The Atlanta metropolitan area is a vibrant collection of cities and other municipalities where there are people walking or jogging from place to place at any given moment. The relatively moderate climate allows people to walk almost year-round, and many people choose to take advantage of our extensive public transportation system, often combining both motorized transportation and walking within a given commute.
Unfortunately, whenever pedestrians walk in places with a high concentration of motorized vehicles, accidents are bound to happen. According to the United States Department of Transportation’s safety campaign called “Everyone is a Pedestrian,” a pedestrian is injured every seven minutes in a traffic accident. When these accidents are caused by a driver’s carelessness or recklessness, injured pedestrians can often recover for their injuries by filing a personal injury claim.
The Atlanta injury attorneys of Goldstein Hayes & Lina, P.C. are skilled advocates who have successfully recovered in excess of $100 million on behalf of their clients. To schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced personal injury lawyers, call our office today at (404) 869-8600.
The Actions You Take May Affect Your Ability to Recover
After a pedestrian accident, you may be shaken up, confused, and unsure of what to do next. Unfortunately, the things you say and do immediately following your accident may affect the amount that you can recover for your injuries and other losses. Here are some steps that anyone involved in a pedestrian accident should take, if they are able.
Evaluate Your Medical Condition as Well as the Condition of Anyone Else Involved in the Accident
The first thing to do after being struck by a vehicle or otherwise involved in a pedestrian accident is to make sure that you and others involved do not need emergency medical treatment. If such treatment is necessary, contact emergency services immediately.
Collect Information Regarding the Accident
If your condition allows, collect information about the accident. Write down the license plates of any vehicles that were involved in the accident as well as the names of the drivers involved. If possible, take pictures of the aftermath of the accident and collect contact information from anyone who may have witnessed the accident.
Undergo a Thorough Medical Evaluation
After some pedestrian accidents, victims may have seemingly minor injuries such as cuts, scrapes, bruises, or sprains that may not seem like they need medical attention. The reality is that even these types of injuries are often compensable, and some more serious injuries may not develop symptoms for a significant amount of time after the accident.
When this occurs, it can be hard to establish that the injuries you sustained were caused by the pedestrian accident in which you were involved. By seeing a medical professional, you can ensure both that your medical issues are properly identified and that an official record is generated connecting any injuries you sustained to your accident.
Contact an Attorney
Pedestrian accidents can leave victims with significant medical bills and emotional and physical pain and suffering. Fortunately, these and other losses are often recoverable by filing a legal claim. To schedule a free consultation with one of our lawyers, call our office today at (404) 869-8600.