You aim to be as diligent a pedestrian as you can be. You always scan the road while you walking and look out for other cars and where they are positioned. But what do you do if you are accidentally hit while being a pedestrian, whether you were blindsided or clipped by them? It can be a scary time – the results can range from being very shaken to having extensive injuries.
If the injuries are severe enough, you can try to get compensation in a court of law. You can enlist the aid of people like Columbia, SC pedestrian accident lawyers. But what should you do before you reach that stage? What kind of liabilities can the driver face?
Get Medical Treatment
This is the first thing that should happen. You need to be seen by doctors who can ensure that you have not suffered internal injuries or broken bones. If that is the case, then they need to do procedures to help you heal. Do not skip seeing doctors, since they can provide documentation that you can use for any upcoming claims.
Go to The Scene and Get Evidence
See if there are any cameras around. A lot of urban areas have traffic cameras that are constantly recording. They may have footage of your incident, which you can then enter into evidence if there is a court case. You may see if there are blind spots that prevent a driver from seeing pedestrians at certain vantage points along a street.
Talk to Witnesses
There may have been other people around to see what happened. Chances of this increase if you are in an urban environment during a busy time of day. Some of the witnesses may have even called an ambulance and/or the police. Some of them may have even been filming with their smartphone – which could wind up being evidence for you.
The police may have already helped you here if they came to the scene and took eyewitness reports. You should be able to access those reports.
Get a Lawyer
Everything else has built up to this moment. Now you, or a family member, need to go find a personal injury lawyer who specializes in pedestrian accidents. They should have the following characteristics:
- Compassion – They should recognize that you have been in a terrible situation and that you have been both physically and emotionally scarred by the incident and treat you respectfully.
- Experience – You want a lawyer who has tried these cases before. They know what to look for and what should be done to win.
- Availability – They should be around for you to answer questions. You should be a priority and return your calls as soon as possible.
- Communication – They should explain things in a clear way and break down legal terms so that you can understand what is happening.
Your lawyer can gather up everything you have and determine the best strategy for your court case. Then, hopefully, you or your family will get the compensation you deserve.
