Any Atlanta lawyer for pedestrian accidents will affirm, unfortunately, pedestrian accidents occur much more than the average driver may realize or even want to admit. Furthermore, most any pedestrian car accidents attorney would agree that pedestrian accidents can occur at any moment without warning. If you live in the Atlanta area and are the victim of a pedestrian car accident, you may need to get in touch with a qualified Atlanta pedestrian accidents lawyer. Call Schneider & Hammers today and an experienced pedestrian accidents lawyer will provide you with a FREE consultation.
You can be vulnerable while you are walking to the bus stop or simply trying to cross the street. There are several things you can do to help prevent yourself from needing assistance from an Atlanta pedestrian accident lawyer. If you’ve been hurt in an accident, your Atlanta accident attorney will fight your case. They will defend you in or out of court. However, they will also advise you on how to practice safety in the future.
Advice from an Atlanta Pedestrian Accidents Lawyer on Road Dangers to Avoid
Rushing into traffic and not paying attention is hazardous. It could leave you needing the services of an Atlanta pedestrian accident attorney. Here are some things you will need to be careful of when using the roads.
Drivers or anyone who has spoken with a pedestrian injury lawyer knows the danger of darting out into traffic. A walker appearing “out of nowhere” in front a moving vehicle leaves the driver with limited time to react. This is mostly due to the presence of some type of obstruction in the driver’s view. If you’re that pedestrian and you injured, you might need to call an Atlanta pedestrian accident attorney.
This is like the dart-out, but it happens at an intersection. The average Atlanta pedestrian accident attorney would inform you that the driver may have already checked for nearby pedestrians. However, many times the pedestrian will try to rush across an intersection at the very last moment. This is another popular reason that you may need the assistance of a pedestrian injury lawyer in Atlanta, GA.
According to most Atlanta, GA pedestrian accident attorneys, this occurrence is much more prevalent at major intersections. It can also occur at smaller intersections and turns. The driver is focused on the upcoming merge or turn. The pedestrian is not paying attention to where they are going. This is another one of the leading causes of pedestrian injuries. It is growing at a rapid rate due to the increased use of smartphones.
Pedestrian Accidents Attorney – More Safety Tips
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Stopped Buses, Cars or Trucks
When someone gets out a vehicle, the driver will often wait while that person crosses in front of them. While this is the correct thing to do, the vehicle blocks the pedestrian from any other vehicles. Once the person passes the stopped vehicle, other drivers may be surprised by their sudden appearance. They may not be able to react in time.
Most drivers are sure to check and double check their surroundings while backing up. However, they often have some type of obstructed view. This can be especially bad as small children and those in wheelchairs are often harder to see. Backing up accidents are major reasons why people contact an Atlanta pedestrian accident attorney. Just ask any Atlanta pedestrian accident attorney and he or she will confirm that.
The ice cream truck has become a nightmare for most Atlanta pedestrian accident lawyers in recent years. Why? What happens when children hear ice cream truck music? They come running out of nowhere – and fast! This can be extra dangerous in busy neighborhoods with main streets.
While it is the responsibility of both the pedestrian and the driver to help prevent pedestrian accidents, tragedies occur. This is why there are pedestrian accident attorneys throughout the country and in Atlanta, GA. They try to educate pedestrians on how to prevent accidents but these legal experts can only do so much.
When Do I Need A Pedestrian Accident Lawyer?
If the unthinkable occurs and you are involved in a pedestrian accident, it is crucial that you respond appropriately. Contact your Atlanta pedestrian accident attorney. However, remember that your actions can affect whether you can claim personal injury damages. How you act and what you say in the hours, days and weeks after the accident matter. Below are five things you must consider following your unexpected pedestrian accident.
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Remain Calm at All Times. Do Not Panic
If you are like most people, you may either panic or allow your anger to take over. This is especially likely if the driver was at fault. You may be justified in your reaction as an affected pedestrian. After all, your life was put at risk by a distracted driver. However, from the standpoint of a personal injury claim, expressing your rage at the scene is a bad idea.
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Call or Have Someone Call the Police for You Immediately
Notifying the police is perhaps one of the most important steps of this process. However, it is also one of the most neglected steps. A vast number of people involved in these types of accidents are eager to put the past behind them. If there are no major injuries or property damage caused by the collisions, this is particularly likely. The misconception is that local police officers should only be notified about serious injuries or substantial property damage.
As a general rule of thumb, you should always notify the police. They will at least be able to report the incident and make sure that it is properly documented. This is a step that you need to have completed before you contact a pedestrian accident attorney for assistance. Often after a pedestrian accident occurs, injuries are not felt until hours after the actual impact is felt.
When you can speak to the police, they will be able to create a report with all the details. The report will include where the accident took place and the names and contact information of every party involved. It will also include any reports of property damage or injury that were documented at the scene. These reports will also present an accurate timeline of events. This can be used by a pedestrian accident attorney to fortify your case as you prepare for court. Whether you realize it or not, these things can prove useful later down the road. They can help your lawyer when the time comes to prove negligence and liability.
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Always Get Contact Information from Drivers and Witnesses
You always want to be sure to get the at-fault driver’s information in any pedestrian accident. Of course, you can only do this if you are not seriously injured. Even if fault has not yet been determined, get information from the driver involved before leaving the scene. Do not make the mistake of believing that all the necessary information will be provided to you later. Your goal should be to gather all the pertinent information as soon as possible. You can then share it with your pedestrian accident attorney in a timely fashion. The sooner you can provide this information to your attorney, the better.
What type of information should you gather? In addition to the name of the other driver, you should also get their address and phone number. Also record their insurance company, policy number, and vehicle registration information. Remember to take the same factfinding approach with any applicable passengers and witnesses. They may be able to provide insight and feedback to your attorney as you work to build your case.
Follow the basic principle that the more information you gather, the better off you will be. It is better to have too much information than not enough. You and your pedestrian accident lawyer will work against the clock to prepare for settlement negotiations or courtroom appearances. Providing your accident lawyers with accurate contact information will help them to successfully gather testimonials and statements.
Videos and Photographs are Helpful
You should also record video footage and capture photographs before leaving the scene of the accident. You do not necessarily need to invest in a high-quality DSLR camera. Your smartphone camera should suffice. Most smartphones can also record video footage. You can, therefore, record video footage of the scene of the accident and capture photographs with the same device. Make sure that you get footage of the positioning of your vehicle and your injuries. Capture property damage, traffic markers and signs along with anything else that you think may be valuable.
It is highly recommended to take pictures of everything. Your pedestrian accident attorney will tell you exactly what is and is not needed. Remember, it is better to have too much information than too little.
Finding a Lawyer for a Pedestrian Accident in Atlanta
Finding the best lawyer for a pedestrian accident in Atlanta for your situation will not be difficult. But understand that if the accident took place in or around the Atlanta area, it is important to get a local Atlanta pedestrian accidents lawyer to represent you in court. The reason is that an experienced pedestrian car accidents attorney will know the nuances of related Atlanta laws. This will provide you with a better advantage in getting a bigger settlement for your case.
Of course no one starts their day planning to be involved in a pedestrian car accident. All you can do is to stay prepared and know how to act if a pedestrian accident does occur. The best advice – Be alert while crossing the street, it’s that simple. However, should you be the unfortunate victim of an injury accident, after your emergency has been addressed, contact an Atlanta pedestrian accident lawyer at Schneider & Hammers for a FREE case evaluation.
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