In 2020, more than 7,000 pedestrians died in accidents involving a motor vehicles, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the CDC. This could be caused by many factors, including distracted driving and unsafe driving habits, driving while on the phone, and even problems with visibility. Even when practicing safety and awareness, roads can be dangerous. If you have been involved in a pedestrian accident, contacting a professional wrongful injury attorney is important to ensure you get the compensation you deserve.
What Steps Should You Take After Being Involved in a Pedestrian Accident?
First Steps
After being hit by a vehicle, you may be severely injured and should seek medical attention immediately. Make sure that you or your doctor document all of your injuries. Even if you think you may be okay, it is still important to be seen by a medical professional to ensure you’re safe and no internal injuries are present.
It is likely the motorist or witnesses involved will contact the police. When you speak with the police, try recalling as many details as possible about what led up to the accident. If you are severely injured, you may not be able to remember very much. But you should provide as much information to the police as you can.
Do Not Discuss Fault
When speaking with the police or any insurance companies involved, do not discuss who you think was responsible for the accident or accuse the motorist of breaking any laws. Only discuss your version of the accident as you remember it without placing blame. Since you may not be fully aware of pedestrian accident laws, anything you say could be used during any legal proceedings.
Contact Your Insurance & Attorney
Even though your vehicle was not involved in the accident, you should still call your car insurance and inform them of the pedestrian accident.
Next, speak with a wrongful injury attorney at Kline & Specter, PC. As a pedestrian, you are more likely to have severe injuries that can lead to extensive medical care, resulting in emotional and financial difficulties. If an insurance company does accept fault and offers a settlement, it may only be a fraction of the compensation you deserve. A wrongful injury attorney can look into your case and seek your deserved compensation.
Contact Kline & Specter, PC, Today
As doctors and lawyers, the wrongful injury attorneys at Kline & Specter, PC, are knowledgeable in handling pedestrian accident injuries and understand how your injuries can affect you. The firm recently, in August 2023, settled a case against an auto dealership where one of its drivers struck and killed an elderly woman as she was walking along the sidewalk. The settlement was for $6.5 million.
Kline & Specter handles cases in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Delaware. For cases outside those states, the law firm works with local attorneys in each state as applicable.