Were you critically injured after being struck by a car while walking? If so, you may have the right to financial compensation. Holding the liable party accountable for their negligence can prove to be more challenging than you were expecting.
Fortunately, when you have an experienced South Memphis personal injury lawyer at Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi, PLC working for you, you can rest easier. Our team handles every legal detail of your case so you can focus on healing. Learn more about how the claims process works, who could be responsible for your damages, and what is next for your case when you contact our team for a free consultation.
What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident in South Memphis
Your pedestrian accident lawyer in South Memphis, TN, at Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi, PLC, will handle every legal element of your case. However, before you hire your attorney, there are specific steps you can take to start building a powerful claim against the liable party.
Call for Help
First, immediately after your accident, you must call 911. If the person who hit you tries to get you to avoid calling an ambulance or the police to the accident scene, do so anyway. When there are substantial property damages or physical injuries, it is required by law to notify the police of the accident.
Having police at the scene can also be valuable to your case. Law enforcement officials with the Memphis Police Department will file a police or crash report that details how the accident happened, include essential details about the case, and potentially even determine who caused the collision. This could be especially helpful when building your lawsuit against the driver who hit you or other at-fault parties.
Gather Evidence
If your injuries do not prevent you from doing so, take every action you can to gather evidence at the scene of your accident. Much of this evidence will be time-sensitive, and it may be cleaned up or removed soon after your crash. If you can jot down exactly how the accident happened on a notepad or in your notes app on your phone, you might include details that could be easily forgotten as time goes on.
Now is also an excellent time to use your smartphone to take photos of your injuries, the property damages surrounding the accident, and the traffic or weather conditions at the time of the accident. You could also get the names and contact information of witnesses to the collision and the vehicle’s driver that hit you.
Get Medical Attention
Do not hesitate to get medical help. If you feel your injuries are minor, it is still crucial to get a medical evaluation. You could suffer from invisible conditions, such as a concussion, internal bleeding, organ damage, or spinal cord injuries that, if left untreated, could cause your situation to deteriorate rapidly.
Getting medical help also means you will begin building evidence to prove the value of your damages. When you deal with the insurance company or bring your case to trial, having these medical records will be crucial in establishing the extent to which your life has been affected by your injuries.
Contact a Pedestrian Accident Attorney
Next, hire a pedestrian accident lawyer in South Memphis, TN, for your case. We work with our clients on contingency, so you do not have to worry about paying anything to hire us.
Your lawyer will thoroughly investigate how the accident occurred, determine who caused your injuries, and fight for maximum compensation through insurance or civil claims. At the completion of your case, a percentage of your settlement goes to your attorney to cover their costs. However, if we do not win your case, you do not have to pay anything for the services you received.
Do Not Post About the Accident on Social Media
No matter what, do not post about your pedestrian accident online or on social media. Anything you post could be taken out of context and misconstrued.
The liable party will look for opportunities to reduce their financial losses if possible. Please do not allow them to shirk their responsibilities by posting about the accident online.
Compensation for Pedestrian Accident Victims in South Memphis
Your pedestrian accident attorney in South Memphis will review how your life has been affected by your injuries to ensure you receive fair compensation for your damages. You have the right to be made whole. However, there are certain types of losses victims experience more often than others which include:
- Wage-related losses
- Healthcare and medical bills
- Diminished quality of life
Wage-Related Losses
Pedestrian accident victims often suffer injuries so severe they must take time off work to recuperate. Sometimes, your injuries may be so critical you cannot continue working in the same industry. Not only should you be compensated for your lost income, but you should also receive restitution for your loss of employee benefits.
This could include your paid time off, vacation time, and employer-provided health insurance. Additionally, when your injuries prevent you from getting back to work or being able to continue in your previous position, you have the right to compensation for diminished earning potential.
Healthcare and Medical Bills
You do not want to get stuck covering the costs of your medical expenses and health care after a pedestrian accident. It is not unusual for injuries of this nature to cost hundreds of thousands of dollars or more.
The liable party should compensate you for not only your current medical bills related to your pedestrian accident injuries but any future healthcare costs related to the accident.
Diminished Quality of Life
Financial losses are not the only way your life will be affected by your pedestrian accident injuries. The emotional trauma you experience, the inability to participate in activities you previously loved, and trouble maintaining relationships with friends or family could be some of the most challenging roadblocks to overcome. For this reason, you should be compensated fairly to get through these difficult times with as little financial distress as possible.
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Get Help from a South Memphis Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Today
Your pedestrian accident injuries may take over your life. With help from a respected South Memphis pedestrian accident attorney at Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi, PLC on your side, you do not need to worry about these legalities for another minute.
Get help from a legal advocate you can rely on. Contact our team for a free, no-obligation consultation and start working on your insurance and civil claims against the liable party. Please fill out our online contact form or call us to get started on your pedestrian accident claim as soon as today.