You’ve just been in an accident. You’ve taken all the initial steps, reporting the accident, getting medical care, taking down the driver’s information, but what comes next? In order to prepare for your personal injury case, you must know what to do after a pedestrian accident injury.
The experienced pedestrian accident attorneys at Chute, O’Malley, Knobloch & Turcy are here to help you with your claim. Our law firm offers free consultations, and we handle injury cases on a contingency fee structure, so you won’t owe any legal fees unless we collect for you.
Steps to Prepare for Your Personal Injury Case After a Pedestrian Accident
Knowing what to do after a pedestrian accident injury is essential for protecting your rights and strengthening your personal injury claim. If you’ve been hit by a car while walking, acting quickly and strategically is critical to preserving evidence, proving liability, and maximizing your compensation. Failing to prepare can lead to delays, denials, or unfair settlement offers. Here’s how to prepare for a pedestrian accident injury claim and protect your legal rights from day one.
Seek Out an Experienced Pedestrian Accident Attorney
While it is not legally required to hire a pedestrian accident attorney, it’s not a good idea to go up against the driver and their insurance company alone, especially if your case goes to trial. Even if you feel confident in your claim, you should seek the assistance of an experienced attorney. Your attorney can take you through the necessary steps to file your claim and ensure nothing is missed. Additionally, your attorney will negotiate for maximum compensation, and represent you in court to ensure your rights are protected.
Without an attorney on your side, you may not receive enough of a settlement to pay for your medical expenses and lost wages, and once your case is settled, you typically cannot retry it. This is why working with an attorney from the start is an essential step in preparing for your personal injury case.
Keep Up With Medical Appointments and Treatments
Even if you feel better after your accident, or you think your injuries are sufficiently healed, you should continue with your medical appointments and treatments as designated by your medical provider. Doing this helps to prevent further medical complications, and it creates documentation of your injuries and shows that you are following your treatment plan.
Document Everything After your Pedestrian Accident
It is essential that you document everything relating to your accident. Maintaining records of your losses and the suffering you experienced due to your accident could strengthen your claim. Examples of things you should document after a pedestrian accident injury include:
- Medical Expenses: Make sure you keep any bills or receipts you receive that pertain to your medical care after your accident. This includes bills for hospital stays, doctor visits, medications, physical therapy, and any medical equipment you may have needed during your recovery.
- Lost Wages: If your injuries prevent you from working for any period of time, document the wages you would have earned had it not been for your accident.
- Diminished Quality of Life: Document the physical pain and emotional suffering your accident has caused you to endure. Make notes about any tasks you can no longer perform, or activities you cannot participate in because of your injuries.
Keeping a record of all the losses you incurred because of your accident helps your attorney estimate the value of your case and what a fair settlement would be.
How To Protect Your Legal Rights After a Pedestrian Accident Injury
In addition to taking the steps outlined above, there are some things you need to take into consideration during your case. Making these mistakes can seriously damage your claim and may prevent you from receiving a fair settlement or jury award.
Don’t Talk to Insurance Companies Without Legal Representation
Insurance companies are rarely on your side. Their job is to protect their bottom dollar, so they will use unfair tactics to try and trick you into a settlement that is less than what you should be receiving. The less the payout, the better for them.
Insurers may use your words against you in a trial to invalidate your claim. They may trick you into apologizing for the accident. They might even talk you into accepting a low settlement offer in hopes of a quick payout. This is why, if you get a phone call from an insurance company, you should direct them to your attorney.
Avoid Posting on Social Media After Your Accident
No matter the social media platform or how many friends/followers you have, you should avoid posting anything relating to your accident. In fact, it is in your best interest to avoid making posts at all until your claim is settled.
Accident investigators and insurance adjusters often peruse an accident victim’s social media in the hopes of finding something they can use to weaken the claim. Even a simple, vaguely-written post can be twisted to better suit their goals. Avoid posting videos, text posts, stories, or photos after your accident, and let those closest to you know not to tag you in any posts until the case is settled.
If you have already posted something relating to your accident, it is crucial that you do not delete it. Doing so can be seen as destroying evidence and may hurt your claim in the future. And remember: even private accounts can be accessed by investigators, so even if your account is set to “private”, your posts are still not safe.
How a Pedestrian Accident Attorney Can Prove Beneficial to You
Hiring a pedestrian accident attorney can significantly increase your chances of recovering full and fair compensation. Your lawyer serves as your legal advocate—handling communication with insurance companies, building a strong case backed by evidence, and making sure critical deadlines are met. With a legal professional on your side, you’re less likely to make costly mistakes or accept a settlement that doesn’t reflect the true value of your injuries and losses.
Without skilled legal representation, you risk having your claim undervalued, delayed, or denied altogether.
At Chute, O’Malley, Knobloch & Turcy, our pedestrian accident lawyers fight aggressively for injured victims across Chicago. We’re committed to helping you recover the compensation you deserve. Schedule your free consultation today by calling 312-775-0042 or filling out our online contact form.
