After a pedestrian accident, the most important steps are getting medical care, reporting the crash to the police, and gathering evidence right away. The steps you take immediately following your accident will play an important role in your recovery and your injury claim, should you decide to file.
If you have further questions, a Charlotte pedestrian accident lawyer can help guide you through the claims process, ensuring you don’t make any mistakes that could negatively impact your claim and your well-being.
The Most Important Things to Do After Being Injured in a Pedestrian Accident
These are the steps that matter most in the hours and days after your pedestrian accident:
1. Get Medical Care and Pay Attention to Symptoms
If you sustain injuries after your accident, the symptoms might not show up right away. Head injuries, soft-tissue injuries, and internal injuries, for example, can develop over hours or days. But if you wait too long to get medical attention, it could hurt your claim and make your injuries worse.
After you seek medical attention, follow through with your provider’s instructions and keep your medical records together. Insurers tend to question injuries when treatment is delayed or inconsistent, so receiving timely care protects both your health and your claim. If new symptoms develop, return to your doctor so the changes are documented.
2. Make Sure an Official Police Report is Filed
An official accident report is one of the most important pieces of documentation in a pedestrian case. If the police respond to the scene, make sure to ask for the report number and the law enforcement agency that will be handling the case. This allows you to request a copy later.
If officers do not arrive at the scene of the accident, you can call the local station and ask what type of incident report is being created and how you can obtain it. Having something in writing helps establish basic facts and prevents confusion later.
3. Gather Evidence While You Can
Pedestrian accidents can be chaotic, and it’s easy for details to get lost once everyone leaves the scene. If you can safely do so, gather information that may help later, including:
- Photos of the scene, crosswalk, traffic signals, lighting, and visibility.
- Photos of your injuries and any damaged personal items.
- The driver’s name, contact information, and insurance details.
- The vehicle make, model, color, and license plate number.
- Names and contact information for witnesses.
If you notice businesses, homes, or intersections with cameras, make a note. Video footage can be extremely helpful, but it’s often erased quickly unless someone requests it.
4. Be Cautious When Talking to Insurance
Shortly after the accident, you will likely hear from the driver’s insurance company. If you speak to them, you can report basic facts, but be careful about giving recorded statements or broad medical releases. Insurance will often use these statements to deny the fault of their client and shift blame onto you.
5. Contact a Lawyer
Pedestrian accidents can turn into liability disputes quickly, especially if the driver claims you stepped into traffic or were not in a crosswalk. A lawyer can prepare you for what to expect and help protect your rights by gathering important evidence that supports your claim and handling communications with insurance.
What Damages Will My Pedestrian Accident Claim Cover?
A pedestrian accident claim can provide compensation for your financial losses and the ways your injuries affect your daily life, both physically and mentally. Depending on the situation, compensation can cover:
- Medical bills and future treatment needs.
- Lost income and reduced ability to work.
- Out-of-pocket costs related to the injury.
- Pain and suffering.
If your injuries impact your work, sleep, mobility, or ability to care for yourself, keep notes or a journal. A record of how the accident has impacted your daily routine can also help when insurance is evaluating the value of your claim.
How Long Do I Have to Take Legal Action?
Another important thing to do after a pedestrian accident is to make sure you are aware of your state’s deadline for filing a personal injury claim.
In North Carolina personal injury cases, the general statute of limitations is three years, and wrongful death claims typically have a two-year deadline. However, in some cases, the deadline can vary, such as those involving government entities.
Because deadlines can differ, speak with a lawyer as soon as possible to determine which timeline applies to your situation.
Click to contact our personal injury lawyers today.
How CR Legal Team Can Help After a Pedestrian Accident
At CR Legal Team, We Stand Up For You® by addressing the legal issues of your case as well as how your entire life has been impacted, including the physical, financial, and emotional challenges that follow an accident.
Our Team investigates what happened, identifies all responsible parties, preserves important evidence, and handles communications with insurers so you are not left handling everything on your own. We also have an in-house investigative unit, which helps us move quickly to preserve critical evidence.
With over 35 years in business and more than 600 years of combined legal experience, we can walk you through our legal process and help you make the most informed decisions to ensure the best possible outcome for your case. Contact us today for a free consultation.
