Were you recently critically injured after being struck by a car while walking? Pedestrians are far more likely to suffer life-threatening injuries than roadway passengers and motorists. Without the same thorough surrounding protection, bicyclists are far more likely to endure near-fatal injuries and damages.
If your life has been turned upside down by the trauma of a pedestrian accident, you can take steps to demand justice. Reach out to a knowledgeable and experienced Mt. Pleasant personal injury lawyer at Shelly Leeke Law Firm to further discuss your options for financial relief. Schedule your free consultation today to learn more about how much your pedestrian accident lawsuit could be worth and who could be sued for your damages.
What to Do After You Are Hit by a Car While Walking
Immediately after being struck by a car, you may be feeling scared, confused, and unsure of what your next steps should be. Fortunately, once you get help from a pedestrian accident attorney in Mt. Pleasant, SC, at Shelly Leeke Law Firm, you can rest easier. In the meantime, here are some of the most important steps you can take in the aftermath of your collision with help from a personal injury lawyer.
Get to Safety
First and foremost, you must get yourself to safety. If you are in the middle of the road, you may be at an increased risk of being struck a second time. If you can move over to the side of the road while you wait for emergency responders to arrive, you can protect yourself from additional, potentially more severe injuries.
Call 911 for Help
Next, if you can, contact the Mt. Pleasant Police Department and 911. You need law enforcement officials to arrive at the accident scene to secure the location, gather evidence, file a police report, and determine liability.
Law enforcement will often provide you with compelling evidence that can be used to support your case against the at-fault party. Police will need to figure out who is responsible for causing the collision so they can determine whether any citations or criminal charges may apply.
Collect Evidence at the Scene
While you wait for law enforcement and emergency responders to arrive at the accident scene, do what you can to collect evidence to support your case. This will be an excellent time to write down in your notes app or on a piece of paper everything you remember about how the accident happened.
Do not hesitate to include even the seemingly minor details, as these could later be used to help support your claim against the defendant. Other types of evidence you might collect include:
- The license plate and insurance information of the driver that hit you
- The names and contact information of any witnesses to the pedestrian accident
- Photos of your injuries
- Video footage of traffic conditions and surrounding property damages
- The names and addresses of any nearby businesses or homes that could have caught the collision on video
However, if your injuries prevent you from being able to move or gather evidence, do not worry. Your pedestrian accident lawyer in Mt. Pleasant, SC, will conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of your accident where we will seek to obtain powerful evidence that can be used to win your injury claim.
Get Medical Treatment
You must obtain medical treatment and care after a pedestrian accident. Even if your injuries initially seem minor, you need to get medical help no matter what. If you do not, you could suffer significantly worse injuries if invisible injuries are left untreated.
Furthermore, failure to get the medical attention you need could be used as evidence against you by the defendant. If the defendant argues that your injuries are less severe than you claimed, the court may reduce your settlement or deny you compensation. By getting yourself medical attention immediately after the accident, you can create evidence that proves the severity of your injuries and the extent to which your life has been or may be affected.
Call a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer for Help
As soon as you can do so, contact a pedestrian accident attorney for help. Your lawyer can take over all the legal details associated with your case while you focus on recuperating.
We can begin gathering evidence to prove the defendant’s negligence, identify liable parties, and prepare to file insurance and civil claims so you can recover maximum compensation for your damages.
Go Over Your Losses
Next, be prepared to discuss every way your life has been affected by your injuries. This is because you have the right to be made whole. You are entitled to restitution for not only your out-of-pocket or financial expenses but also your non-economic damages.
Examples of potentially recoverable damages could include:
- Diminished quality of life
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium
- Reduced earning capacity
- Loss of income
- Disfigurement and skin scarring
- Loss of household services
- Loss of consortium
- Personal property damages
File a Claim with the Insurance Company and Go to Trial
Next, we will file a claim with the liable party’s insurance company where applicable. In some cases, you might be able to file a claim with your insurer. Your pedestrian accident attorney must carefully evaluate your options to determine which ones apply to your case.
However, it is essential to remember that insurance settlements are not always sufficient. If the insurance company denies you the compensation you deserve or is not legally obligated to compensate you for every loss, your attorney may prepare to bring your case to trial so you can recoup your damages in full.
Get Help from a Mt. Pleasant Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Today
There is no reason you should be stuck covering the costs when someone else’s negligent actions cause your injuries. Get help in making the at-fault party pay. Reach out to a respected Mt. Pleasant pedestrian accident attorney at Shelly Leeke Law Firm and find out more about what your next steps should be.
Our firm is proud to offer free, no-obligation consultations to pedestrian accident victims across Mt. Pleasant and the state of South Carolina. Claim yours when you fill out our online contact form or call our office to get started today.
