If you have been hit by a car, you know the experience can be traumatic. It is not easy to maintain a clear-minded approach to the issue of compensation. However, once you have recovered enough to think about the issue, there are a few things you should know.

It may not have been your fault 

You may be told it was your fault, especially by a claims adjuster, but this does not make it true. One example is when a person is hit crossing a street without a crosswalk. However, just because there is no crosswalk does not mean that you were crossing illegally. In many jurisdictions, there is an implied crosswalk from one corner of a street to another, even when the street has no crosswalk markings or signs. A representative of an insurance company is likely to tell you all sorts of things, but you should not trust anyone other than your own attorney.

The driver may be underinsured

Many drivers carry the legal minimum insurance required by law. This varies by state, but it may not be enough to cover the compensation you are entitled to. The minimum amounts were designed to cover injuries in a car accident, but injuries to a pedestrian can be more severe. You need to consult with an attorney to explore any possibilities for collecting all of the money you are entitled to. This is even more important if you are a relative of a pedestrian who was killed by a car and you are suing on your loved one's behalf. A personal-injury attorney may be able to get money for you beyond what the driver was insured for.

The driver may be uninsured 

Just because someone hit you while driving without insurance does not mean you cannot sue them. If the driver has assets, a personal-injury attorney may be able to identify them, and they can be used to satisfy a judgment for your financial compensation. And even without assets, a person with a job can have their wages or salary garnished to satisfy a legal judgment. In short, if you are injured as a pedestrian by someone driving without insurance, you should still seek the counsel of an attorney.

Regardless of how severe your injuries have been, don't assume that you will be showered with financial compensation. In many ways, it is more difficult for a pedestrian to get the compensation they are entitled to after an accident with a car. Your best chance is always a personal-injury attorney, so do not hesitate to consult with one, such as a lawyer at Wolter, Beeman & Lynch.