Imagine this: You’ve just dropped off a package at the post office and
are heading back to your car. As you step into the crosswalk, a car
turns the corner and slams into you. You wake up in the hospital bruised
and hurting, and with multiple injuries. You’re grateful to be alive,
but aside from trying to heal, what should you do?
Protect Yourself
The best first step you can take after a pedestrian accident is to hire
a good accident injury attorney. Why? Getting hit by a car causes
serious trauma to the human body, and, in fact, will likely result in
severe injuries like fractures, back and head injuries, damage to
internal organs, or even death. Depending on the type of injury
received, recovery could take a long time and involve physical therapy,
multiple surgeries, or permanent damage that can make it difficult to
work and enjoy activities of daily living. On top of dealing with
medical issues, many victims of pedestrian accidents find themselves
having serious financial worries as they try to sort out paid and unpaid
time off from work, possible job loss, and trying to negotiate for
bills to be paid by the driver’s auto coverage or their own health
insurance.
Your Los Angeles personal injury lawyer will not only
help you handle negotiating the best settlement from the driver’s
insurance company, but will also act as your advocate during the
critical first hours and days after your accident happens. Your
pedestrian accident attorney will be able to ensure that the accident is
thoroughly investigated and that key evidence is documented and
preserved. This may mean contacting investigating police departments,
taking witness statements, and more. Your lawyer will also act as a
buffer between you and the driver’s insurance company, ensuring that any
statements you give will support your claims.
Finding a Good Pedestrian Accident Attorney
Picking a random attorney out of the Yellow Pages is probably not going
to get you the best representation. Instead, ask your friends, family,
colleagues or attorneys you’ve worked with in the past if they can
recommend someone. You can also turn to the local bar association for a
recommendation, but be sure to ask about their screening process, first,
as some will refer you to any attorney who meets minimum standards.
Don’t be afraid to use the internet to gather information on Los Angeles
personal injury lawyers, too: look at their websites and read about the
attorneys’ education, experience and approach to practicing law.
Once you’ve picked an accident injury attorney, set up an initial
consultation. Most attorneys offer this first meeting for free, but ask
about fees before scheduling your appointment; in general, an attorney
who charges for the initial consultation will also want you to pay a
retainer in advance, and therefore may not be worth your time to meet.
Prepare for your initial consultation by gathering together any
documentation you’ve received about the accident, such as police
reports, forms you’ve received from insurance companies, and so on. You
will want to ask about your attorney’s education, how long they’ve been
practicing, their experience with your type of case, whether they
typically represent the victim or the insurer in these kinds of cases,
and what fees and costs will be incurred if you choose them as your
pedestrian accident attorney. You may also want to ask about how they
will handle your case. For example, if you would prefer to settle out of
court for a lower amount than what they think they could get at trial,
would they honor your wish? Or if they think an offer is fair, would
they respect your desire to try for a higher amount by pressing for
trial? Once you have a good sense of how they work and what their
background is, you’ll be in a better position to decide whether to hire
them as your Los Angeles personal injury lawyer.
Having a
knowledgeable legal expert in your corner will make navigating the ins
and outs of your situation much easier. You will be assured that your
interests have a strong advocate, while being able to focus on
recovering from the accident itself.