Crossing the street should not be a dangerous activity. But unfortunately, these days, with cars speeding by, drivers looking at their cell phones and low visibility, people are increasingly at risk of getting injured while walking in the road.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2017, 5,977 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes throughout the United States, which equals about one death every 88 minutes. Plus, another 137,000 pedestrians were treated in the emergency room for nonfatal crash-related injuries that same year, and per trip, pedestrians are 1.5 times more likely than occupants in a passenger vehicle to be killed in a car accident.
In almost half of crashes that resulted in a death, either the driver or the pedestrian had been drinking. Pedestrians who were 65 and older made up 20% of all deaths and 10% of all injuries. Most accidents happen at night, at non-intersection locations and in urban areas.
If you were hit while crossing the street, you may now be dealing with a minor to a serious injury depending on the circumstances surrounding the crash. For instance, if the driver was speeding, you are much more likely to have a serious injury now.
While you can’t take back what happened, you can attempt to get compensation for your injuries and other damages so that you can move on with your life in the healthiest way possible.
What to Do When You’re Hit Crossing the Street
If you’re crossing the street and you get hit, the first thing to do is seek immediate medical attention. If you’re having trouble getting an ambulance, then you should ask someone who’s standing by to call one for you. You’ll also need to call 911 or have someone call them so that they can issue the driver a citation for hitting you and start a police record of the incident.
If you’re not too seriously injured, you can take down the driver’s information and snap pictures of their car, including their license plate, and of the scene of the accident. You’ll need the driver’s insurance information as well so that you can start a claim. If there are witnesses, get their phone number and email so you can reach out if you need to. You can also take photos of your injuries, the damage to the car and the damage to any other objects like streetlamps or signs or your personal items, if there is any.
When you get to the hospital, you need to do a full medical examination including X-rays and possibly even MRIs just to make sure there are no internal injuries. Your doctor will recommend different tests and perhaps even put you on medication. You should do what the doctor says so that you can show you were following orders and trying to get better. Make note of any pain you feel going forward and head to the ER or urgent care as soon as you feel it.
Working With a Personal Injury Lawyer
After your accident, the driver’s insurance company may reach out to you. They will ask you about details on what happened, and they could get you to admit that you were in the wrong, which would damage your case. You shouldn’t provide too much information or take the insurance company’s settlement, which in most cases is going to be very low. It’s not wise to take this settlement because you don’t know the extent of your injuries. Often, injuries get worse overtime, so you should hold back and instead contact a personal injury lawyer.
A personal injury lawyer will go over the details of what happened when you were hit crossing the street, collect your police and medical records, gather your witness statements and take into account any photographs you got that day. They will advise you to get treatment for your injuries for as long as you need and will factor the costs for your medical treatment into the settlement with the driver’s insurance company.
A personal injury lawyer will also determine who was at fault for the accident. While it may appear at first glance that the driver is responsible, perhaps the city failed to fix a pothole or another driver crashed into them, they couldn’t control their vehicle and they ended up hitting you. You may be able to seek a settlement from more than one party in your case.
Additionally, a personal injury lawyer will be able to determine if you should claim any additional damages other than you medical bills. Maybe you were holding a very expensive laptop and the driver smashed it, or your serious injury is now impeding your ability to work. You could get those additional damages to cover the cost of replacing or repairing your items and for loss of income.
You usually don’t have to worry about going to court. A personal injury lawyer will attempt to settle since that’s easier and much more cost-effective for you and the insurance company. If the case does end up going to court, a personal injury lawyer will guide you through the process and do as much as they can for you so that you don’t have to take off more time to resolve your case.
Contact a Personal Injury Attorney in Georgia
Right now, you need to focus all your energy on getting better. Getting hit while crossing the street can lead to some very serious injuries, which could cause you to take time off work and have a negative impact on your personal life. It’s best to allow a personal injury lawyer to step in and offer assistance so that you can get back to normal as soon as possible. With an experienced and compassionate personal injury lawyer on your side, you can feel satisfied that your case is in the right hands.
If you were injured while crossing the street, find out how a personal injury attorney can help you by contacting the Atlanta Personal Injury Lawyer Winston Briggs today.