What If My Car Accident Involved a Pedestrian?
You may be an extremely aware driver, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get involved in a messy pedestrian accident. From pedestrians walking around obliviously with blaring headphones to others who just blatantly ignore crossing laws, pedestrian-caused accidents are common and you should know what to do if you’re ever in the mix of one. Here are some of our top tips for what you should do if you hit a pedestrian and why it’s always in your best interest to reach out to a personal injury lawyer in the aftermath.
Stop and Report the Accident
After you’ve been involved in a pedestrian accident, stop and immediately check on the pedestrian and your passengers. Always report the accident to the police, and then call for emergency medical services if there are injuries involved.
Hit and Run Driving is Always a Crime
Never take off from the accident. This is considered a hit-and-run and is a crime in any state or jurisdiction. Even if you know you are not at fault, the police will still need your full report. The last thing you want to be added to your record of the accident is a hit-and-run incident. In Texas, leaving the scene of an accident can result in fines of up to $5,000 and prison time between 1 and 5 years. Aside from potential jail time, you’re likely to rack up legal fees that exceed any reparations you are owed from insurance companies or third parties.
Document the Accident Site
If you know you’ve been injured, it’s always in your best interest to document the accident site. Documentation helps you make essential moves toward financial recovery if you were injured in an accident. Some of the critical ways to document your site are:
- Photos of the accident
- Photos of your injuries
- Witness statements
- Copies of the police report
Reach Out to a Personal Injury Lawyer
Even if you were the driver in an accident involving a pedestrian, you aren’t automatically the one at fault. It’s possible for pedestrians to cause a pedestrian accident. Thus, if you’re injured in the accident, you’ll need a personal injury lawyer to help you paint an accurate picture of the accident that proves you are eligible for injury compensation. Hospital bills, therapy, and property repairs can add up. Without the help of a personal injury lawyer, you could find yourself in unnecessary debt that will be difficult to recover from.
Been Involved in a Pedestrian Accident? Genthe Law Firm Can Help!
If you’ve been involved in a pedestrian accident, regardless of your role in the incident, you will need an experienced personal injury lawyer on your side. The personal injury lawyers of Genthe Law Firm have helped our clients gain maximum compensation from pedestrian accidents where the pedestrian was at fault. Trust us to build your case for you and fight against insurance companies and at-fault parties for the compensation you deserve. Our Genthe Guarantee also ensures that you don’t pay us a cent until we recover.
Reach out to us today and schedule your free consultation with a member of our team.