In 2018, 893 pedestrians were killed by drivers in California. An additional 14,000 pedestrians were injured in the same year. If you are involved in an accident with a car as a pedestrian that isn’t your fault, you may be entitled to compensation.
While you are technically entitled to compensation after an accident that wasn’t your fault, it does not all the time work out. If there isn’t any evidence and you don’t seek to protect your legal rights to compensation then nobody can help you.
This article will provide some helpful tips on how to protect your rights so you can receive the compensation you deserve:
Police phone
Immediately after a car accident, it is extremely important that you call the police. This is particularly important if the driver appears to be drunk. If you are injured or unable to call the police yourself, you should ask passers-by. In addition to calling the police, you need to call the paramedics. Injuries caused by fast-paced vehicles can be very serious.
Visit the Doctor
After you get out of the hospital, you must do it make an appointment with your doctor. This is so you can get medical evidence to support your claim. When you contact an lawyer and file your claim, the very first thing they ask for is medical proof of your injury. Unfortunately, most hospital ER departments don’t keep records for more than 24 hours at a time. This means that all medical evidence can be lost by the time you leave the hospital. In addition to obtaining medical evidence from your doctor, you should talk to them about your injury and how you should move forward.
Call a Lawyer
You’ll need an lawyer if you are filing a personal injury claim. Unfortunately, many plaintiffs try to represent themselves to save money. This barely works, and oftentimes, their claim is denied or they do not receive the maximum compensation. According to legal experts from www.injury-attorneys.com, an accident can make the victim’s life destroyed. Because of this, you should never cut corners with your claims. Most attorneys who specialise in personal injury attorneys offer their services on a no-win fee basis, meaning you do not have to pay them until you win.
Witness Statement
If you had friends or family present when the accident occurred, their statements will be very useful while the insurance company is investigating your claim. You should provide your attorneys with the names and contact information of any and all direct witnesses so they can interview them and gather as much evidence as possible. It may additionally be worth asking local businesses for CCTV of the accident, even though your lawyer may be one step ahead of you on this. Witness statements can be very effective in guaranteeing that you receive the maximum amount of compensation.
Obtaining Evidence
In addition to taking witness statements, you should get as much evidence as possible. Proof that the accident was not your fault will make sure you receive compensation. If you were not seriously injured at the scene of the crash, then most experts would recommend videotapeing the scene, and the driver. You should also document your injury by taking photos and videos. Video evidence showing your innocence is not disputed. You should also ask family and friends present to take their own videos to strengthen your case.
Admit mistake
It is human nature to want to admit mistakes, even when they aren’t really their fault. Make sure that you never admit mistakes. If you admit guilt, then the insurance company investigating your case may dismiss your case, which means you’ll have to take it to court. When the police or ambulance service talk to you, do not say anything that could be used against you. You cannot confirm or deny that there was anything wrong with you until you have seen all the evidence, and until everything has been thoroughly investigated.
Exaggerated Events
Never exaggerate the aftermath of a car accident. If you exaggerate or lie, the insurance company investigating you’ll use this against you and will likely drop your case. Be as honest as possible and ensure not to embellish the facts. If you do not know the answer to a question, explain that you do not remember rather than improvising.
Car accidents can be fatal. Therefore, they must be taken very seriously. The best way to get reckless drivers off the road is to punish them, by filing charges against them and suing them. Follow the guidance of this article and your claim will achieve success without a hitch.
