The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that vehicles kill 4,000 people and injure 70,000 in pedestrian accidents each year. To break it down, a vehicle injures one pedestrian every eight minutes and kills one every two hours. Those statistics are staggering by anyone’s standards and indicate that we probably ought to know what to do if we find ourselves as an injured pedestrian.
All personal injury claims require evidence. If a vehicle hits and injures you, get the driver’s name and contact information. Be sure to get the name of his insurance company and contact information. If you are unable to secure this information because your injuries are too serious, ask someone that is standing nearby to help you.
Contact the insurance company of the motorist and report the accident. You should file a claim when you first contact them. It’s a good idea to report the accident to your insurance company, as well.
You will need to prove that the motorist was negligent and caused the accident. Your claim will fail if you cannot provide proof. Ask yourself questions like these: Did the driver violate his obligation to me as a pedestrian? Were the driver’s actions the direct cause of my injuries? Did other forces intervene? If yes, do they relieve either of us from fault?
As you build your claim, consider the following: Witness statements are valuable to your case because they may have heard and seen things that you didn’t. Accident photos make good evidence. Any photographs that were taken by the police or bystanders will be helpful to your case. Keep the clothing that you were wearing at the time of the accident. The clothes may be able to show the force of the impact. Get your own weather report from the National Weather Service. Any medical records that tie your injuries directly to the accident will be invaluable. Try to get statements from the nurses and doctors that have given care to you.
Once you have compiled as much evidence as you can, you will be ready to negotiate your claim. If your evidence is prepared properly, you should be able to show the events leading up to the accident, the time of the accident, and the time after and during your recovery. Remember, the more evidence you have, the more likely it is that you can settle for a higher amount.
Pedestrians have rights, and knowledge about their rights can be helpful in the event of an accident. If you need find a car accident lawyer in Wilmington, please see this website.
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