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What to do if Involved in a Motor Vehicle and Pedestrian Accident

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Published: 05Jan2010
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If you are ever involved in a motor vehicle accident, and chances are you will be no matter how safely you drive, there are several important considerations to take into account when such a situation occurs. One out of every three people is injured or killed in a car accident and the injury and morality rate for motorcycle crashes is even higher. In addition, roughly one out of every 10 motor vehicle deaths involves a pedestrian, and the highest motor vehicle to pedestrian accident rates involve children from 5 to 9 years old. Consequently, its important do be aware of both important preventative safety measures as well as your legal options in the event that such an accident would ever involve you.

If you are involved in a motor vehicle accident, the first thing to do, if you are able to, is to get your vehicle off the street or highway. If you don't get your vehicle off the road, it will most likely be removed and impounded if its left blocking traffic in any way. Once your vehicle if off the road, contact and wait for the ambulance and/or police to arrive at the scene of the accident, depending on the situation. You will need to show your driver license, registration, current address and evidence of financial responsibility to the other driver or people involved and to any law enforcement official.

If you kill or injure an animal, try to find the owner and if you can't, call the nearest humane society. Do not try to move an injured animal, and never leave an injured animal to die. If you hit a parked vehicle or other property, try to locate the property owner to identify yourself before you leave. If you can't find the owner, leave a note with your name and address in or attached to the damaged vehicle or property and then report the accident to the city police.

If you are involved in a motor vehicle accident that results in the injury or death to at least one person, there are a whole different set of protocols that you and others will need to follow, as well as the resulting series of events, including legal and medical ones that will probably occur. For starters, if another person is injured at the accident scene, and you are relatively unharmed and able to move around well, you need to move any injured people away from vehicles that are inflamed or where there is a strong odor of gas.

If no such situation exists, then do not move any injured persons, although you should attend to their basic needs such as giving them water or talking to them if possible, and immediately dial 911 for police and ambulance assistance. Once law enforcement authorities and medical assistance are at the accident scene, issues pertaining to the aftermath of the accident will come about soon enough. Some of the focal points of any post-accident legal investigation are going to be:

- Who and/or what caused the accident, namely who is at fault or to what degree are such and persons and factors at fault in this accident. - Once fault has been determined, what are the legal options for both the persons at fault, namely are charges going to be filed against them? And how about the victim(s), what is their legal recourse against the defendant(s:, if any?

If you were injured in the accident you will have been attended to by medical staff and the issue of who is going to pay the bills arises, and that issue is most likely going to be settled in a court of law. Whether you are battling an insurance company, seeking compensation for your injuries or defending yourself in court, you will need to get an attorney who specializes in the type of motor vehicle accident particular to your case.

Some of these practice areas encompassed under the more general personal injury practice area include car, bus, truck, motorcycle, bicycle and pedestrian accident law, so remember to choose an attorney or law firm that has both substantial experience in and specializes in the particular type of vehicle and/or pedestrian accident that were involved in your situation. Failure to do so could end up costing you substantially down the road, bot financially, and also with respect to longer-term medical care, if needed.

If you were injured in the accident you will have been attended to by medical staff and the issue of who is going to pay the bills arises, and that issue is most likely going to be settled in a court of law. Whether you are fighting an insurance company, seeking compensation for your injuries or defending yourself in court, you will need to get an attorney who specializes in personal injury and/or motor vehicle accident cases.

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