Fire officials in Anne Arundel county confirm an adult male was killed after being struck by a car on December 1st early in the morning. That is the third pedestrian death that has taken place in the Baltimore County since mid-November.
The CDC estimates that a pedestrian is killed by a car once every 1.6 hours. The issue at hand is, unfortunately, a common scenario, and if it ever happens to you, you can hold the driver that hit you, responsible. Moreover, the circumstance of your accident may also warrant to get legal compensation from the municipality in which you were hit, if, for instance, the accident took place because of unsafe missing traffic signs.
If you are the victim of such an incident, here’s a possible course of action:
1. Get Medical Treatment
Pedestrians involved in car accidents are often left with quite serious injuries. However, even if you don’t think you’ve sustained any serious injury, don’t refuse medical treatment. It’s possible that due to the adrenaline rush you won’t feel any pain immediately, but you can still be wounded.
It’s also a matter of how you present your medical condition once you try to seek compensation. If there is no record of you seeking treatment right after the accident, the insurance adjuster may believe your claim lacks foundation. Not only that, the liable party may use this as evidence to refute your demands.
2. Get the Details
It’s important to remember what happened. Think of the details regarding the incident, as they can determine who is at fault, and who is liable for damages.
For instance, if you were hit on a crosswalk, then the liable party is the driver. That is almost an airtight case, and you have significant chances of getting proper compensation. However, if the incident did not occur on a sidewalk, then it’s important to look at other circumstances of your case to determine the at-fault party.
Even if you weren’t hit on a crosswalk, you still have a good chance of winning the case if you can prove driver negligence. They have a responsibility to pay attention to the road and must properly react, so if the driver was using a smartphone or going well over the speed limit, then it’s important to take note of the fact.
The same goes for those instances where you can hold liable the municipality. Try to remember if there was any damage to the road, broken stop lights, or any other factors that may have caused the accident. Make a note of them and use them for your claims later in the process.
The best way to make sure that you are adequately compensated is to hire a car accident lawyers to help you navigate throughout this process. You should contact someone with experience in handling pain and suffering cases, particularly those involving pedestrians hit by vehicles.
Hire an attorney even if you don’t plan on pursuing legal actions. They can help represent you in insurance adjustor meetings, and ensure the company doesn’t try to weasel their way out of giving you what’s fair.
At this time, other parties may try to prove either that they are not responsible for the accident, or that you showed a reckless behavior. A lawyer can make a case on your behalf and gather sufficient evidence that refutes their claims, and win your case. So, if you want to be on the safe side, then look for someone to represent you during this ordeal.
Conclusion
It’s terrifying to think about how common this type of incident is. Unfortunately, most pedestrians hit by vehicles don’t exactly get a happy ending, and those who survive can be left with severe pains and years of treatments.
If this ever happens to you, remember that you deserve to be compensated for your pain and suffering, and you have the right to demand it from the at-fault party.
