Being hit by a car can be physically and mentally devastating. Not only do you have serious injuries to deal with, but severe accidents also tend to be very traumatizing. An attorney can help you take your claims to court and get compensation.
After being hit by a vehicle, the very first thing you should do is call for help. As you wait for the police and emergency medical responders to arrive, you can take steps to preserve details and evidence. Once you have received medical treatment, contact an attorney about what to do next. Pedestrian accidents tend to be serious, and damages may be high. Medical expenses, lost wages, physical pain, and emotional trauma should all factor into your damages calculations. To begin your claim, your attorney can help you find strong evidence to support your claims while evaluating your damages. Once you are ready, we can file a complaint with the courts.
Our pedestrian accident lawyers at Howe Law can be reached to schedule a free case review at (844) 876-4357.
What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident in Columbus, GA
A pedestrian accident is no laughing matter. Even if you feel relatively fine after being hit by a car, you should still get immediate help and seek medical attention. Taking the following steps after the accident may help you in the long run.
Call for Help
The first thing you must do after a pedestrian accident is call 911 for help. People sometimes hesitate to call 911 because they do not want to pay expensive hospital bills or get the police involved. Negligent drivers sometimes pressure injured pedestrians not to call the police. The police must be contacted so they can investigate and write a report. You also need emergency medical attention.
Getting help from law enforcement and medical personnel is important for several reasons. First, getting immediate medical care will help you recover from your injuries faster, and you will have accurate medical records that prove the existence of your injuries. This is often important in insurance claims and lawsuits.
Second, the police must investigate because the accident might be a criminal offense. The driver might have been intoxicated, and DUI charges must be assessed. If the driver fled the scene, the police must investigate and track them down to charge them with a hit and run. The police should also write an investigative report we can submit to insurance companies and use to find additional evidence.
Preserve Important Details
If you can, take action while waiting for help and preserve details and evidence that will be important later. Remember, if you are badly hurt and unable to move around, wait where you are for help to arrive. Our pedestrian accident lawyers can work with you later to obtain evidence for your legal claims.
If possible, take photos of the accident scene while waiting for help. Often, the police clear away accident scenes quickly, and important details about the crash might be lost. Your photos may help us save these valuable details to show an insurance company or a jury.
Even if you cannot take any photos, you should try to get the names and contact information of people in the area, including the driver who hit you. You need the driver’s information to claim damages later. Any other people in the area might be able to testify as witnesses in a lawsuit.
Call an Attorney
Once you have gotten to a hospital and received medical treatment, you should call a lawyer for help. At this point, you may face high medical bills, time away from work, and other major disruptions to your life. A lawyer can help you take action to get fair financial compensation so you can start putting your life back together.
Damages You Can Claim in Pedestrian Accident Cases in Columbus, GA
All your costs and expenses directly related to the accident and your injuries should be accounted for in your damages. Medical costs, any income you lose, and the cost to replace damaged personal belongings may add up to a significant sum.
You should also consider intangible damages related to painful experiences rather than money. People often talk about pain and suffering when discussing injury lawsuits, and these damages can be high when injuries are severe. Not only are injuries physically painful, but many plaintiffs experience severe emotional trauma after the accident.
Non-economic damages for pain, suffering, or humiliation do not have price tags attached. As such, these damages are very subjective and open to interpretation. The more evidence we have of your injuries and the extent and severity of your pain, the higher these damages may be.
How to Begin Your Pedestrian Accident Lawsuit in Columbus, GA
Preparing your claims for damages may take a lot of work and preparation. Your attorney can help you navigate the legal process of your claims while you focus on recovering from your injuries. To start your claims, you must have evidence ready, damages calculated, and a complaint submitted to the proper court.
Gather Evidence
As discussed before, you can take photos of the accident scene immediately after the crash to document the scene and preserve important evidence. Unfortunately, not all injured pedestrians are able to do this, but do not worry. Evidence might come from various sources, not just the accident scene.
Even without photos, we can talk to witnesses about the crash. The more witnesses who testify on your behalf, the stronger your case. Your medical records may help us prove just how bad your injuries are and shed some light on the pain and suffering you endured. We can also work to obtain security camera footage of the accident, if any exists.
Assess Damages and Expenses
Even though damages are awarded at the end of your case, they must be assessed and calculated at the beginning. You may only be awarded damages that you identify and claim. If you overlook certain damages and forget to include them in your complaint, the court might not recognize them, and you could lose compensation. Our calculations must be as accurate as possible to maximize the value of your potential compensation.
File a Complaint
Once your claims are ready, you and your attorney must file the complaint with the appropriate court. The complaint is a formal legal document containing specific information about your case, including evidence and damages, as discussed above. If important information is lacking, the court might reject the case, and we would have to start all over.
Call Our Columbus, GA Pedestrian Accident Lawyers for Assistance
Get in touch with our pedestrian accident lawyers at Howe Law to schedule a free case review at (844) 876-4357.
