It’s said that driving is a privilege, not a right. This is absolutely true, especially if you know what it’s like to be without a driver’s license. The problem is, many people take their driving privileges for granted these days.

If you’ve driven on any road in the United States recently, you’ll know firsthand the blatant disregard for safety that many drivers sadly have. Speed limits are seemingly arbitrary these days, as you could be driving well over the speed limit and still be passed by another motorist.

Unfortunately, this disregard for road and motor vehicle safety has caused more accidents than we’d like to reference. In fact, approximately 1.35 million people die each year in fatal automobile accidents. And, many of those injured are pedestrians.

If you’ve been involved in a pedestrian accident and are considering legal counsel, there are a few things that you should know.

The First Step

Of course, if you’re involved in an accident as a pedestrian, not only should you immediately seek medical attention, you should dial 911 and report the accident to the authorities if the motorist who hit you hasn’t already done so.

In most cases when a driver hits a pedestrian, he or she will stop and call the police immediately. Unfortunately, in some cases, a driver might get scared and leave the scene of an accident. If this is the case, look for other bystanders and ask for help.

Chances are, these individuals will be able to tell the police what happened and hopefully, they were able to see the driver’s tag number.

Getting the report on file is the first step in recovering any medical expenses that you’ll most likely encounter after being struck by a motor vehicle.

Seek Legal Counsel

After you’ve sought medical attention and have an accident report from the local authorities, it’s time to call a lawyer.

In most cases when you’re hit by a motor vehicle, your injuries will be substantial enough that you’ll probably have to miss work. This will result in lost wages and the inability to continue paying your bills.

While you can contact your creditors to make arrangements on paying bills, if you’re in good enough standing, you still won’t be given much time. And your recovery time could be longer than expected.

Recovering from an accident also racks up medical bills, and these can get out of control fast. Hiring an attorney will assist you in obtaining compensation for your injuries, as well as for lost wages due to missing work, along with any pain and suffering damages that you may be entitled to.

Additionally, a lawyer will know how to handle the motorist’s insurance company and get you the money you deserve.

Rest & Rehabilitation

The main thing that you’ll want to do after being hit by a motor vehicle is concentrate your efforts on your recovery. Sure, you might be upset that you’re unable to work, but you do need to take this time to rest and heal from your injuries, otherwise, you could reinjure yourself and make your medical condition even worse.

Believe it or not, many people are in shock right after a motor vehicle accident and try to go back to work immediately. Ultimately, you know that you need to pay your bills. And, while it’s good to stay financially healthy, you need to be physically healthy first before anything else.

After an accident, it’s critical that you follow the instructions given to you by your physician. Refrain from any and all activities that would otherwise exacerbate your injuries or cause you any undue fatigue.

You might even want to consider physical therapy or rehabilitation therapy if your injuries were substantial enough. Regardless, after an accident, take the time to rest and you’ll be happy that you did.

Nobody is prepared for an accident. Especially those who were simply trying to cross the street to grab a coffee from Starbucks or if you’re simply trying to get a good outdoor workout; you need to express caution at all times.

No matter the reason for the accident, making your recovery a priority is paramount to the overall healing process.