Pedestrian accidents are typically the most severe of all car accidents, and it is important that those involved take the proper steps to get the injured individuals taken care of as quickly as possible. If you or someone you love was hit by a car as a pedestrian, one of your first calls should be to an Atlanta accident doctor. Heavily populated countries have a large number of accidents each year, many of which involve pedestrians, and a specialty doctor will be able to help you resolve injuries and get the help and healing you need after a pedestrian accident. Here are the steps we recommend in the event that you are struck as a pedestrian.
Move the Accident Vehicles
While moving an injured individual isn’t recommended, moving accident vehicles out of the middle of the road is important. This will ensure that no more vehicles become involved in the accident. If the injured pedestrian is in the road, it may help to leave the vehicle in the street to keep the injured person safe, but you should use your best judgment and seek advice from an emergency operator or police officer.
Call the Police
Even if you feel absolutely fine after being struck as a pedestrian, you need to call the police and get the accident documented. It is common for accident victims to have delayed symptoms and feel less pain than their injuries would normally bring about due to the adrenalin of the accident. But if you need medical care or have an injury due to the accident, you need the entire situation to be fully documented and in police records. This is for your ultimate safety and wellbeing and is not, in any way, rude or impolite when it comes to the driver who hit you.
Write Down Details
If you’re too injured to write down the information you need, ask someone for help. A witness who saw the accident or a police officer may be willing to help so that you have everything you need later on. Be sure to note the time, location, and details of the incident. Even if you think you’ll remember everything, it’s better to be safe and thorough than forget important details later on. Write down the license plate of the driver, insurance information, make and model of the vehicle, physical characteristics of the driver, and details about your injuries. Be sure to note injuries you can see, what you feel, any soreness or aching, and where specifically on your body you were struck and how you fell.
Seek Medical Treatment
After a pedestrian accident, you need to seek an accident doctor in Atlanta. Even if you don’t see any injuries or feel any pain, you should get checked out by an accident specialist. They can look at the most commonly injured areas of the body, assess any clear injuries, and follow up with you after the accident. The most common pedestrian accident injuries include cuts, scrapes, and bruises; concussions, brain swelling, and other brain injuries; serious fractures; torn ligaments; and spinal cord injuries. If you suspect any of these issues or any other injury, no matter how minor, seek care as soon as possible. Accident doctors in Atlanta can help get ahead of injuries to prevent them from getting worse and get you on the road to faster healing.
Talk to Your Insurance Company
Even though you were not driving when the accident took place, many insurance policies will cover pedestrian accidents, and you need to talk to them as early as possible to get the information you need. They may require a copy of the police report or might need documentation from your doctor or the emergency medical personnel that treated you at the scene. Even if your auto insurance doesn’t cover your injuries, they may be able to get in contact with the driver’s insurance company faster than you could to get them to cover some of your medical expenses.
Talk to a Lawyer
You may not need to take legal action after a pedestrian accident, but it doesn’t hurt to talk to a lawyer at the start of the entire recovery process to see what can be done to help you. You may be entitled to additional financial support beyond just your medical bills, and a lawyer can help you determine what benefits may arise from utilizing legal counsel.
If you’ve been struck as a pedestrian by a vehicle of any kind and have not yet sought medical attention, give us a call at AICA Orthopedics today. We have many accident doctors across Atlanta in our various locations, and we are experts in treating accident injuries of all kinds.
