On behalf of Judy Albanese of Gold, Albanese & Barletti, LLC posted in Pedestrian Accidents on Friday, February 26, 2016.
There are several things that should be done immediately following a pedestrian accident. Aside from the obvious fact that any injuries and/or legal issues with the police must be dealt with, there are some other things that pedestrians — or people who are friends of the pedestrian and were present at the accident — can do in order to ensure that any future personal injury and/or wrongful death claims proceed as smoothly as possible following the accident.
First and foremost, pedestrians involved in accidents — or their friends — should record notes about as many details as they can remember related accident. Those details should include the extent of injuries, the type of injuries and the body parts that were injured. It would also be helpful to take pictures of the injuries. You may even want to take notes from conversations with witnesses and/or people who are involved in the accident to determine exactly what they observed and what they believe happened in the event.
Second, be sure to save any and all evidence associated with the accident. That evidence might include photographs of the crash site and/or vehicles that were involved, and photographs of different people who are involved. The evidence could also include physical items, like broken parts that fell off vehicles, bloodied clothing, debris that may have been in the roadway, and other items. Be sure to take photographs of any physical evidence before removing it from the accident scene.
Third, make a note of all the people and witnesses privy of the accident, and collect their personal details and contact information. If you are planning to file a lawsuit, be sure to notify those who are responsible for the accident that you plan to file a claim — especially if those parties happen to be employers or government agencies.
Finally, you may want to speak with a personal injury attorney. New Jersey personal injury attorneys familiar with bringing forward legal actions relating to injuries in civil court will be able to evaluate a pedestrian accident to determine whether or not a viable claim can be pursued.
Source: FindLaw, “Pedestrian Accidents FAQ,” accessed Feb. 26, 2016