Accidents involving pedestrians can happen at busy crosswalks and intersections. They can also occur in parking lots, highways, and other places where cars and pedestrians share the road. If you’ve been injured as a pedestrian, you must act immediately to protect your health and legal rights.
Remove Yourself from the Traffic Lane
After being involved in an accident, make sure you are out of harm’s way to avoid further injuries from incoming cars. When you are in a safer area, you must contact the police.
Contact the Police
The dispatcher will send a team of emergency medical services and a police officer to the accident scene. Emergency medical technicians can assess your injuries while the police officer completes a full report, including the driver’s contact and insurance information. Ensure you get a copy of the police report for your records when it’s completed.
Make Sure You Have Witnesses’ Contact Information
If there were bystanders who witnessed the accident, get their names, phone numbers, and email addresses. An eyewitness may testify that the driver was driving too fast or driving under the influence, supporting your injury claim.
If the driver refuses to cooperate and flees the accident scene, the witnesses can help you identify the car.
Take Photos and Videos of the Accident Scene
When possible, take pictures and videos of the weather and road conditions at the time. Note any evidence you may find, such as skid marks from the car, inoperative traffic lights, or road signs, around the accident site.
Look to see if nearby businesses have cameras that may have captured the incident. These pieces of evidence are crucial for your pedestrian accident attorney to understand the scale of the incident.
Seek Medical Attention
It is essential that your doctor documents your injuries and recommends medical treatment for a personal injury claim. See a physician immediately following your accident to start this process. Any delay could harm your personal injury case.
Ensure you follow all your doctor’s treatment plans, including taking prescriptions and attending physical therapy appointments.
Contact an NJ Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
A pedestrian accident attorney can evaluate whether you have a claim by reviewing the facts of the accident. They can also help you seek compensation for medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Let your New Jersey pedestrian lawyer help you file a claim and negotiate with the driver’s insurance company on your behalf so you can focus on your recovery.