Getting hit by a car while walking can be traumatic. Although many pedestrians are killed by cars when struck at full speed, there are many situations when a car will brake too late for a red light or stop sign and hit a pedestrian. Cars making left turns are notorious for striking pedestrians in the crosswalk. Pedestrians are also hit on the sidewalk when cars are turning off the street into a parking lot. If you are ever hit by a car, there are a few things you should know.
Call for emergency help
Getting hit by a car is not the same as when two cars collide. There is no equivalent to a fender bender. When you are hit by a car, you may not be able to assess your own injuries. Your adrenaline will be flowing, and you may not feel any pain. You need to call 911. If you can't call yourself, have someone with you call or anyone nearby. Of course, it is important that you do this for your own health, but it is also important to document any injuries at the scene of the accident. If at a later time new injuries manifest themselves, your attorney will be on stronger ground to get all of the compensation you are entitled to.
Do not listen to the driver place the blame on you
If your injuries are not life-threatening, you may be told that the accident was either your fault or partly your fault. The driver you may tell you that it is partly your fault because you weren't looking while you were walking. Perhaps it was dark, and you are told that you should have been wearing brighter clothing. Often a driver is only trying to redirect the blame.
Do not listen to an insurance company place the blame on you
When an insurance company starts to make these accusations, you can be sure they are trying to settle for the least amount of money. You may even be told you were crossing the street illegally because there was no crosswalk. But in many jurisdictions, there is an implied crosswalk, even when there are no markings on the street. Your attorney is the only person you should listen to.
After you have been treated for your injuries, you need to contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. If you are going to be in the hospital for a few days, you may want to think about calling one as you recover. The sooner you have representation, the better off you will be. Every issue regarding the accident will go through your attorney, so you can focus on your recovery as your car accident lawyers work to get you compensation for your injuries.
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