First Steps Following a Pedestrian Accident
The first step that anybody should take after a pedestrian accident in Virginia Beach is to assess whether you have any injuries. If there is any question about whether someone sustained any injuries, dial 911 immediately.
Most likely, the Virginia Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad will show up and give treatment on the scene. After this, if you or the injured person needs to go to a hospital, the rescue squad will take them.
When someone calls in an accident, the police also come to the scene and complete a crash report and investigation. If appropriate, law enforcement may issue any tickets. Someone involved in the incident should contact the police because they help document who is involved in the accident and obtain appropriate contact and insurance information, which can be useful later in the claims process.
Collecting Driver Information and Evidence
You should have the police collect the driver’s information. The police make a report that you can then use later. If you simply trust the negligent driver to give their proper name and phone number, you may later find out that the information is not correct. If the defendant later denies that an incident occurred at all and there is no police report, you could face some challenges. In general, it is good to get the police involved so that there is a record of the incident and verification of everybody’s identity.
In addition to collecting the driver’s information, taking photographs and getting information from eyewitnesses is an important step, if one can do so.
The Importance of Visiting the Doctor
In Virginia Beach, individuals need to make sure that they thoroughly follow up with their doctors following a pedestrian accident. Any instructions that a doctor gives you after the initial emergency room visit should be followed carefully to help the recovery process.
If you do not follow your doctor’s instructions and let an injury linger, then an insurance company may argue that you neglected to treat your injuries. This defense argument is called mitigation of damages. You want to make sure that you are following instructions for follow-up care as directed so you can get better and prevent the insurance company from pulling any tricks later on in the civil claims process.
When Should You Contact an Attorney After Getting Hit by a Car?
After a pedestrian accident and receiving initial medical care, an injured party should reach out to an attorney to discuss their options in how to deal with various non-medical aspects of their claim, such as property damage or opening up a case with the insurance company.
An injured person may receive many calls from the insurance company’s adjusters. When this is the case following a pedestrian accident, you need to call an injury attorney in Virginia Beach from Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers who could guide you on how to handle the claim outside of your medical treatment.
What to Do Following a Hit and Run in VA Beach
If the driver flees the scene, an injured party should stay and dial 911 so that the Virginia Beach Police Department can investigate the crash, and the paramedics can evaluate their injuries. The injured party also should get the contact information of any eyewitnesses.
The police can take care of tracking down the driver who has fled the scene. If the police cannot identify the at-fault driver, law enforcement can still create a report, which the injured pedestrian in Virginia Beach could then use with their insurance company to make an uninsured motorist claim.
Retain an Attorney Following a Pedestrian Accident in VA Beach
If you do not know what to after a pedestrian accident in Virginia Beach, contact the attorneys at Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers. We have dedicated legal advocates who can help you through this process and the aftermath of a serious accident. Do not hesitate. Call today for your free consultation.
