Any injury involving a motor vehicle is an extremely dangerous affair for a pedestrian. For one, you do not have the protection of a hard metal case like a vehicle passenger does, and secondly, your chances of survival depend on the goodwill of strangers.
What’s more, the legal options for pedestrians involved in road accidents are vague at best. As anyone who has been involved in an accident will tell you, there’s nothing worse than suffering in pain and not knowing what to do about it.
To help you along, we have some great advice on the best courses of action for when you are involved in a pedestrian accident. Here’s a low-down of what they said:
Get Medical Attention ASAP
The first thing you need to do after getting out of the accident scene is visit a hospital. This applies even if you don’t have any apparent injuries or pain.
The longer you wait to get medical attention, the higher the likelihood of worsening your injuries. Internal bleeding and infections are widespread among accident survivors and are not always apparent after an accident, so medical trauma examinations are essential.
Delays in getting medical assistance can provide vital ammunition for the at-fault party, who may successfully argue in court that your injuries were not caused by the accident in question. In addition, medical records – which you can only get after an examination and/or treatment – will be essential in proving the extent of your injuries and, consequently, determining your compensation.
Talk to The Police
It is common knowledge that the police should be immediately notified whenever a vehicle collision occurs. However, not as many people know that the police should also be involved in pedestrian accidents.
Ideally, it would be best to talk to the police as soon as possible, before you forget the vivid details. They will ask you the car’s license plate number, model, number of people inside, and if you identified the driver. These details are essential in a hit-and-run case.
Moreover, a police report is just as important as a medical assessment, and many juries see it as the most accurate story. This is because the police question every concerned party.
Establish Who Was At Fault for The Accident
In pedestrian accidents, the vehicle driver is almost always held liable as pedestrians are considered to have the right-of-way. Nonetheless, the driver is not always at fault, and there are situations where the pedestrian may not have the right of way. For instance, if a pedestrian decides to go against the “Don’t Walk” signal.
In some circumstances, both the driver and the pedestrian may be responsible for the accident. One such scenario is when a pedestrian is running onto the path of a vehicle and gets hit after the driver is distracted by a phone call. Here, the pedestrian may still be due for compensation, but the amount may be considerably reduced, depending on their level of responsibility.
If you are a wounded crash victim, consult a car crash attorney today for the much-needed assistance and legal advice.
