Steps To Take After a Pedestrian Accident
When you or a loved one are involved in a pedestrian accident, it can be an incredibly scary and difficult time. Unlike in a car-to-car accident, pedestrians don’t have any exterior protection. Therefore, not only are pedestrian accidents frightening, but they often result in serious injury and trauma.
It’s important to understand the steps to take after a pedestrian accident to ensure you are in the best position to move forward. Today, our skilled team of pedestrian accident attorneys is breaking down each of these steps for you.
Here are the steps to take after a pedestrian accident:
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Check For Injuries
Are you injured? If so, where? How severely? The first step to take after a pedestrian accident is to check for injuries. Try to remain as calm as possible and determine whether or not you’re able to move safely. If you are on the road, it is important to move to a safer location (say a sidewalk) as quickly as you can.
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Call Emergency Services
There is a good chance someone has already called 911, but it’s important to call for help or request that someone else make the call for you. After a pedestrian accident, it is incredibly important that a police report be filed right away. Upon their arrival, you should also get checked by paramedics (even if you don’t think you were injured).
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Get the Driver’s Information
The next step to take after a pedestrian accident is to get the driver’s license plate number, name, and insurance information. When you’re exchanging information, we recommend that you don’t say too much and limit the discussion solely to data collection. It is especially important not to admit fault, which includes apologizing to the other party. An offhand, apologetic remark could easily come back to bite you later.
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Collect Evidence
The more evidence you gather, the better off you will be later when seeking compensation. We recommend that you document as much as possible by taking pictures, talking to witnesses, and recording testimony. Think of it as attempting to paint a picture of the scene and the more evidence you collect will help your lawsuit later on.
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Seek Medical Attention
We always advise getting checked by paramedics at the scene, however, you should also visit the hospital afterwards. Even if you don’t think you are injured, you should still have a doctor perform a proper medical examination to ensure that you don’t have internal injuries. Many injuries won’t present themselves until later and failing to get an immediate diagnosis could hurt your injury claim (and you) in the long run.
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Contact an Attorney
Even if you are not seriously injured, you should always contact a personal injury attorney following a pedestrian accident. A personal injury resulting from pedestrian accidents can lead to a lengthy and complicated insurance battle that you do not want to fight alone. Hiring an experienced Phoenix pedestrian accident lawyer will alleviate some of your stress and ensure that you get the compensation you deserve.
Top Pedestrian Accident Attorneys in Phoenix, AZ
While we hope you never have to experience one firsthand, everyone needs to be aware of the proper steps to take after a pedestrian accident. If you or a loved one has experienced a pedestrian accident and is filing a personal injury claim, visit our website.
With our years of demonstrated service and aggressive compassionate representation, our legal team here at The Law Office of Zayed Al-Sayyed will ensure that you have the best shot as a positive outcome. Contact our team today for a free consultation with a member of our team.
Zayed Al-Sayyed
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