What to Do After a Pedestrian Crash in Central Florida

When a pedestrian collision happens, it usually makes the news. This is because pedestrian crashes are simply terrifying. Most are accidental, but this is not always the case. In fact, local news reports suggest a pedestrian killed in Kissimmee on January 22, 2021 may have been an intentional attack. It’s hard to know why someone would intentionally strike a pedestrian with their vehicle, but these types of injuries happen more often than most people would suspect. With decades of experience litigating injury claims in the central Florida region, the folks at Draper Law Office understand just how devastating pedestrian crashes can be. We also understand what it takes to recover maximum compensation. With this in mind, it’s worth taking a quick look at a few simple tips in case you or a loved one are ever involved in one of these horrific situations.

Get Medical Care ASAP 

Obviously, if you are hit by a motor vehicle, you will want to make sure you get emergency medical care. For those who are still capable of communicating and requesting help, some people tend to think they can ‘tough it out’ and get help later on. This is the wrong answer. Many injuries are latent, meaning you cannot see them easily, and these injuries may show up weeks later. By then, you have given an insurance company all the ammunition they need to deny your claim.

Try to Get the Other Driver’s Information

 Police are supposed to complete reports and collect insurance and contact information from everyone on scene. Sadly, they are not 100% reliable in doing this. Sometimes the police are busy investigating the crash, they may think someone else is doing it, or they may be tired and make errors. Do not leave this part to chance. At a minimum, try to snap a picture of the license plate, the other party involved, their car, the scene, your injuries (if visible), and anything else you believe may be helpful. Of course, if your injuries are so severe that you cannot do so, just focus first on getting to safety and getting medical attention.

Do Not Answer Insurance Company Questions 

Within hours of your injuries, you may start getting flooded with phone calls from insurance adjusters and other people claiming to be investigating the crash. These are usually claims adjusters from the driver’s insurance company or investigators. They may follow you, look you up on social media, and look for any way possible to derail your claim by making you look unharmed. Do not talk to these people.

Get a Lawyer Fast

 The sooner you have a lawyer handling your case, the sooner you can get on with your physical recovery and not have to deal with the insurance people. At Draper Law Office, our Kissimmee pedestrian accident lawyers put our experience to the test time and again, and we’ve proven ourselves one case at a time. If you need help after a pedestrian collision, give us a call. The call is free, and we never take a fee unless we are able to put compensation in your pocket after an accident.

Resource:

clickorlando.com/news/local/2021/01/22/pedestrian-killed-in-hit-and-run-crash-in-kissimmee/