As a victim of a New York City pedestrian accident, you are immediately faced with having to find treatment for the injuries as well as questions regarding the length of recovery time needed and its implications. Further, having to deal promptly afterward with the insurance companies and seeking compensation for yourself or a family member can be challenging. It is important to be prepared and know what to do if you or a loved one has been involved in a pedestrian accident and you find yourself in such a situation.
The odds of a pedestrian accident happening are high, not just in New York, but also around the country. According to a recent report by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), 6,590 pedestrian fatalities occurred in 2019, which was the highest number in 30 years. The report showed that in the past decade, the number of pedestrian deaths on the nation’s roadways increased by more than 50%.
What to do After an Accident
Here are some critical steps to follow if you are ever involved in a vehicle versus pedestrian accident.
Immediate steps: If you can do so safely, you should move away from traffic and off the street. If you cannot move, then remain where you are and wait for emergency personnel to arrive. If you are unable to call 911, ask someone else to do it for you. Even if you “feel alright” or think you have not been injured at the time, it is best to remain at the scene. You may require medical attention even if you do not feel pain right away.
Talk to the police officer who arrives at the scene and make sure he or she hears your version of the incident for their final report. It is also important to obtain a copy of the police report, which is typically available a few days after the incident at the police department that responded to your incident. Your New York City pedestrian accident lawyer can also help you get a copy of this report.
Documenting the scene: If you are able to, get the responding officer’s information so your attorney can follow up with them later. Be sure to get the insurance and contact information for the driver who struck you. If there are people around who witnessed the crash, be sure to get their contact information as well. Take photos and video footage of your injuries, the vehicle that struck you as well as traffic/roadway conditions at the time.
If you are injured and unable to do any of this, ask family members or friends if they can help. Your pedestrian accident lawyer can also help document the scene and take important steps such as track down surveillance videos from neighboring businesses.
Getting medical attention: It would be in your best interest to consult with a doctor soon afterward and have yourself evaluated, especially if this was not done at the accident site. Victims tend not to realize the extent of their injuries due to the shock they experience at the moment of the impact. Accident victims feel an adrenaline rush that can jolt their systems and mask any immediate pain or injury symptoms. It is important here to get a doctor’s opinion. Please remember to save all receipts and documents related to your medical care.
Contacting a lawyer: This is an extremely important step if you have been injured in a pedestrian accident. Your lawyer can help you with a number of actions including determining whether your crash report has been filled out correctly. They can help negotiate the insurance and medical systems.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident, or if you have lost a loved one in an auto accident caused by a negligent (careless) driver, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you.
Pedestrian accident victims and their families should keep in mind that they may be able to seek compensation for injuries or losses in collisions even if the victim was not walking in a marked crosswalk and even if the driver has not been charged. Our law firm recovered the full one million dollar insurance policy for a girl who was not in the crosswalk when a motor vehicle hit her.
For over 49 years, our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses. Our law firm recently recovered $5,600,000 for a bicyclist who was hit by a van, and $2,550,000 for another victim of a truck accident, and $3,000,000 for a pedestrian who was hit by a car, and the full $1,000,000 insurance policy for a pedestrian who was hit by a truck, and $4,625,000 for a driver who was in a car and was hit by a van, and $2,500,000 for a man who fell through an improperly secured hole. Also, one of our clients obtained a verdict for $43,940,000 and another of our clients got a verdict for $23,500,000, both in medical malpractice cases.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury and medical malpractice cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
Other TOLL FREE phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com