If you were injured in a pedestrian crash, you have a lot on your mind. It is all too easy to make an error that jeopardizes your right to recover compensation from the at-fault party.
Below you will find a summary of eight mistakes to avoid after a pedestrian accident and how our Long Island pedestrian accident lawyers will assist you in navigating the legal system.
In This Article
Reading time: 5 minutes
- Mistake #1: Not Getting Medical Care for Your Accident Injuries
- Mistake #2: Not Following Doctor’s Orders After an Accident
- Mistake #3: Not Collecting Pedestrian Collision Evidence
- Mistake #4: Not Consulting a Pedestrian Accident Attorney
- Mistake #5: Speaking Too Freely About Your Pedestrian Accident
- Mistake #6: Accepting a Pedestrian Accident Settlement Too Soon
- Mistake #7: Not Acting Quickly Enough After an Accident
- Do Not Make Mistakes After a Pedestrian Accident. Consult Our Lawyers.
Mistake #1: Not Getting Medical Care for Your Accident Injuries
Always get medical attention after a crash. Failure to do so could result in:- Your injuries worsening
- Hidden or internal injuries going undiagnosed
- The insurance company claiming your injuries were caused by something other than the accident
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Mistake #2: Not Following Doctor’s Orders After an Accident
Your doctor might run a series of tests to diagnose your injuries and inform you of the types of treatments they recommend. Depending on how serious your injuries are, their recommended treatments could range from prescription medication and physical therapy to emergency surgery and hospital stays. It is vital for both your health and your legal case that you listen to your doctor. Failure to complete recommended treatments could give the insurer grounds to diminish your claim. They could say you would have followed through on treatment if your injuries were really that bad, so you must be exaggerating how serious they are. If you are worried about medical costs, remember that you might have multiple options for seeking reimbursement for these expenses.Mistake #3: Not Collecting Pedestrian Collision Evidence
If you are very severely injured, you should not risk your health to gather evidence at the accident scene. Otherwise, you are in a unique position to collect materials that might be harder or impossible to come by later on. If possible, take photos and video of everything you see, from your injuries to the vehicle that hit you, especially the license plates, and the condition of the road. You should also get contact information from the driver and any witnesses present. This evidence, combined with materials collected by your lawyer, will help in proving who was at fault for your New York pedestrian accident.Click to contact our personal injury lawyers today
Mistake #4: Not Consulting a Pedestrian Accident Attorney
You might be tempted to handle your case by yourself, thinking that the legal process will move faster and easier without legal representation. Unfortunately, the opposite is often true:- Insurance companies and certain liable parties, such as trucking companies, have a great deal of experience with legal actions.
- These parties will not hesitate to use their experience and resources against you.
- The legal process is often complex and confusing for laypeople, and you might end up compromising your rights without realizing it.
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Mistake #5: Speaking Too Freely About Your Pedestrian Accident
Motor vehicle accidents are rare and frightening events. It is natural to want to vent about what happened to your friends, update relatives about your condition, or even warn others about the dangers that led to your injuries. Before you do any of this, however, you will want to consult your pedestrian injury lawyer. The insurance company will be looking at all of your public statements, including your social media posts, for material to use against you, such as:- Statements that seem to contradict your official account of the accident
- Statements that indicate you caused the crash or were not badly injured
- Photographs that seem to show you are happy and healthy
Mistake #6: Accepting a Pedestrian Accident Settlement Too Soon
Without a legal representative, it is all too easy to be convinced by the insurer’s arguments and accept a settlement that is far too low to meet your needs. The insurance adjuster might even visit you with a settlement agreement already prepared. Do not accept any offers or agree to any requests, such as if the insurer asks for a recorded statement, until you consult with an attorney.Mistake #7: Not Acting Quickly Enough After an Accident
You have a short time to take legal action, and you do not want to risk losing that right. (It is important to note that even shorter deadlines than the linked statute of limitations may apply to your case. We strongly suggest you reach out to us for a free case review, so you will know what time limits you are facing and what your best options for legal action are.) Failure to report your accident, collect evidence, and file a claim or lawsuit within the legal deadlines could mean you end up with no compensation at all, leaving you to find other means of paying for your accident and related expenses. Our pedestrian injury attorneys do not want you to end up empty-handed. If you call us in time, we will act swiftly to suggest the course of action that is in your best interest and take all available and appropriate legal actions on your behalf.Do Not Make Mistakes After a Pedestrian Accident. Consult Our Lawyers.
The attorneys at Friedman & Simon L.L.P. have over a century of combined experience in personal injury law, so we know how to identify, prevent, and sometimes even counteract the eight mistakes to avoid after a pedestrian accident. Call today for a free consultation.Call or text (516) 932-0400 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form