While walking through a parking area behind Sam’s Club at the Golden Ring Mall on December 11, Edward Witte, 61, was struck by a vehicle and dragged for about 30 feet. The driver of the vehicle was Baltimore resident Margaret Wance, 65. A police helicopter flew Witte to the Maryland Shock Trauma Center. Police investigating the accident say early indications show that Wance’s car swerved into the pedestrian.
If you have been injured in a pedestrian accident and you would like to file a personal injury lawsuit, there are a number of steps you can take in the initial days and weeks following the accident to protect your right to compensation.
Nolo.com provides the following suggestions:
· Write down as much as you can about the accident itself, your injuries, and any other losses (such as wages) you’ve suffered as a result of the accident.
· Make notes of conversations that you have with people involved in the accident or the injury claim.
· Preserve evidence of who caused the accident and what damage was done by collecting physical evidence and taking photographs.
· Locate people who witnessed the accident and who might be able to help you prove your case.
· Notify anyone you think might be responsible for the accident of your intention to file a claim for your injuries.
It is important that you take very thorough notes regarding your accident and your injury. This will be very important later when you want to explain to an insurance company exactly what happened to you and the extent of your pain and injuries. Try to preserve any physical evidence that you can find. If possible, you may want to return to the accident scene to take photographs. You may also want to preserve any physical damages, such as damage to your car, damage to your clothing, or a broken mirror. This well help you later, should you decide to file a personal injury lawsuit.
It is also important that you notify the party or parties that you believe to be responsible for the accident by writing them a letter of notification. This letter of notification should include basic information about the accident. Do not, however, discuss fault or responsibility in your letter. Notify these parties right away.
A personal injury attorney can help you file your claim to help you reach a settlement. If a settlement isn’t reached, your attorney may have to take your personal injury lawsuit to court. In Maryland, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit is three years.
The personal injury law firm of Lebowitz and Mzhen helps clients in Maryland and Washington D.C. file personal injury lawsuits so that they may receive compensation for their injuries. Contact Lebowitz and Mzhen today for a free, no obligation consultation.
Hit at Golden Ring Mall, pedestrian hospitalized, Northeastbooster.com, December 14, 2006
First Steps in Settling Your Injury Claim FAQ, Nolo.com
Related Web Resources:
Pedestrian Injuries, CDC.gov
Pedestrian Injuries, preventinjuries.org, (PDF)