Whenever a pedestrian gets hit by a car, devastating injuries and damages almost always follow suit. The driver of the car will usually end up okay. It’s the pedestrian in the accident that will suffer the most afterward.
If a car hit you, you are entitled under the law to file a claim for financial compensation. Your damages will be severe after a car hits you. Don’t let the at-fault driver’s negligent actions force you to pay out of pocket for your expenses.
Instead, talk with one of our Savannah pedestrian accident lawyers. We will get to work on starting your claim and ensuring that your settlement gets covered. Call us today at (404) 400-4000.
Don’t Forget About the Statute of Limitations
Your pedestrian accident claim has an expiration date. You only have two years to start filing your claim. If you wait too long and pass the due date, you won’t be able to pursue compensation.
Don’t start to panic and go into a rush to file. Consult with a lawyer first before making any sweeping decisions for your case.
Get the strong arm
What do I Need to Do Before Filing a Claim?
There are two essential things you need to do before filing your claim against the at-fault driver.
Collect as Much Evidence as Possible
The stronger evidence you have, the easier it will be to negotiate your claim either in court or out of it. After your accident, if the at-fault driver stopped, get their information. You should ask for their insurance information, driver’s license information, and license plate number.
Also, be sure to take as many photos as possible of your injuries and the scene of the accident. You also want to retain other key pieces of evidence:
- Medical records, police reports, and any surveillance footage if available.
- Witness testimonies and their contact information.
- Bills, invoices, receipts, and other documents that prove your financial hardship and expenses.
Even if you think the evidence you’re collecting is “worthless” or “unimportant,” still keep it safe anyway. You never know if it can be helpful later on down the line or not.
Thoroughly Treat Your Injuries
Don’t worry about the financial costs of treating all of your injuries after a pedestrian accident. The reason you want to thoroughly treat all of your injuries is both for health reasons and for the benefit of your claim.
The last thing you want to do is work hard for your settlement, only for it to resolve so fast that it doesn’t cover the remainder of whatever medical treatment you didn’t seek. This means that you’ll have to cover for whatever else you need out of your own pocket instead of getting reimbursed when your settlement is awarded.
This happens to plenty of pedestrian accident victims. They’re in such a rush to get a settlement early that they neglect to finish all of their treatment first. Once you settle, the insurance company no longer has an obligation to pay you anything.
Be wary of this before you begin to file your claim.
Damages You Can Compensate After a Pedestrian Accident
Your pedestrian accident will leave you with a substantial set of damages:
- Medical expenses
- Substitute services
- Assisted living expenses
- Disfigurement and disability
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma, psychological distress, and mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
Many of these damages will cost you in the thousands of dollars, sometimes even more. Medical treatment isn’t cheap, even with insurance. You shouldn’t have to make the hard choice to either save money or live with treatable injuries, especially if the accident that caused them wasn’t your fault.
Our team knows how to accurately assess and calculate all of your damages. We will ensure that nothing gets left out and that during negotiations, you receive compensation for all of them accordingly.
Let Our Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Help You
Our pedestrian accident lawyers serve Savannah and the surrounding areas. We have the knowledge, skill, and expertise to hold negligent drivers accountable for their actions. The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state that roughly one pedestrian dies every 88 minutes due to a traffic accident.
It is essential to hold these drivers liable and punish them for what happened. Our team will help you build a strong case to fight back against the insurance companies and the defense when they resist your claim. We won’t shy away from going to court if necessary.
Get a Free Consultation for Your Case Today
Don’t hesitate to reach out to our office to schedule a free consultation with one of our pedestrian accident attorneys. With over 20 years of experience handling personal injury cases, trust us to help you navigate all the steps to receive a settlement for your damages. There are no upfront fees and no risk or obligation to you when you call us at (404) 400-4000.
912-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form