Do Pedestrians Need to Get an Accident Report if Injured?
While Nashville is an excellent city to explore on foot, residents need to be aware of the risks regarding pedestrian accidents. These types of crashes can leave victims suffering serious injuries, which have the potential to impact every area of your life. To help protect your rights to compensation for the medical costs, lost wages, and other expenses you suffer as a result, it is important to follow certain procedures in the aftermath. This includes gathering pertinent information related to your case. Obtaining copies of your accident report is one of the first steps in helping you get the compensation you need to recover.
Information Contained Within Pedestrian Accident Reports
Statistics from the Tennessee Department of Safety indicate that as many as 400 pedestrian accidents occur each year within Davidson County. With little to protect them in collisions involving motor vehicles, the injuries pedestrians suffer have the potential to be severe.
One of the first things you should do immediately when a pedestrian accident occurs, regardless of the extent of your injuries, is to notify local law enforcement officials. Once on the scene, they will complete an accident report, detailing important information which can be used later when filing a claim. This includes:
- The name of the driver involved and their driver’s license, registration, and insurance numbers;
- The exact location and time of the accident;
- The names of any witnesses at the scene;
- Details regarding the circumstances surrounding the accident, such as whether the driver was under the influence or disregarded traffic signals;
- General information about the injuries you suffered.
In the event the driver fled the scene, an accident report should still be filed and can provide vital information in helping to identify those responsible.
The Role Accident Reports Play in Your Pedestrian Accident Claim
If possible, you should attempt to obtain a copy of the accident report at the scene. If you are unable to do so, you can order copies through the Nashville Police Department, the state police, or any other law enforcement agency that responded. A copy of the report should be provided to the insurance company for the at fault driver, as well as to the pedestrian accident attorney handling your case. These reports play a vital role in your case:
- Provides an official record about your pedestrian accident;
- Forms a basis for testimony from the police officer involved;
- Provides important facts and details about the driver, as well as clues regarding the underlying causes of the accident.
By giving an exact time and location, pedestrian accident reports can also help in obtaining videotape evidence from nearby stores or traffic signals.
Contact Our Nashville Pedestrian Accident Attorneys Today
As experienced Nashville pedestrian accident attorneys, we work hard investigating your case and gathering the evidence needed so you can get the compensation to which you are entitled. Call or contact Bednarz Law online today and request a consultation to see how we can help you.