Walking down your favorite tree-lined street to get a pack of your favorite snack at the local store can be fun. But it can also be dangerous. Pedestrian accidents are not uncommon, even when pedestrians are cautious and follow all the rules.
Mechanical failure, substance abuse, and sheer recklessness can lead to pedestrians being injured in an accident. It’s important to gather the right evidence for a pedestrian accident claim, as it can prove your injuries and affect the value of your claim. Without evidence, there is no case.
Here are five tips to strengthen your pedestrian accident claim.
1. Get Immediate Medical Attention
An important expense that accident claim compensation covers is medical bills. Healthcare is expensive, and treating injuries from an accident, even more so. That’s why it’s important to make sure all your medical bills are included in your accident claim, and to do so, you will have to get a proper medical checkup right after the accident.
Failing to see a doctor immediately could result in the judge or the defendant’s counsel dismissing your injuries as unrelated to the accident. That can be a major loss for you. Besides the monetary concerns, there is a real threat to your safety and well-being if you fail to get immediate medical attention, as fatal injuries could go undetected.
2. Collect Evidence
Proving a pedestrian accident claim requires presenting strong evidence of the accident to the court. Often, details of an accident can get lost or may not be recorded. That can be a blow to your case. If you take photos of your injuries and maybe even a video of the crash scene right after the accident, it could serve as strong evidence for your claim.
Noting down the details of any witnesses present, like their names and contact information, ensures that you have someone to vouch for your story. This increases the chance of the court accepting your claim. Documenting your medical expenses and records, like doctor’s notes, pharmacy bills, etc., also helps your case.
3. Avoid Making Self-Incriminatory Statements
What you say can be used against you, which is why you have to watch what you say about the accident. Don’t say anything that can be used to hold you responsible for the accident; this can include casual statements like “I’m fine,” “I’m sorry, I didn’t see the car,” or other similar statements. While pedestrians do have the right of way in most cases, there are situations where pedestrians can be held responsible for an accident.
4. Hire an Attorney
A lawyer with experience can change the course of a pedestrian accident claim. They can help you find the right evidence to support your claim, ensure you follow the right procedures, and file the claim before the statute of limitations expires. You should hire an attorney with a good winning streak, as the chances of them using good strategies and winning high compensation are better.
An experienced lawyer may also have an established reputation, which can make it easier for them to get things done, like finding experts to analyze your accident. Hiring a lawyer also increases the chance of the judge and defense taking your claim seriously.
5. File a Claim as Soon As Possible
As mentioned above, every state has a statute of limitations. This means that you have a time limit to file your claim. Failing to do so within the stipulated time means your case is no longer valid. Also, waiting to file a claim means there’s a higher chance of evidence being lost. The sooner you file your claim, the easier it is to get a hold of evidence to support it.
Filing a claim as quickly also ensures you get a payout quickly, ensuring you don’t have to struggle financially.
