When pedestrians are struck by vehicles while walking, the injuries sustained could be catastrophic. Your injuries will likely have a lasting impact on your life and affect you in more ways than you realize. Thankfully, when another party’s reckless or negligent actions cause your injuries, you can pursue legal action against the at-fault party.
An experienced Downey pedestrian accident attorney at Simmrin Law Group can help you through these trying times. When you contact our team for a free consultation, you can further discuss the value of your damages, how the claims process works, and your next steps.
What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident in Downey
In the aftermath of your pedestrian accident, you may feel confused, scared, and in pain from the debilitating injuries you just experienced. Your pedestrian accident lawyer in Downey, CA, will be able to handle every detail of your case from start to finish. However, there are specific steps you must take beforehand if you hope to get the most out of your car accident claim.
Call for Help
First, ensure you have called law enforcement officials and emergency responders to the accident scene. Even if your injuries initially seem minor or the driver that hit you attempts to resolve the situation without professionals, it is crucial to get police and healthcare providers to the accident scene. These parties can provide compelling physical evidence and documentation of the trauma you experienced and the accident’s severity and help prove liability for your damages.
Document Your Injuries and the Scene
While you wait for law enforcement to arrive at the scene, if your injuries do not prevent you from doing so, you start to gather as much evidence as you can to support your case. This might include using your smartphone to take videos of the accident scene, taking video footage of the surrounding property damages, writing down exactly how the accident occurred from your memory, and getting the names and contact information of the driver that hit you and potential witnesses to the collision.
Get a Medical Evaluation
Do not forget or avoid getting a medical evaluation. You may initially believe your injuries are only minor or hope to prevent some of the more expensive medical costs of severe injuries.
However, if you wait for medical help, this could be used against you later at trial or with the insurance company. Furthermore, if you do not get the medical treatment you need when you need it most, you could wind up suffering injuries far worse than they would have been if you received medical attention right after the accident.
Hire a Downey Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Once you have an opportunity to do so, contact a pedestrian accident attorney for help. You can do this at the accident scene, on your way to the hospital, or even once your healthcare providers have declared you stable. The sooner you get a lawyer working for you, the better.
While you heal from devastating injuries or learn to cope with a permanent disability caused by the collision, our team at Simmrin Law Group can work on gathering time-sensitive evidence, proving liability, and calculating the value of your claim.
For a free legal consultation with a pedestrian accidents lawyer serving Downey, call (310) 896-2723
What to Expect from the Pedestrian Accident Claims Process
It is not unusual for pedestrian accident victims to be hesitant about moving forward with their claims. This is partially because, after everything they have been through, the last thing they want to deal with is a complex litigation process or advantageous insurance adjusters.
However, once you have a better idea of how the pedestrian accident claims process works, you may feel more confident in your decision to hold the liable party accountable. With that being said, here is a simplified idea of how pedestrian accident claims work:
- You hire a personal injury lawyer.
- Your attorney opens an investigation into the cause of your injuries.
- They gather compelling evidence to support your case, including hiring experts and identifying witnesses.
- Your pedestrian accident lawyer calculates the value of your damages.
- They explore your legal options and negotiate with insurance adjusters on your behalf.
- If insurance is insufficient or a claim is not possible, they prepare to bring your pedestrian accident case to trial.
Downey Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Near Me (310) 896-2723
How Pedestrian Accidents Happen in Downey
Unfortunately, pedestrian accidents can occur in numerous ways. Generally, these collisions occur most often when the driver that hit you is operating their vehicle unsafely. This can often include:
- Drunk driving
- Distracted driving
- Reckless driving
- Drowsy driving
- Drugged driving
- Aggressive driving
However, when road conditions are hazardous, inclement weather, or a vehicle part is defective or malfunctions, negligent driving may not be the ultimate cause of your injuries. For this reason, your Downey pedestrian accident attorney must thoroughly investigate the cause of your collision. This way, we can identify all parties who contributed to your injuries and bring them to justice.
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Who to Sue for Your Pedestrian Accident Damages
The way in which your injuries occurred will help your pedestrian accident lawyer figure out who is responsible for causing your damages. For example, if negligent driving caused your accident, you would have grounds for a claim against the driver that hit you. Other parties who could share liability for your losses include:
- Dram shops
- Government agencies
- The city of Downey
- The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)
- Safety inspectors
- Social hosts
- Maintenance workers
- Contractors, subcontractors, and independent contractors
- Equipment manufacturers
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Contact a Pedestrian Accident Attorney in Downey, CA, for Help Today
Whether you suffer traumatic brain damage, broken bones, or emotional trauma, when you are hit by a car while walking, you should not be forced to cover the costs. The at-fault party should reimburse you for every way your life has been turned upside down by your injuries.
With help from a reputable Downey pedestrian accident lawyer at Simmrin Law Group, you can fight for the compensation you deserve. Our firm proudly offers no-cost, risk-free consultations to pedestrian accident victims across Downey and surrounding cities. Claim yours by filling out our quick contact form or calling our office today.
Call or text (310) 896-2723 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form