What To Do When a Pedestrian is Hit by a Car
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Most people are aware of the risks they take when operating a motor vehicle, but they might assume that walking is practically risk-free. Unfortunately, nearly 11% of fatal traffic accidents involve pedestrians. Being safe is certainty the first step to dealing with accidents involving pedestrians. The second step is to be ready to hire a pedestrian accident attorney. If you are in the Austin area, here is what you need to know about automobile accidents involving pedestrians.
Causes
In most cases, the motorist is liable for the accident. This isn’t always the case, and there are a variety of cases where an inattentive walker is at fault. The following attributes to the following situations:
- Hazardous weather conditions: Weather can not only reduce visibility but can make it more challenging to maintain control.
- Time of day: Walking at night is far riskier than walking during the day
- Being under the influence: Both walking and driving under the influence increases the risk of an accident.
What to do after an accident
A collision with a pedestrian can be life-changing or even life-ending. If you are part of an accident as a pedestrian, here’s what you should do.
Move out of the street.
Assuming that you are conscious and not in a medically critical condition, move out of the street into a safe area. Your adrenaline is going to be through the roof, so do your best to stay calm. You may be tempted to confront the driver, but this won’t help your case when the police arrive.
Call the police.
You might assume that you are OK, but it’s difficult to know right after the accident. You must file the police report on time. This is an important document that can help you later on if insurance comes into play. Stay on the scene and request that the other person stick around until the police arrive.
Make sure your account is heard.
Make sure that your side of the story is heard. If the police officer only hears from the driver of the automobile, it might sound like the accident is your fault. Get a copy of the police report to make sure it is accurate.
Seek medical attention.
Even if you don’t think you are injured, you must seek medical attention right away. Some injuries won’t fully be felt until much later. Visiting a doctor hours later can actually hurt your insurance claim. More importantly, you want to be evaluated to get treatment right away.
Call a lawyer.
Accidents involving pedestrians can be extremely complicated. Instead of risking being denied an insurance claim or being cited for an accident, get help. Pedestrian accident lawyers are well-versed in the necessary legal matters. You can almost bet that the other party is going to hire an attorney, especially if he or she is at fault. Don’t try to go it alone. Regardless of how smart you may be, a personal injury attorney in Austin, TX will be your best bet to keep things fair.
If you or someone you know has been injured in an accident, call or email us today for a free consultation on your case.