Accidents, those unexpected & unfortunate events, have an uncanny ability to leave individuals in a whirlwind of pain and confusion. In the midst of pain and suffering, the immediate questions that complicate the minds of the victim are whether to call the police, an ambulance, a tow truck, or a personal injury attorney. Well, this gets extremely stressful as different countries follow different accident laws, which the victim might not know. . And that’s when a personal injury attorney comes into the picture.
This article explains critical actions that you should perform after you have met with an accident and explores the pivotal role of a personal injury attorney in the process. But do you know who suffers the most due to somebody else’s recklessness, Pedestrians?
Why Do Pedestrians Suffer the Most in an Accident? What help can a personal injury lawyer provide?
Pedestrians are always at high risk and often suffer because of the negligence of the driver. You would be shocked to know that nearly 144 deaths involved pedestrians in July 2022. These heart-wrenching numbers underscore the pressing issue of pedestrian safety. The vulnerability of fatalities increases because of multiple factors, such as drivers indulging themselves in reckless driving, alcohol consumption, drug usage, and poor infrastructure.
In all of the above situations, the pedestrian is at minimal fault and rightfully, they deserve compensation for the damage. This legal process is represented by a personal injury attorney who handles the aftermath of an accident effectively while you focus on your treatment.
However, there is a crucial step that can not be ignored: filing a case within the state’s predefined time frame. Failure to do so can result in denial of your claim. This time frame varies from one jurisdiction to another, making it vital to connect with your personal injury law firm at the earliest.
The personal legal attorney serves as your legal advocate, studies the case, and interprets the nuances of the at-fault scenario. The lawyer has knowledge about the legal proceedings followed in a particular state and fights the case on your behalf. This ultimately increases the chances of winning the case.
Well, the above information simply indicates that hiring a personal injury lawyer can be the best decision after an accident. This blog will further highlight steps you should take after an accident to seek justice.
To begin with, Let’s look at the causes of pedestrian accidents.
Distracted Driving:
Drivers who often engage themselves in receiving phone calls, texting, or listening to music are likely to cause pedestrian accidents. This distracted behavior can have severe consequences, as their attention is diverted from the critical task of safely operating their vehicles.
Reckless Driving:
The thrill of speed and aggressiveness are major factors that can cause accidents. The drivers driving the car at speed often cannot control their limits and fail to act promptly. This poses a dangerous situation for both pedestrians and drivers.
Alcohol or drug consumption:
If the driver is intoxicated with drugs or alcohol, it drastically impacts their judgment and motor skills. In this compromised state, they are unable to identify any potential risks involved in the given small time frame, which leads to serious pedestrian injuries.
Insufficient pedestrian awareness:
Well, it’s not always the driver who is at fault, sometimes, even the pedestrians contribute to road accidents. Pedestrians who engage in joy walking or road crossing without checking the traffic signals often face severe accident injuries.
Poor infrastructure:
Insufficiently designed or poorly maintained roads are the primary cause of pedestrian accidents. Pedestrians should be facilitated with well-maintained sidewalks and clearly marked crosswalks to reduce the risk of accidents.
The absence of sidewalks puts pedestrians in close vicinity of vehicular traffic, which can lead to accidents.
What Should You Do If You Have Met With An Accident?
Even with all the precautionary measures in place, accidents can still catch us by surprise at the most unpredictable moments. When faced with such a situation, the first and most critical step is to swiftly move to a safe location and call out for help.
Contact emergency medical services without delay to ensure that any injuries are promptly assessed and treated. Simultaneously, reach out to your personal injury lawyer, who can expertly evaluate the potential legal implications and guide you through the process ahead.
It is also important to look out for any eyewitness who may have observed the event.
In cases of severe injury, you will need compensation for the damages. The personal legal attorney takes on this crucial task of collecting evidence at the accident scene and creating the base for the case.
To successfully avail compensation, you will have to provide proof of the accident to the legal system. That’s why you should collect photographs of the accident scene. These reference pictures strengthen your case when you submit them to the hearing sessions.
It is also important to maintain a detailed record stating the list of treatments you have received after the accident and their respective bills.
In some cases, the hearing process may take too long and your wounds may have healed.Procuring legal compensation during such times becomes extremely difficult, and you need help from your attorney to fight the case.
What is the role of a personal injury attorney?
A personal injury attorney specializing in pedestrian accidents can best analyze the accident situations. Lawyers for personal injury claims possess a thorough knowledge of various accident situations and navigate you through a swift claim filing process. They understand what rights do you deserve and help you win them in the court.
However, the role of a personal injury attorney doesn’t end with just filing a claim. In cases, where you are offered a low settlement or forced to accept it, a personal injury attorney comes to your rescue. They are responsible for creating a detailed report highlighting the losses incurred in the said accident and don’t let you accept a low settlement.
Conclusion
Personal injury lawyer will serve as a blessing in disguise and handle all your case’s complexity with ease. If you are unable to organize the accident information in the given time, seek help from a personal injury lawyer.
