What to do as a Pedestrian Hit by a Car in California

California is one of the most pedestrian-friendly states, with year-round beautiful weather and highly accessible metropolitan areas. However, not everyone outside pays attention to pedestrians, especially drivers on the road. If you are a pedestrian and are hit by a car in California, do you know what to do? The aftermath of an accident can be a painful, confusing, and scary experience, but thankfully you can speak to an expert personal injury lawyer at the GP Law Group in Beverly Hills. Call the office or contact us today to schedule a free consultation of your case.

Seek Medical Treatment

The first and most important thing that you should do as a pedestrian after a car accident is to seek immediate medical treatment. This is important for multiple reasons. First, it allows a medical expert to evaluate and treat your injuries right away. Some injuries in this type of accident, such as internal bleeding, are not immediately recognizable by the victim but can be serious. A medical team will fully examine you for injuries and get you the care you need.

Seeking medical treatment right after an accident with a vehicle also creates contemporaneous medical documentation regarding the extent of your injuries. This is incredibly valuable evidence for a legal case against the driver who hit you. This also prevents any insurance companies from claiming that you were not actually as injured as you claim, which happens often when pedestrian victims wait to see a doctor after a crash.

Gather Information and Evidence

As soon as you are able, and if possible at the scene, gather information and evidence about your accident. This includes taking photographs and video footage of the scene in addition to the contact information of any witnesses who may have seen the car hit you. Gather police and accident reports as well as all relevant medical documentation about your injuries. Keep all receipts for expenses related to your care, including medical bills, medication, rehabilitation costs, mileage, and more. Collect all information about your wages and benefits, as any lost income can also be included in the damages for your legal case.

DO NOT Speak to an Insurance Company Without a Lawyer

Insurance companies, even your own, do not always have your best interests at heart following a pedestrian accident with a car. Oftentimes, when adjusters are speaking with you they are looking for any evidence or statements to use against you to minimize or even eliminate your claims for damages. Their goal is to make the claim go away as quickly as possible for as little as possible. An insurer might make a settlement offer right after the accident that seems tempting in the moment, but oftentimes the amount being offered is far less than what you are truly entitled to; in other words, they will try to take advantage of you, which can result in significant financial hardship. For all of these reasons, it is critical that you speak to an experienced lawyer before speaking with an insurance company about your accident.

Speak to an Experienced Attorney

It is critical that you hire a highly qualified personal injury attorney if you are hit by a car as a pedestrian. An experienced personal injury attorney will shoulder the burden of your legal claims so that you can focus on what is most important – your recovery. Once you secure the services of a lawyer, insurance companies are required to go through your attorney for all communication and negotiation of your case. Your lawyer will help you with any statements to adjusters and protect your rights to compensation during this process.

An attorney will take the documents and evidence you gathered, conduct an investigation into the case and ensure that all aspects of your damages are covered. If the insurers are not willing to offer a full and fair settlement for your case, your attorney may recommend filing of a lawsuit. A lawyer will be able to craft the best arguments to a judge and jury for why you deserve to be compensated for the harm suffered as the pedestrian in your accident.

Call or Contact Us Today

As a pedestrian, getting hit by a car can be a traumatic and devastating experience, but at the GP Law Group our highly qualified California personal injury attorneys are here to help. Call the office or contact us today in Beverly Hills to schedule a free consultation of your case with one of our experts in the personal injury field.