Car-Pedestrian accident, I was the ped. What to do?

Question

90% of the people I know said I should go to a lawyer.

It happened like this. I was at a crosswalk, the walk sign was on. Therefore I looked left and right and saw nobody move, I took some steps forward. Then I looked left and right again and the car was already about to hit me! It did and I fell down and my left leg felt numb for like 5-10 mins.

The accident gave me contusions on my left/right leg and lower back. The guy driving has no insurance whatsoever, the car he was using is registered to somebody else (and I dunno if the person has insurance either). I have his driver license information, an a name/number of a witness who saw the whole thing.

He didn't give me the car info, so I went ahead and got it from the address he gave me by taking a picture of the car. (License plate, car make/model) I filed a police report.

My insurance doesn't take effect until after 2 wks which means I will have medical bills. He offered to pay me cash for the bills. Is that good enough?

Btw his reason for hitting me was "I didn't see you because of the sunlight." And when I asked for the license plate number of his car, he said "I don't want the car involved man."

About lawyer fees, would filing something like this cost a lot? Or would the lawyer just get a cut if there's a settlement? 'Cause frankly I don't have a lot of money, I just started working 8 months ago.

I have copies of everything, police report, medical reports from 2 visits. And I do remember all the facts straight on what happened and in additional to that I have a witness to the incident.

Thanks everyone!

And lastly, the guy driving had no insurance. Let's say worst case that the registered owner doesn't have one either. Does that mean I can't do anything about it?

Answer 1

You should talk to a lawyer or paralegal. They can determine if it is necessary for you to go ahead with any lawsuit. If you have medical bills I would certainly get a lawyer involved, because you want to be certain that they are paid in full. As a pedestrian you were in the right, no matter what. Do not take cash. Good luck -s

Answer 2

That would be a contingency fee attorney. Most accident attorneys do it that way. You pay a fee up front and the rest when the case settles. They won't take the case unless the odds are greatly in your favor. A free consultation is common as well. With the info you have I would make the call. If the witness will testify you have a good case. Use the yellow pages.

Answer 3

If he does pay the bills, you're OK.
If not, it's lawyer time and the car will be involved,
which he doesn't want.
If you're sure that all the injuries have healed,
you can try to collect from the driver.
(Careful, back problems can be tricky.)
If there was a police report, there's a chance that
you will be contacted by the owners insurance
company.
Have all the money in hand before you decline
to make a claim.

Answer 4

find out first if the car owner has insurance. that's who will pay all your medical bills. your gonna need a copy of that police report.
if no insurance get the lawyer, don't take the money.

Answer 5

first if you do take the cash you can not take him to court.
If you do take him make sure that you have all your facts straight. 1-2-3 type of answers clear and percise, also keep them short. you will need to use that police report as well. you also will need to have a copy of what services were given to you while you where there. Good luck

Answer 6

KEARNS, Utah – A man was taken to a hospital in critical condition after he was hit by a vehicle while crossing a street Sunday.

The accident occurred in the area near 4015 West and Sam’s Blvd. sometime after 2 p.m.

Sgt. Dan McConkey of the Unified Police Department described the accident.

“The minivan was headed southbound on a green light,” he said. “Witnesses are telling us that a man ran from the west side of the road to the east side of the road. She didn’t see him in time to stop and hit him.”

Answer 7

you have a case,there are lawyers that will get paid when you do and if you don't they don't.now what are you after?he said he would pay the doctor bills right.if that's all you want then let him do it.if not get a lawyer and sue for what ever the lawyer can get you.good luck.

Answer 8

" It did and I fell down and my left leg felt numb for like 5-10 mins.
The accident gave me contusions on my left/right leg and lower back. "

This part is the central-most event to this all.

The greatest indemnity and law that cover it and the greatest insurance, can never equal the greatest insurance policy of them all: -- no illness, no injury.

Short of that, proceed with that which indemnifies...

Your health is nothing to play with. 'That' is your prime focus and well should be. The human body has delayed reactions to even the most minor shocks, which delays can later telegraph other conditions to the outlying systems of the body.

All manner of things can ensue, circulatory [hematomas originating in the leg(clots), which can kill], neurological (truncated nerves) which affect anything imaginable], in-place fractures, which can regress to other conditions... -- all from what you may have otherwise thought a small event.

So -- don't be your own expert. Don't gamble.

Set yourself with those provisions that afford the least path of resistance: use pre-set laws and trained minds and professions already in place -- no matter how bureaucratic or mindless it may appear or give evidence of -- to commence your Cycle of repair.

For if doing something yourself is dreadful with these in place, just know that it may prove to be inconceivably horrific ‘without’ them in place.

Also keep in mind that these things each have 'statutes of limitations' -- the insurance, the medical, the litigation aspects... Good move to have filed a police report: for 'that' date marks the statute cycle, and all things proceed from this date.

You do have the right starts and the ingredients to put forward.

Do not second-guess yourself.

Use intent, and as details come your way, then you can put the mind to work moving in lock-step with the events. Again, do not second-guess yourself; do not get in your own way by micro-managing it all to hell.

The residuals of the mechanism of law and medicine and all the book knowledge will do that of its own accord: it needs no help.

Yours now rests with the proper use of certain laws unwritten in the annals of world courts.

Work from Life principles, not from human frailty and fears or confusions.

Here is just a scant set of laws, that you can provide yourself with grounding, which does serves as an anchor for the Authorities -- it will be just felt when they talk to you. It is these: the Law of Facsimiles, the Law of Assumptions, and the Law of Economy.

These can work in your favor should you use them correctly. And there is no reason why you should not be able to, for the law herewith is in your favor.

These laws are considerably more involved of course, but for your circumstance, I will touch on these in very brief so that you may have a feel for them and can proceed with a positive point of view and have confidence as you proceed through the maze, for your health foremost must be your chief concern: things can get frustrating.

(1) the Law of Facsimiles -- all effects are and can be brought about by pictures and thoughts in the Mind of the individual and thus your 'expectation' of the best effort can be a tremendous salve -- herewith both calm reasoning and imagery comes into play: see and just know things from their positive resolve, as if the entire set of events are over.

(2) Law of Assumption: by acting in each moment in the assumption of victory you bring the high potential into your circumstance. Assume the best result as having been already fulfilled (very related to ‘Facsimiles).

(3) Law of Economy: Highly important: hereon, every move, every thought, everything you do regarding your circumstance gets the best advantage and does result in the most productive deed by both you and your benefactors. The first two depend on this one.

How do you avail of this and abide this third law?: you proceed by jumping the hoops and not vacillating about getting started, which entails doing as the Authorities suggest, whose job it is to collaborate -- law enforcement, insurance, court, medical, and those complements of that driver's.

Things take time, but remember, that car, that driver hit 'you. 'Negligence on your part will be of secondary importance, according to the outline you give above.

Otherwise, there are so many things in your favor here, so many. Just don't be your own lawyer, for if you try to administer it all yourself, you will be soon to find that you have a fool for a lawyer.

Answer 9

I agree with bon but get a lawyer anyway.

Answer 10

get a lawyer