Unsure what to do after what to do after a DC pedestrian accident? Immediately following a pedestrian accident, particularly when you are hit by a car or truck, it is expected to feel disoriented. You may ask yourself, “What are my next steps?” While it may seem simple from the comfort of your living room, when you are in the moment, and the driver gets out of their vehicle to yell at you and blame you, you need a simple and actionable plan. This is why we are pleased to provide a simple three-step plan should you ever be unfortunate enough to get into a pedestrian accident in DC. Below, we will discuss what not to do after thoroughly examining the three steps. While the three steps we recommend are essential, doing the wrong thing or saying the wrong thing to the wrong person or insurer can undermine the value of your case.
The three steps you take immediately following your accident can dictate the rest of your case. Moreover, this process goes beyond your actions. The negligent driver may try to flee the scene, which can become a problem when you have no car insurance. While we would not recommend you go after the fleeing driver, there are steps you can take, which we will discuss below. These are methods of preserving the life of your case. While we sometimes hire private investigators, only so much can be done afterward.
Whether you need to go to the hospital depends on the severity of your injuries. Unfortunately, pedestrian accidents typically lead to more severe injuries. Thus, we have made it the first step to consider following your pedestrian accident. The extent of your injuries will depend on a couple of factors. First, the speed of the vehicle when you are hit is essential. The severity of your injuries would be far more extensive if the car were speeding and going 60 miles per hour than if it tried to stop and was only going 10 miles per hour.
Moreover, whether you were run over by the car or hit off the side is essential. We have handled accidents involving both types of pedestrian collisions. When a person is run over by a vehicle, mainly if that car is not driving very fast, the results may be fatal. A third factor to consider is the weight of the car. If it was a truck, there may have been more surface area to come in contact with, resulting in more fractures, higher medical expenses, and more injury. On the other hand, if it was only a motorcycle, the injuries should be far less severe.
This is more difficult than it seems to do on-scene. You may still be in shock following your accident. We have had clients not even realize that they were bleeding or had severe disfigurement until far later. Thus, if you are in a pedestrian accident, we recommend calling the police and an ambulance. The police will help you collect information, and the paramedics will provide a professional and thorough assessment to determine the extent of your injuries.
Even in a less severe collision, understand that you may not develop soreness until a day or two after the accident. After a pedestrian accident, you will have adrenaline that will mask the pain you are in. Further, while soreness in the neck and back is widespread, it typically only sets in later. Thus, speaking with an insurance company immediately and telling them you are not in pain to find out later you are can hurt the merits of your case, especially if that statement comes out to a jury at trial.
If your injuries are severe or life-threatening, consider going to the hospital immediately. While there are essential things you can do on the scene, pedestrian accidents cause injuries that require immediate medical attention. If this is the case for you, please rush to the hospital.
This step may be omitted if your injuries are severe enough to require immediate attention. If that is the case, try to ensure the police are called. They will create a police report that will aid in our investigation. But if you can stay on the scene and collect evidence and information, there are many things to focus on.
Pictures are worth a thousand words. Take photos of the car that hit you. This should focus on the damage to the car’s property. Also, take pictures of the intersection. There may be significant environmental factors we need to be aware of. If the adverse driver attempts to flee the scene, take photos of the license plate number. While this will not necessarily tell us who the driver was, it should at least tell us who owns the car, assuming they were not fake tags. In instances where the car flees the scene, it is often stolen anyway. But the more information you can collect, the better.
Also, be sure to get all parties’ insurance information. Remember that many drivers do not have sufficient assets to cover your damages. This is a significant reason why auto insurance is required in DC.
Speak with a pedestrian accident attorney to determine your next steps. After a DC pedestrian accident, the list of things you have to do varies depending on a seemingly infinite number of factors. To advise you of a list of dozens of things to remember to have to do after your accident would be counter-productive. Instead, we remember to perform the two steps advised above and then speak with an attorney. A skilled and experienced attorney can tell you what you need to do based on the facts of your case. This may involve skipping some steps that are no longer necessary, saving you time.
This list of steps for what to do after a DC pedestrian accident works because all three steps are imperative no matter what has happened in your case, making this guide applicable to all accident victims.
If unsure what to do after a DC pedestrian accident, call our office today at (202) 331-7227 for a free, no-obligation consultation.