Pedestrian accidents are very common, and in Austin, the risks are even higher. Austin is known as one of the most walkable cities in Texas, but the potential for injury is substantially increased because of the city’s population. With greater amounts of people both in cars and on the streets, pedestrian accidents happen more frequently and cause more injury than is necessary. Accidents do not occur only during the night, either. With increased foot traffic and walking commuters across the city, many pedestrian accidents also occur in the middle of the day, often with children falling victim to unknowing motorists. If such an accident happened to you or a loved one, be sure to call Robert Littlefield Buford III, Attorney at Law to represent you as your trustworthy pedestrial accident attorney in Austin and follow these steps to help you know what you should do after an accident.
Immediately After the Accident
If you or someone you know is involved in a pedestrian accident, the first thing you will want to do is ensure that you get the injured person to safety and call 911. Don’t worry about medical bills or the cost of an ambulance. Your family member’s health and safety is first priority.
As help is on its way, be sure, if you can, to master the vehicle’s number plate, and, if possible, get photographic evidence. This all serves as vital evidence when you pursue compensation for your injury and damages. In most cases, when a pedestrian is hit by a car, the driver of the vehicle is to blame. Drivers must obey traffic signals and rules, including speed limits and laws surrounding designated crosswalks. If a pedestrian is hit while a driver is violating a traffic law, the liability is clear.
Treatment
After capturing some photos to help the pedestrian with the evidence, he should get medical treatment immediately. If a car has hit him or her, with or without physical injuries, the pedestrian might have suffered trauma. Another reason to get treatment is that if a pedestrian wants his or her insurance company to compensate him, then they will ask about medical payments that can only be validated by a professional. Not all healthcare professionals are considered equal when it comes to insurance, either. You are more likely to be compensated for medical bills, for example, if you have medical examinations from a physician to check your health in comparison, to say, a chiropractor.
Driver Responsibility
After an accident, there are two possible outcomes for the car involved. Either the driver stops and attends to you, or the driver speeds off to avoid liability. If the driver stops at the scene and the both of you are involved in a relevant conversation, including an exchange of contact and insurance information, you will more likely be able to pursue compensation through the driver’s insurance office.
On the other hand, if the accident was a hit and run that is the driver did not stop, then the first thing the pedestrian should do is to report the accident to the police. This will lead to the start of an investigation. The pedestrian and the law enforcement agents will try and gather witnesses who were at the scene of the accident, and if the hit and run driver is caught, he/she will not only face economic damages but potential criminal charges for fleeing the scene of an accident.
Get Help Today
We would never wish any kind of accident or injury on you, but if you are injured or a loved one has died as a pedestrian at the hands of a negligent driver, you need the best representation Austin can offer. Call our office today to speak with an experienced Austin pedestrian accident attorney and start your process of healing and compensation.
