When a car crash hurts you as a pedestrian, your physical well-being and financial future could be impacted. If the defendant breached their legal obligation to prevent predictable harm, you may be able to recover compensation for your losses. Insurance companies will try to reduce the value of your claim or altogether reject it. It would be best if you had a pedestrian accident attorney who would fight for your right to fair compensation.
Medical Records
The most crucial evidence in any accident claim is often medical records. These documents can establish the extent of an injured victim’s injuries and demonstrate how they have affected their lives.
For example, managing neck and back injuries may require significant physical therapy. Similarly, chest contusions are common in pedestrian accidents due to impact on the vehicle or the ground. Documentation of these damages can be critical in proving the severity of an accident and justifying compensation for medical expenses, lost income, and non-economic damages such as pain and suffering.
A pedestrian accident lawyer can help use medical records to determine which parties should be liable for the accident. Motor vehicle drivers, property owners, and local authorities are all potentially liable parties in a pedestrian accident case. However, they can attempt to pin at least some of the blame on a pedestrian to reduce their obligation.
Police Reports
Whether it is in the form of audio recordings or written transcripts, police reports are crucial for a pedestrian accident lawyer. They can reveal information such as how fast the vehicle was driving at the time of the crash, which direction it was traveling, and if any traffic signals were working correctly. They also show how much time a driver had to see the pedestrian and take action.
A pedestrian accident attorney can also use a police report to prove negligence. This is particularly important if the case involves crossing a road without looking or jumping out in front of a moving vehicle. In addition, police reports can establish that a driver was distracted by something else, such as their cell phone or another passenger.
Pedestrians can pursue compensation for injuries and losses suffered in vehicle accidents. However, proving that the individual at fault was negligent can be difficult.
Witness Accounts
If you can, you must collect the contact information of any witnesses. Their accounts of the accident can prove valuable when constructing your case. In addition, witnesses can provide insights into the cause of the accident, such as the speed of the vehicles involved and whether or not the drivers were paying attention to traffic signals or prevailing conditions.
Many pedestrian accidents involve cars driving too fast or failing to yield to a person crossing the street at a crosswalk. A reasonable attorney can investigate these issues and prove the driver was negligent.
Accidents involving pedestrians can cause severe injuries and high medical costs. You can seek compensation from the proper insurance provider with the assistance of a lawyer. In addition, a seasoned attorney can also discover hidden opportunities for compensation, such as filing a claim against the city for an unsafe crosswalk. A free consultation is a great way to learn more about your legal options and how a pedestrian accident lawyer can strengthen your case.
Photographs
Photographs are robust evidence that can be used in many ways. They can help establish liability by showing the position of vehicles, damage sustained, and road conditions. They can also show how severe an accident was by capturing the severity of injuries.
It is essential to take photographs as soon as possible after the accident, as the scene may change and lose evidence over time. It is also essential to take photos from various angles and distances to document all aspects of the scene.
Photographing all the people present at the accident scene, including witnesses, is also a good idea. This will help your lawyer connect faces with statements made later on. Also, a picture of the victim’s injuries is highly effective in making a dramatic impression on juries. It is difficult to argue against a graphic image of someone’s broken leg or missing eye. These types of pictures also make it harder for the at-fault driver’s insurance company to deny your injury claims.