Have you been hit by a motorist? Doing these 7 things could help your case.
Nobody wants to suffer through a pedestrian accident. They kill a little over 5,000 people in the USA every year, with a further 100 thousand injured. With such high figures of pedestrian accidents, it’s no wonder that courtrooms are packed full of people trying to prove their case.
If you want to give yourself the best chances of making a full recovery, follow these seven steps immediately after a pedestrian accident.
The 7 things you should do right now if you have just been in a pedestrian accident
Let’s not mess around here. If you have just been hit by a car, follow the next 7 points to the letter.
1 – Get to a Safe Space
The first step immediately after a pedestrian accident is to make sure you are safe. Get behind a barrier if you can, off the road, or otherwise get out of danger. Only when you are safe can you help others. If there is a vehicle fire or other hazard you should remain at a distance.
2 – Help Others
If you are in a position to do so, make sure that other people are in safe places, too. If someone has sustained a neck or back injury it is vital that you leave them where they are, unless it is impossible to do so. If you can, you should administer mouth-to-mouth resuscitation where needed.
3 – Switch off the Engines
If the engines are still running at the scene of the accident, switch them off to avoid further damage.
4 – Call Emergency Services
This is vital: do not stop mouth-to-mouth to call anyone. Have another member of the public do it, or someone else involved in the accident.
You may need the fire brigade but you will definitely need the police force. An ambulance might also be your first port of call. You should only use your phone at a distance from the scene and when you are sure everyone is safe from further danger.
5 – Call your Lawyer
The next call shouldn’t be to your parents, spouse, or kids, it should be to a Portland pedestrian injury law firm. Only a pedestrian injury lawyer can advise you fully and discreetly about what your next steps should be. Call your attorney as soon as you possibly can after your accident. They will want to collect evidence on your behalf, straight away,
6 – Get Names and Numbers
The next thing to do, is to collect names and numbers for later consultation. Witnesses can be brilliant at backing up your case. When the police arrive, be sure that they also take a written statement from you. All of this will add up to a solid case.
7 – Go to Hospital
Once all of the above is accomplished, you are now free to go to hospital. If you have been in a pedestrian accident in Portland and you are incapacitated, of course, you will have to depend on your attorney and your next of kin to do all of this on your behalf… which makes it all the more important that you get a specialist lawyer working on your side.
