According to Bob Vila website, Los Angeles is one of the top 25 most walkable cities in the United States stating that “[u]rban revitalization, along with the city’s investment in express buses and light rail, is helping to turn Tinseltown, into a more walkable landscape.”
With the increase in pedestrian traffic also comes the risk of more pedestrian accidents. If you or a loved one is struck by a vehicle, the following steps should be considered:
- As quickly as possible, get to a safe location. It is dangerous to stay in the roadway where other vehicles may further injure you. In other words, if you were struck in a crosswalk, move back to the sidewalk.
- Seek medical attention. If your injuries are serious, an ambulance should be called. Even if you do not think your injuries are serious, you should seek medical care. Being struck by a vehicle is traumatic to your body, but shock and adrenaline can mask the pain. If you have bruises, scrapes, ripped clothing, or other visible injuries, be sure to take pictures of them. It is important to continue to monitor your health after the accident. If you experience unexplained headaches, stiffness or soreness, you should seek further medical care.
- Seek assistance from others. If you have a phone, immediately contact your local law enforcement. If you are unable to make this call, ask anyone nearby to make the call for you. It is important that you do not blame yourself or accept responsibility for the accident.
- As soon as you are able, start collecting as much information as possible about the negligent driver that struck you. For example, you should obtain the driver’s name, driver’s license information, license plate number and all his/her insurance information. Again, if you have a cell phone, you can easily snap pictures of this information.
- Pictures of the scene of the accident are very important to obtain if it is safe to do so. You will want pictures of the vehicle that struck you, the immediate area surrounding the accident, pictures of the roadway, pictures showing the weather conditions, traffic lights or signs, and anything else that can assist during the investigation of the accident.
- If there are any witnesses to the accident, be sure to get their contact information and a statement of what they saw. Eyewitnesses can assist with creating an accident reconstruction report, as well as provide support for your claims.
- Call the negligent driver’s insurance company. You will want to provide them with your name, contact information and whether a police report has been filed. You should avoid answering any questions and do not admit any fault for the accident.
- Contact an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible. A lawyer can help you understand your rights and recover the damages you are entitled to recover. An attorney will help ensure that you do not settle for less than you deserve or before you know the extent of your injuries.
Contact the Law Office of Alex Cha & Associates today. We are here to help you through every step of your claim.v