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What to Do if You Get Hit by a Car as a Pedestrian

by Michael James Tortora on Dec. 10, 2018

Accident & Injury 

Summary: A car can strike a pedestrian at any time, and on average, a fatal accident occurs every 1.6 hours, according to the CDC.

A car can strike a pedestrian at any time, and on average, a fatal accident occurs every 1.6 hours, according to the CDC. In Fairfield, CT, at The Tortora Law Firm, LLC, personal injury and wrongful death attorney Michael Tortora wants people to know how to respond if they suffer pedestrian accidents. The following valuable tips should help protect your health and legal rights.

Steps to Take When You’re Struck by a Car

1. Seek Medical Care

If you remain conscious, ask someone to call 911 for an ambulance and the police. Move out of traffic if you’re able, but stay as close to the scene as possible. When help arrives, tell the paramedics about your condition and ask to be taken to the hospital for a full exam.

2. Document Everything

personal injuryAs soon as you can, write down as much as you remember about the accident, including what you were doing just before being struck, road, traffic, and weather conditions, and the injuries you suffered. Save all hospital, doctor, and therapy records so your attorney can appropriately assess the damages.

The documentation continues after your initial accident and treatment. Maintain a running log of how you feel each day and all injury-related costs. Track mileage to and from medical appointments and retain all receipts for prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Record all lost wages, home health care payments, and costs incurred modifying the home to accommodate a long-term disability. Also, remember costs of things you once did but must pay others to do for you, such as mowing the lawn or caring for children or elderly parents.

3. Hire a Personal Injury Attorney

Contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Look for candidates with experience representing pedestrians and interview them in person. Ask how many personal injury cases they have handled in the past 12 months, how many settled, and how many that went to trial ended successfully for their clients.

 

If you are struck by a car, seek counsel from an experienced attorney with significant trial experience. Specializing in personal injury and wrongful death, The Tortora Law Firm, LLC in Fairfield, CT, has a strong record of successful outcomes in accident case settlements and trials. 

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