What To Do After a Pedestrian Accident?

Knowing what to do after a pedestrian accident can help you reach your full medical recovery and protect your rights to compensation. Your health is our top priority. Seek medical treatment immediately. Call the police to report the accident, as well. 

From there, you can also take steps to document your injuries and protect your case. You should also consult a Fort Lauderdale pedestrian accident lawyer to handle your insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit.

Call 911 and See a Doctor as Soon as Possible After a Pedestrian Accident

Your safety and health come first after a pedestrian accident. Whether or not you believe you require emergency medical services, get to a doctor immediately. Some severe injuries, like internal bleeding, have latent symptoms. The sooner you receive medical care, the more chance you have of making a full recovery. 

Even if you did not call the police to the scene of the accident, call them immediately to report the accident. A Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer can use the official police report to file a claim or a lawsuit. 

Consult a Fort Lauderdale Pedestrian Accident Attorney

There are many complex aspects to pedestrian accident cases, from conducting an independent investigation and dealing with insurance companies to preparing for litigation if necessary. 

For example, these two laws often come into play in pedestrian accident cases:

• Florida Statute § 316.130(7)(c): When traffic signals are out, and no signage specifies otherwise, drivers must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians in crosswalks if the pedestrian is in the driver’s half of the road or approaching closely from the opposite side. Pedestrians must yield to vehicles when using a pedestrian tunnel or overhead crossing.
• Florida Statutes § 95.11 states that pedestrian accident victims have two years from the date of their accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. 

An accomplished Fort Lauderdale pedestrian accident lawyer can advocate for you while you focus solely on recovering your health. Your lawyer handles all negotiations with insurance companies who may try to downplay damages, shift blame, or otherwise undervalue your rightful compensation.

Document the Scene of Your Pedestrian Accident and Your Injuries

If you are able, try to document as much information about the accident scene as possible before evidence is cleared away. 

Take photos from multiple angles, capturing vehicle positions, road conditions, weather conditions, traffic signals, crosswalks, and any other potential hazards that contributed to the incident.

You should also immediately start documenting your injuries through photos, written or video logs of symptoms and physician appointments, copies of medical records and bills, receipts for medications and medical devices, and details regarding missed work and wages lost.

Methodical documentation can counter insurer disputes and prove the origin, cause, and extent of your damages, strengthening your legal team’s position in settlement negotiations and any potential trial.

An Attorney Can Explain More About What To Do After a Pedestrian Accident

Once you hire a lawyer, they can provide you with additional information on what to do after a pedestrian accident. While a law firm will handle all the legal work, these steps will help you protect your claim for damages:

Follow Through With Your Medical Treatment 

Your health and well-being must be the top priority after being struck by a vehicle. Even after receiving initial care, follow the full medical treatment plan prescribed by your doctors. 

For instance, an insurer may argue that you weren’t taking reasonable steps to recover. They may then try to undervalue or deny your claim. This is crucial, both for maximizing your recovery and protecting yourself from bad-faith insurance tactics such as these. Severe injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and spinal cord injuries, often require ongoing medical treatment. 

Failing to follow through with doctor’s orders could jeopardize your ability to obtain a full settlement. For example, an insurer may argue that you weren’t taking reasonable steps to recover. They may then try to undervalue or deny your claim.

Avoid Social Media Posts About the Accident

In the aftermath of a pedestrian crash, the wisest option is to refrain from posting any details, photos, updates, or commentary about the incident across social media platforms until your case is resolved. 

Anything you say online could potentially be taken out of context and used against your interests by insurance companies trying to dispute your account, the severity of injuries, or avoid liability.

Instead, decline to discuss the case and only review pertinent details with your pedestrian accident lawyer, who can properly advise you.

You Can Afford to Hire a Pedestrian Accident Attorney in Fort Lauderdale, FL

Additionally, most pedestrian accident law firms work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no upfront costs, and they only get paid from a percentage of any settlement or award they secure on your behalf. 

This means you can afford to hire top legal talent with no upfront financial risk during a time when medical bills and lost wages could already be piling up.

By trusting your case to a skilled Fort Lauderdale pedestrian accident attorney from the outset, you ensure no critical deadlines or proceedings are missed, evidence is properly preserved, damages are accurately calculated, and your rights remain fully protected for achieving maximum financial recovery.

Call The Schiller Kessler Group After a Pedestrian Accident

If you don’t know what to do after a pedestrian accident, prioritize your safety and health. Then, call The Schiller Kessler Group to work with a Fort Lauderdale lawyer. Our attorneys have more than three decades of combined experience that we are ready to put to use for you. 

Contact us now to begin your case. We can discuss your legal options during a free initial consultation. We do not charge upfront fees for our legal services.