Each October 31st, many adults and children celebrate Halloween in a variety of ways. Trick-or-treating is the traditional Halloween activity for younger children, which often involves around from house to house at night in some type of macabre or humorous costume. Adult Halloween parties, on the other, hand, often involve the consumption of alcoholic beverages and late-night gatherings.
It should come as no surprise, then, that pedestrian accidents tend to spike around Halloween each year. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [1] (NHTSA), Halloween is one of the most dangerous nights of the year. Children are particularly at risk for pedestrian accidents, for a number of reasons, including the following:
- Costumes with masks or hoods can interfere with a child’s ability to see oncoming traffic
- Dark colored costumes can make children difficult for drivers to spot
- Particularly small children may not be visible when standing between cars waiting to cross the street
- There are often more impaired drivers on the road
Fortunately for individuals who are injured in Philadelphia pedestrian accidents, state law [2] allows people who are hurt by the carelessness or recklessness of others to recover for their injuries and other losses. For this reason, pedestrian accident victims should always contact an attorney to ensure that their legal rights are protected and they receive the full value of their claim.
What Should Pedestrians Do If They Are Involved In Accidents?
Any time a pedestrian is involved in an accident, there are several steps that are extremely important to take. Some of these are discussed below. Individuals seeking specific information regarding their case should talk to an attorney familiar with personal injury law in their state.
Contact Emergency Personnel
Anyone who is involved in a pedestrian accident should call 911 immediately in order to alert emergency personnel to the fact that an accident occurred. Doing so will ensure that any injuries requiring emergency medical attention are treated and that law enforcement fully investigates the circumstances surrounding an accident. The involvement of law enforcement will also result in the generation of a police report that may become important should liability become contested. Furthermore, police will assess the situation and determine if there is any reason to believe that the driver involved in your case was impaired or otherwise unable to safely operate a vehicle.
Collect Information
Individuals or loved ones of accident victims should document information regarding the accident. Examples of the facts of which to make not include the name of the driver or drivers involved, the license plate numbers of the vehicles, any markings on the vehicles that identify them as commercial vehicles, the weather conditions at the time of the accident, and contact information from anyone who may have witnessed the accident. Additionally, taking pictures of the scene of the accident or any hazardous conditions that may have contributed to the accident can be helpful in establishing liability.
Seek Medical Attention
It is important for anyone involved in a pedestrian accident to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Seeing a physician will ensure that any injuries that have been sustained are correctly identified and properly treated. Furthermore, doing so will result in the generation of an official medical record that describes the extent and nature of your injuries as well as their cause. This record can be extremely important in establishing both causation and damages, should the other party contest liability.
Retain An Experienced Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Victims of pedestrian accident should retain an attorney as soon as possible. In many cases, insurance adjusters may ask questions phrased in a way as to get victims to inadvertently admit legal liability. An attorney can protect your rights and ensure that you receive the full and fair value of your claim as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Contact a Philadelphia pedestrian accident attorney today to discuss your case
If you or your child have been injured in a pedestrian accident you should contact an attorney immediately. In many cases, pedestrian accident victims are entitled to significant compensation for the injuries they have sustained, including their medical expenses, loss of future earning potential, physical and emotional pain and suffering, and their loss of enjoyment of life. In pedestrian accidents involving children, the settlement or award received can ensure that their medical needs are met for years to come, so it is crucial for parents of injured children to retain legal counsel as soon as possible.
Philadelphia personal injury attorney Gabe Levin is dedicated to protecting the legal rights of people injured in pedestrian accidents. To schedule a free consultation with Mr. Levin, call our office today at 215-825-5183 or send us an email through our online contact form.