You didn’t see them there. All of a sudden, boom: a pedestrian is lying on the street, and there is a big dent in your car. No one means to hit pedestrians, but it can be difficult to avoid them when there are pedestrians in spaces where cars are meant to be. Now, you find yourself charged with a pedestrian accident offense and need legal assistance. Here is what the legal team at the McIver Law Firm recommends for handling a pedestrian accident case in Winston-Salem, NC.
Call 911 Right Away
Any time there is an accident that you are involved in, the first thing that you should do is call 911 for help. It doesn’t matter if you are the cause of the accident or not, your first obligation is to get help for anyone that is injured.
Call 911 and report the accident and if medical attention is immediately necessary. Avoid admitting fault during the call, but be honest with the operator about the accident. Stick to the relevant details and keep it as brief as possible.
Get a Lawyer as Soon as Possible
The next thing that you should do is get a lawyer as soon as possible. This will help you start to build your legal defense in time to handle any charges or legal proceedings that follow. This is especially important when you are charged with a crime like hitting a pedestrian since it can have a significant impact on your life.
Work With Your Insurance Agency to File a Report
Make sure that you file a report with your insurance agency. Your lawyer can help with this part since dealing with insurance agencies can be difficult at times. Your lawyer will also want pictures of the damage to your car, which may be relevant later if the pedestrian is found at fault for the accident.
Work With Your Lawyer to Plan Your Pedestrian Accident Defense
Now, work with your lawyer to plan your defense. At this point, one of the most important things that you can do to help yourself is to stay out of trouble. Any other problems will make it harder for your lawyer to create an effective defense for you. For example, if you were coming home from the bar before the accident, try staying at home until this is resolved. You don’t want to do things that will give a judge the impression that you are irresponsible or are a potential threat to others because of your consistent actions. Play it safe and work with your lawyer to create a safer, better perception of yourself before you go before a judge.
Get Legal Help Fast
Pedestrian accidents are taken very seriously, and you could get in a lot of trouble. Get a lawyer as fast as you can so that they can help you be proactive in your defense. Contact the McIver Law Firm at (336) 727-9886 or use this contact form to recruit a team of legal experts who help people with pedestrian accident cases.
