Following an auto accident, everyone involved is under a lot of stress. Once confusion kicks in, the whole situation can become chaotic in a matter of seconds. It is important to remain calm and take several deep breaths before you leave your vehicle and start dealing with reality.
If you are a driver who hit a pedestrian, you should know that you may have the right to file an injury claim, even if you caused the accident. The fault is determined through a thorough investigation, and once conducted by professionals, it can be proven that you were not completely at fault. Shared fault can signify that you have the right to recover some of your injuries. Here is what you can do after a pedestrian accident for which you believe to be at fault.
The Basics
Right after the accident, it is important to react and reduce the damage or help save lives if possible. As a driver who just hit a pedestrian, you should try and do the following:
- Get everyone injured to safety, away from the traffic
- Call 911
- Call your attorney (assuming that you have one)
- Exchange information with the party involved (if the pedestrian is not incapacitated)
Avoid small talk and any unnecessary conversations that will put additional stress on the injured pedestrian. Never admit guilt or say that “you are sorry” or “feeling guilty”. These things can and will reduce your chances of obtaining any compensation for your injuries.
Call Your Attorney
It is important to get legal help as quickly as possible. If you do not have an attorney on speed dial, consult with Los Angeles crosswalk accident attorney. Schedule your free consultation a receive a free case evaluation. Only once the investigation is conducted by professionals will you know exactly how responsible you are for causing the accident.
If you are partially responsible (not 100 percent at fault), you can gain compensation based on the percentage of the other party’s fault. This means that you can still obtain some compensation for your medical bills, and maybe even for your lost wages as you surely missed some work since the accident.
Be Careful What You Say
Once you are approached by the police and later by the insurance adjusters, you have to be careful about the things you say. Under no circumstance should you ever say that you are “guilty” or admit any type of guilt, even if you strongly believe so? By admitting guilt, you accept full responsibility for everything that happened; this means that there will not be any investigation and you will take full legal responsibility for everything that happened.
Instead, speak with pedestrian accident attorneys in Los Angeles at the Law Offices of Howard Craig Kornberg and let him deal with the insurance company or anyone else who approaches you. He will help investigate the case and determine the percentage of your fault. If there is a chance to recover any compensation for your injuries, Howard C. Kornberg will help you obtain it in a timely manner.
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