I was involved in an auto accident where I hit a pedestrian.
I was looking left getting ready to turn onto Route 9 in Wellesley, near Newton, and just as I turned my head right I saw the pedestrian crossing the street. My foot had just come off of the brake. She put her arm out and I immediately hit the brakes, my car hardly moved, but my car bumped her. She stumbled and fell backwards onto the ground. I immediately got out of the car and spoke with her to make sure she was OK and helped her up off the ground. We talked a few more minutes and she assured me she was OK and I gave her my name. She happens to work for the same company as I do. Now I’ve been contacted by her attorney. Is she seriously suing me? What should I do?
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You should contact your auto insurance agent now and report the incident. Your agent will in turn contact your auto carrier. By doing this you have satisfied the requirement to report all claims.
Leave it to your insurance company to investigate the claim and determine if it is valid. The pedestrian may have been shaken up at the time of the incident but the next day felt pain and sought medical attention. If the injuries are real they will be demonstrated through medical records. This is a claim not a lawsuit. A lawsuit involves a filing in court. Most claims remain claims and are handled by the insurer. You may be asked additional questions as part of your insurer’s investigation; Just cooperate with your insurer. If on the unlikely chance a lawsuit is filed your insurer provides you with an attorney at their expense who will defend you up to the limit of your liability auto coverage.
