Being involved in any kind of accident can cause a great deal of stress and uncertainty. This is especially the case if you are struck by a vehicle while walking. These incidents can result in catastrophic and sometimes fatal injuries that leave pedestrians, and their families’ lives changed forever.
If you or a loved one were injured while traveling on foot, call Richmond Vona, LLC, to speak with a trusted attorney. Our team can advise you on what to do after a pedestrian accident in Buffalo.
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The First Steps to Take After a Pedestrian Accident
Whether you are a motorist who has hit someone on foot, or the person who was struck while walking, the most important step you should take immediately after a pedestrian accident in Buffalo is to clear the roadway if possible. If there are significant injuries, this may not be an option. However, staying in the line of traffic could lead to suffering an additional injury.
The next step should be to call 911. This is crucial for multiple reasons. Most importantly, this allows emergency medical services to show up at the crash scene to assess injuries and provide immediate medical care. Calling 911 also means the police will show up to take an accident report. This is helpful for establishing liability.
Receiving Medical Care is Crucial
Anyone involved in any motor vehicle accident should seek medical attention as soon as possible. Even if you think you might be okay, sometimes the effects of injuries do not set in right away because of adrenaline. Additionally, certain catastrophic injuries such as brain damage or internal bleeding are “hidden” and might only be discovered through imaging.
Seeking prompt medical care is also important because the larger the gap between the date of the incident and the date treatment is received, the more likely the insurance company is to claim that you were not actually injured in the accident. For this reason, it is imperative to not only seek treatment right away, but to stay consistent with follow-up visits as well.
When Should You Contact an Attorney After a Pedestrian Crash?
Another essential step when determining what to do after a pedestrian accident in Buffalo is to call a personal injury attorney. This can be done after dealing with the police and attending to any injuries. However, it is crucial to remember not to give any official statements to insurance companies or anyone else until you have retained legal counsel.
Contacting an attorney as soon as you are able to following an event, allows their team to start a prompt investigation to preserve any evidence and ensure critical deadlines are met. Your attorney will be able to talk to the witnesses, gather any necessary information, and get your no-fault application filed so that your medical bills and any lost wages are taken care of.
Collecting Evidence
If your physical condition allows, gathering specific information can help your attorney with their investigation process. This includes the driver’s name, address, phone number, license plate number, and insurance company. Additional useful evidence can consist of pictures of the damage to the vehicle, visible injuries, any crosswalks involved, and other traffic control devices that may be around.
Let Our Attorneys Guide You on What to Do After a Buffalo Pedestrian Accident
Knowing what to do after a pedestrian accident in Buffalo can make a difficult situation seem a little less daunting. Also, being aware of what steps to take will help you avoid making mistakes that could limit your chance of recovering the appropriate amount of compensation to recover for your losses. Reach out to the team at Richmond Vona, LLC for more information or to begin reviewing the details of your accident in a free consultation.
With over 25 years of combined personal injury experience, our co-founding attorneys, John E. Richmond and Keith R. Vona, have helped injury victims and their family members recover more than $150 million in financial relief.
John E. Richmond
Co-Founding Member
As one of New York’s top personal injury attorneys, John E. Richmond understands that clients come first. With over a decade of experience representing plaintiffs, he knows how to hold negligent corporations and big insurance companies liable.
In his nearly 15 years in practice, Keith has been consistently recognized for his client service and record of results. He has been selected for inclusion in the New York Super Lawyers® Rising Stars list four times (2013 to 2016), an honor reserved for the top up-and-coming attorneys.
