While crashes between two cars can result in little to no damage, others can be deadly. But when an accident occurs between a car and a pedestrian, there is much more at risk. One of the leading causes of accidents between cars and pedestrians is inattentive drivers. Pedestrians who are hit by cars generally experience a severe physical, emotional, and financial injury.
While it may be the last thing on your mind at the time, how you proceed following being hit by a car can greatly affect your ability to receive the damages you deserve. Here are important steps to follow if a car hits you in order to recover your damages.
Call 9-1-1 and seek medical attention immediately.
After you have been involved in an accident, the most important thing to do is to call 9-1-1 immediately. It’s imperative that you call for police and an ambulance.
Ensuring a Police Report is made is important, as it can provide a lot of information to help with any insurance claim. It’s important that the EMTs check you out and you go to the hospital – even if you feel fine. This is because injuries can be internal and you could be suffering a serious injury internally without your knowledge. Also, some injuries may take a period of time to show up and having a hospital record can help your claim.
Obtain the driver’s contact information.
If you are seriously injured it’s important that you don’t move around. But if you are physically able to, it’s extremely important to collect the name, phone number, and insurance information of the driver who hit you. While the driver should never leave the scene of the accident, they still sometimes do. That’s why collecting this information should be done as soon as possible. If you are taken from the scene to seek immediate medical attention, it’s important that you designate a trusted family member or friend to collect this information on your behalf.
Report the accident to your insurance company.
Should you find that the driver who hit you is either uninsured or underinsured, you may be able to file a claim with your own insurance company. This will depend on whether you obtained uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage when you obtained your insurance policy. If you do have uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, make a claim as soon as possible. Don’t forget to do this, as delaying can make things much more difficult for you.
Call a knowledgeable and experienced personal injury attorney.
Finally, another extremely important step to take is to consult with a knowledgeable and experienced personal injury attorney who is experienced negotiating with insurance companies. He or she can help you to get the compensation to which you are entitled.
The Attorneys at Miller, Tischler & Vislosky, P.C. Can Help
If you or a loved one was a pedestrian struck by a motor vehicle, it can have a major impact on just about every aspect of your life. When you are already dealing with so much, the last thing that you want to do is to have to worry about tackling the legalities of your situation.
The Michigan personal injury attorneys at Miller, Tischler & Vislosky, P.C. can help you to fight for the compensation that you deserve. We understand the seriousness of your injury and the physical, emotional, and financial hardships that you have endured and will continue to endure. We can help you to gather the necessary evidence and build a case to help you receive the most optimal outcome. We’ll help you fight for the compensation that you deserve. To learn more or to schedule a free consultation, contact us today!
