When determining what to do after a pedestrian accident, your first priorities should be getting to safety, calling for help, and seeking medical care.
Once your immediate needs are addressed, begin collecting evidence if you are able, and contact your Salt Lake City pedestrian accident lawyer with Siegfried & Jensen.
Call 911 After a Pedestrian Accident
One of the first steps to take after a pedestrian accident, if you are able, is to call 911. Ask for medical assistance if you are injured and report the accident to law enforcement. If you cannot make the call yourself, ask someone nearby to contact emergency services.
A police officer can gather information about the driver, pedestrian, witnesses, and accident scene. The officer may also document vehicle damage, road conditions, traffic signals, and other details. This can create an important record that is often very helpful when your personal injury lawyer in Salt Lake City at Siegfried & Jensen is building your case.
Do not assume that an accident is too minor to report just because you are able to stand or walk afterward. Injuries may be more serious than they initially appear. Having the accident documented can also help if questions about what happened arise later.
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Get Medical Attention as Soon as Possible
One of the most important things to do after a pedestrian accident is to receive prompt medical attention. Pedestrians are often at much higher risk of injury due to their lack of protection versus someone in a vehicle. Potential injuries may include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Concussions
- Broken bones
- Spinal cord injuries
- Neck and back injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Cuts and severe bruising
- Knee, shoulder, and joint injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
Some symptoms can take time to appear. At Siegfried & Jensen, we encourage injured pedestrians to take their symptoms seriously and seek appropriate medical care rather than waiting for an insurance claim to be settled.
Gather Information at the Accident Scene When You Can
Your health should always come first when deciding what to do after a pedestrian accident. If your injuries allow you to remain safely at the scene, gathering a few pieces of information can help preserve what happened. Evidence can disappear quickly once vehicles leave and traffic returns to normal.
Try to get the driver’s name, contact information, license plate number, and insurance information. If anyone witnessed the accident, ask for their name and contact information as well. Witnesses can be particularly useful if the driver later disputes how the collision happened.
Do not put yourself at risk to gather evidence. If you are badly hurt, allow emergency responders to help you instead. Your attorney at Siegfried & Jensen may be able to investigate the scene, bring on expert witnesses such as accident reconstructionists, and locate additional evidence afterward.
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Take Photos and Videos After a Pedestrian Accident
Photographs can preserve details that may otherwise be difficult to explain months later. If you are physically able, take pictures of the accident scene from several angles. A friend, family member, or witness can also take photos for you. Useful photographs may show:
- The vehicle that struck you
- Damage to the vehicle
- Your injuries
- Torn or damaged clothing
- The crosswalk
- Traffic lights and pedestrian signals
- Stop signs
- Skid marks or debris
- Road and weather conditions
- Nearby businesses or homes with cameras
These photos may be used by your lawyer to demonstrate how the accident occurred and why you are not at fault. If you are able, taking these photos is an essential step to do after a pedestrian accident. Your pedestrian accident attorneys with Siegfried & Jensen can help you gather any surveillance footage or dashcam videos of the accident, as well.
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Keep Records of Everything Related to Your Injuries
A pedestrian accident claim involves more than proving that a collision happened. One of the most important things to do after a pedestrian accident is to document how the accident affected you financially and physically. Keeping your records organized can make that process easier.
Save medical bills, prescription receipts, treatment instructions, and other healthcare documents. Keep records showing missed work and lost income as well. Additionally, you should keep receipts for all expenses that you would not have had if it weren’t for the crash.
Your medical records can help show the progression of your recovery. Continue attending recommended appointments and tell your healthcare providers about new or changing symptoms. Your lawyer at Siegfried & Jensen can use this documentation when evaluating the losses associated with a pedestrian accident.
Do Not Assume You Were at Fault for the Pedestrian Accident
At Siegfried & Jensen, we know pedestrian accident cases are not always as straightforward as they first appear. Drivers have responsibilities on the road, but pedestrians also have traffic laws they are expected to follow. Evidence may show that a driver was at fault if they were:
- Speeding
- Distracted by a phone
- Driving under the influence
- Failing to yield
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Turning without checking a crosswalk
- Driving too fast for the conditions
- Failing to watch for pedestrians
Even if you believe you made a mistake, you may still be entitled to compensation. Utah follows a modified comparative negligence rule (Utah Code 78B-5-818). This means that as long as you are 49% or less at fault, you may still be able to recover damages, minus the percentage of fault you are found to be responsible for.
Speak With a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Before Accepting a Settlement
Pedestrian injuries can affect nearly every part of someone’s life. Medical bills may begin arriving while you are unable to work, and some injuries can require surgery or months of rehabilitation. You may not know the full financial impact immediately after the accident.
A pedestrian accident lawyer can investigate the collision, communicate with insurers, and help document your damages. An attorney may also obtain surveillance footage, interview witnesses, review medical records, and gather evidence showing how the driver caused the accident. When necessary, experts may be used to better understand the collision or long-term effects of an injury.
There is also a limited amount of time to bring an injury claim. Speaking with an attorney from Siegfried & Jensen early can help preserve evidence while it is still available. This can be particularly important when nearby businesses, homes, or traffic systems may have video of the collision.
Take Steps to Protect Your Rights After a Pedestrian Accident
The days after being hit by a vehicle can be overwhelming. You may be dealing with pain, medical appointments, missed work, and calls from insurance companies at the same time.
You do not have to figure out every part of the process immediately. Contact our team at Siegfried & Jensen today for your free case evaluation.
Call or text (801) 266-0999 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form