The injuries following a pedestrian accident can leave you unable to work, unable to do your normal activities, and exhausted from the pain. It’s often a confusing time for victims of a pedestrian crash, and it may be difficult to know what to do next. 

1Law’s pedestrian accident attorneys in Provo understand the pain and confusion of injury victims. We have helped countless people recover financially in pedestrian accident cases, and we will work hard to help you too.

Four Mistakes That Can Cost You Money After Being Injured in a Pedestrian Accident in Utah

An insurance company or jury typically does not make a practice of simply handing out the largest amounts of money they can in personal injury cases. An attorney will need to present the right evidence, and that requires physical proof of bills, injuries, or circumstances that someone else was at fault.

You can take action to help your case and help to expedite the process. There are easy steps you can take to preserve your right to full compensation and help to ensure that the true damages of your case do not become discounted.

Unfortunately, people sometimes fail to do certain things that can help them in their pursuit of financial recovery and it has a significant negative impact on their compensation.

Here are the mistakes people commonly make after a pedestrian accident: 

Mistake 1: Failing to Seek Immediate Medical Attention Following a Pedestrian Accident

If you were physically able to leave the accident on your own and walked away, it is still critical to seek a physical evaluation by a medical professional. Even if you don’t think you have any serious injuries, there may be internal damage you aren’t yet aware of.

If you haven’t made arrangements to seek medical attention, do it now. Any healthcare provider would rather evaluate a person for injuries than be forced to save them after it has become an emergency. Don’t be embarrassed to ask to be checked out now. This is to protect your health and prevent further injuries and complications. 

Injuries can sometimes take hours or days to fully present themselves, especially since your body was likely coursing with adrenaline directly after the accident. In order to avoid being stuck with the medical bills of these injuries, it’s best to seek a medical evaluation immediately.

Mistake 2: Failing to Take Pictures and Video of the Accident Scene and Your Injuries

If you are physically able to do so, video record or photograph the entire scene with your cell phone camera. In the heightened emotional state after an accident, you may not notice things that are important. 

Having photo evidence can help you and your pedestrian accident lawyer to review anything that might be consequential. This also preserves evidence that can disappear before the scene is cleaned up.

Mistake 3: Trying to Handle the Insurance Company Without Legal Counsel

Getting the advice of an attorney in the aftermath of an accident can save you lots of worries and missed opportunities. The insurance company adjuster represents a for-profit entity, and they are very aware that they won't stay employed for long by offering the maximum amount in their first settlement offer. 

Partnering with a Provo pedestrian accident attorney can give you an advantage over the insurance company. Lawyers are highly skilled negotiators who are knowledgeable about the many tactics insurance companies can use in their efforts to preserve the bottom line.

Your attorney will have your best interests in mind and 1Law’s personal injury attorneys are not hesitant to fight for the full amount you deserve. If the negotiations do not yield a sufficient amount, they will be prepared to take your case to trial.

Mistake 4: Posting About Your Pedestrian Accident on Social Media Platforms

What goes on the internet can circulate quickly and can be accessed by just about anyone. Even if your privacy settings only allow friends and family to see your information, things that they post or tag you in can become evidence that the opposing party can use against you.

Social media posts that can be twisted and used against you might be surprising. Here are some examples of how social media can be used in court to work against your case and discredit your claim:

• You struggled to make it to your mom’s birthday. Your pain is still severe, and you are tired most days, but you had your first good day in weeks and made it to the party. Your sister tags you in the check-in post at a restaurant. The opposing counsel uses this as evidence that your injuries aren’t as severe as you claim.
• Your grandmother posts about you saying that your injuries are healing and you are going to be as good as new. She just “knows that with the prayers of my friends, he will be as good as new very soon.” The opposing counsel can twist this information to appear as though you are not really going to be permanently hurt.
• You go have a beer with friends after your accident, but are still hurt from it. You return home after 30 minutes and don’t even finish your drink. A friend takes a selfie and tags you in the picture saying you are all out having an awesome time. This can definitely be used to discredit your claims of serious pain involved with your injury.

While all these situations are innocent and can be argued in court by an experienced Provo pedestrian accident lawyer, they can still plant seeds of doubt in a jury of your peers or in the mind of the judge. 

Your social media history can be subpoenaed and the opposing counsel will do everything in their power to cast doubt upon the severity of your injuries. It is best that your social media activity should be limited or eliminated during the time following the accident.

What Damages Can I Collect in a Pedestrian Accident Case in Utah?

When someone is considering filing a lawsuit for a pedestrian accident case, it is common for people to be curious about their case value. Learning the value of your claim can help you to determine the viability of your case and how it can be applied to pay for ongoing costs of treatment due to your accident.

Talking to a pedestrian accident lawyer will help to gain the best understanding of the potential value of your claim. They will review all aspects of the case with financial professionals and medical professionals if necessary to determine the cost of any ongoing care that may be needed and to gain an understanding of the true long-term costs of the accident.

Some of the damages that are commonly associated with pedestrian accident cases include:

• Lost wages: Your wages from missed work, loss of future earnings, loss of benefits, and even loss of retirement benefits may be considered.
• Medical expenses: Always a factor in personal injury, the hospital bills, treatments, therapy, prescriptions, physician fees, medical devices, and ongoing care costs are included here.
• Property damage: The cost of replacing any items you may have been carrying that were damaged when you were hit by the car can be considered in calculating the damages of your case.
• Non-economic damages: These expenses are typically calculated based on the pain involved in your specific injuries, the time it takes to treat it, how much pain is involved in the treatment itself, and any emotional or mental costs incurred. 

It’s important to have a lawyer evaluate your damages so that no future costs are overlooked when seeking damages. Your injuries may result in future medical costs and it is important that those bills will be covered.

Contact Us to Learn More About How a Provo Pedestrian Accident Attorney Can Help

With the help of our Provo pedestrian accident attorneys at 1Law, you can pursue compensation for the injuries you have suffered, the pain you have endured, and the disruption to your life. 

Our firm is committed to fighting for injury victims, and we understand the situation you are facing, and we want to help. We can review the details of your case and explain your legal options at no cost to you. Contact us today for a free consultation.