What to Do If You are Injured in a Pedestrian Accident

Car crashes involving pedestrians can result in serious and devastating injuries, including fractured bones and brain damage. Injured victims may require hospitalization and extensive rehabilitation or physical therapy that lasts months or even years. As a pedestrian accident victim, you may be entitled to pursue compensation from the liable driver in the accident in order to cover your medical bills and other financial losses.

After your pedestrian accident

After sustaining an impact from a vehicle in a pedestrian accident, it is important to report the accident to law enforcement and get medical attention as quickly as possible. Obtaining a medical evaluation is important even if you only sustained bruises and cuts from the collision. In some cases, brain injuries and other serious injuries may not manifest immediately, but only after one or two days.

Any driver involved in a pedestrian accident is required to stop and offer assistance to injured victims. If possible, obtain the name, insurance and vehicle registration information of the driver who hit you. If the driver turns down or ignores your request, do not enter into confrontation with the driver. Simply wait for the police to arrive. The police will obtain the necessary information from the driver and give it to you.

If the driver attempts to talk you out of contacting the police, do not acquiesce, even if the driver promises to pay for the damages out of his or her own pocket. You have no guarantee that the driver will change his or her mind or is simply using a delay tactic to depart the scene without the police showing up. If the police report is not available on the accident, you simply have your word against the other driver’s word as to what occurred. In such a situation, you will have greater difficulty pursuing the financial reimbursement you deserve.

Always obtain legal advice first before providing a statement or signing any document presented by the at-fault driver’s insurance company.

The best advice is to contact an experienced Oklahoma City pedestrian accident attorney to go over the details of your case and provide you with guidance and strong advocacy to seek compensation for your injuries.

Places to walk in Oklahoma City

Over recent years, Oklahoma City and its surrounding neighborhoods have become more pedestrian friendly. The city has constructed hundreds of miles of new sidewalks for people to enjoy for recreation and also use in place of driving to local destinations.

If you want to spend some time in the sunshine, here are some safe places for pedestrians to go:

• Paseo District — Located near Oklahoma City University in the north portion of the city, the Paseo District carries a significant amount of pedestrian traffic with a robust art scene and various restaurants and shopping opportunities along the way.
• Mesta Park — Located in the heart of Oklahoma City, Mesta Park is a historic neighborhood with some 1,600 residents and charming, scenic houses. It also includes offices and small grocery stores as one of the largest walkable neighborhoods in the city. The old homes tour is one of the activities held in the community each year.
• Roberts-Crest — Located near Wiley Post Airport and south of Lake Hefner, Roberts-Crest has schools and grocery stores within walking distance in addition to modern condominiums, townhouses, and suburban single-family homes. Many consider it the most walkable neighborhood in the area.

Pedestrian accidents are not always easy to resolve. If you have suffered an injury in a pedestrian accident in Oklahoma City or another part of the state, it is important to obtain experienced and trusted legal support from our attorneys at Cunningham & Mears. We can pursue any compensation you are owed for your losses. To set up a free case review, call us today at 405.212.9234 or use our contact form to drop us a message.