If you are a pedestrian involved in an accident, it can be a very stressful and scary situation. However, it’s important to remain calm and take steps to ensure that you receive the necessary medical attention and that your rights are protected.
We will provide a comprehensive guide on what to do after a pedestrian accident in San Diego and discuss how a San Diego pedestrian accident lawyer can help.
The first step after being hit by a car is to call for medical assistance. Even if you feel fine, you should get checked by a medical professional as soon as possible. Injuries can develop hours or even days after an accident, and a medical examination will help detect any hidden injuries so that your personal injury claim can be filed properly.
After receiving medical attention, the next step is to report the accident to the police. In San Diego, you must report any accident involving injury or death to law enforcement. The police report will provide essential details regarding the accident and will be beneficial for insurance and for any possible legal action.
You should gather as much information as possible following the accident. This includes contact information of the involved parties, insurance information, and eyewitness accounts. All this information will be helpful for legal proceedings during the injury claims process.
Be sure to take photographs of the accident scene, including any damage to vehicles and any injuries you sustained. These photographs will help prove the extent of your injuries, support claims of general and special damages for insurance claims, and can provide vital evidence in legal proceedings.
It’s crucial to seek legal representation after a pedestrian accident. An experienced San Diego personal injury lawyer can guide you through the legal process and help you get the compensation you deserve. We will also communicate with the other party’s insurance company on your behalf and negotiate a fair settlement.
After seeking medical attention and contacting a personal injury lawyer, you should notify your insurance company. This will ensure they know about the accident and can start the claim process.
It’s important to follow up with any medical treatment prescribed by your healthcare provider and follow your doctor’s orders regarding your treatment plan. Not only will this help you recover from your injuries, but it will also provide medical evidence of your injuries for insurance and legal proceedings. This type of evidence is particularly helpful when seeking damages for extensive medical care or future lost earnings.
Keep track of all financial expenses and losses related to the accident, including medical bills, lost wages, and property damage. This information will be crucial when filing an insurance claim or pursuing legal action.
At some point, the other party’s insurance company will contact you and try to get a statement regarding what happened that led to the accident. It’s crucial that you direct them to your legal representation instead of communicating with them on your own.
Insurance companies may try tactics to get you to admit fault or minimize your injuries to settle for less than you deserve. Having legal representation will ensure that your rights are protected.
Many pedestrian accident cases settle before ever reaching a courtroom since both parties usually see the benefit of avoiding litigation costs.
However, if you’re unsatisfied with the insurance company’s settlement offer or the other party denies fault, you should consider filing a lawsuit. An experienced personal injury lawyer will guide you through the process and help you receive the compensation you deserve.
After a pedestrian accident, things can get pretty stressful and chaotic. It’s important to remain calm and ensure that your medical needs are met, your rights are protected, and you receive the compensation you deserve. Having the help of an experienced pedestrian accident attorney can be invaluable and means you don’t have to walk the road toward compensation alone.
Contact us today at DP Injury Attorneys, and we’ll ensure you’re treated fairly and get the settlement you deserve for the expenses and losses related to your pedestrian accident.
Arthur Paul D’Egidio is the Managing Partner of DP Injury Attorneys, a San Diego personal injury law firm. With more than 12 years of experience in California injury law, he has dedicated his practice to representing clients in a wide range of personal injury matters, including car accidents, workers’ compensation, slip and falls, catastrophic injury, and wrongful death cases.
Arthur received his Juris Doctor from the Thomas Jefferson School of Law and is a member of the State Bar of California as well as the San Diego County Bar Association. He has received numerous accolades for his work, including being named a Super Lawyer for seven straight years by Thomson Reuters and a “Top 40 Under 40” by the National Trial Lawyers.
