident. Do so even if you have to from the hospital. You need to ensure that a police report is produced regarding the accident. The responding officer should interview both you and the driver. They should examine the scene and the car. Everything they observe will then be added to a report. Being able to obtain such a report is extremely important since a jury will take police testimony very seriously.
Hire the Right Lawyer
The next legal step should be hiring legal counsel. However, don’t hire simply any lawyer. While there’s nothing wrong with them, you don’t want a lawyer with a general practice. The attorney who did your divorce is probably the wrong choice. Instead, you need a specialist. Hire a lawyer who focuses squarely on auto accident cases. In fact, go even deeper and choose one with a history of pedestrian crash cases. Make sure that the pedestrian accidents lawyer you choose has a strong record of obtaining large settlements and jury awards for their clients.
Gather Evidence
To prepare for your lawsuit, you need to work with your lawyer to gather as much evidence as possible. This should include paperwork like the police report, your medical records stemming from the accident, and even journal entries regarding your struggles with your injuries. You should try to obtain witness testimony from every single individual that witnessed the crash. If you can, take photos and videos of both the scene of the accident and your injuries immediately after the crash.
File a Lawsuit
Once you have gathered the necessary evidence regarding the accident and your injuries, you should work with your attorney on building and filing a lawsuit. If your injuries were serious enough, you should have a very good chance of winning. You may even be able to settle out of court for a hefty amount.
Overall, if you were hit by a car as a pedestrian, you deserve compensation for your injuries and other losses. Report the accident to the police, gather evidence, and work with a pedestrian accident lawyer on building your case. You should be able to obtain compensation in a court of law.
Kara Masterson is a freelance writer from Utah. She graduated from the University of Utah and enjoys writing and spending time with her dog, Max.
