Pedestrians have every right to use public walkways near roads and highways, even if drivers might think differently. Unfortunately, negligent drivers often disregard pedestrian safety and cause severe accidents.
If you are hit by a car, you should contact an attorney as soon as possible. Drivers often face minimal consequences for causing these accidents, while pedestrians spend weeks, months, or years recovering. Contact a lawyer to talk about how you can get fair compensation and justice for your injuries. Many pedestrian accidents happen where foot traffic and vehicle traffic cross. Parking lots, crosswalks, and sidewalks are somewhat common in these claims. While the driver who hit you might be directly responsible, other parties might also share the blame, and you should thoroughly discuss the situation with your lawyer. Damages can be substantial because many pedestrians experience catastrophic injuries and even lifelong disabilities.
Schedule a free review of your case by calling our pedestrian accident attorneys at Howe Law at (844) 876-4357.
Contacting a Lawyer After a Marietta, GA Pedestrian Accident
Being hit by a car often leaves the pedestrian with serious injuries. The driver who caused the accident, however, often emerges mostly unscathed. On top of that, the driver might not even face criminal charges for their negligence, depending on the situation. As such, you should contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible so you can get justice.
One of the first things your lawyer can help you do is explore various legal options. Insurance, settlement agreements, or filing a lawsuit are all possibilities. Each case is unique, and the best way to get compensation will depend on your specific situation.
You should try to connect with a lawyer sooner rather than later. The statute of limitations for your claim might already be counting down to the filing deadline. In Georgia, under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33, plaintiffs have only 3 years to file claims for personal injuries, including those for pedestrian accidents. If you cannot submit your claims before time runs out, you risk losing the right to sue.
Although 3 years might seem like a long time to get your claims to court, it is still wise to hire a lawyer as soon as possible. Lawsuits require extensive preparation, and the sooner you get started, the more time your attorney will have to get your case ready.
Circumstances Surrounding Pedestrian Accidents in Marietta, GA
The details of each case may vary, but certain factors or circumstances are common across many pedestrian accidents. It is a good idea to talk about these common factors with your attorney to see if they affect your case in a significant way.
Pedestrian accidents commonly occur in places where people on foot and drivers in cars are in close proximity. Crosswalks are typical locations for pedestrians to be injured by negligent drivers. Many crosswalks have lighted signals that tell pedestrians when it is safe to cross. Drivers must stop when pedestrians are crossing. If they do not, they are likely to be held liable for causing an accident.
You should also be wary of parking lots and garages. Since these places are technically not part of public roads or highways, drivers tend to be less careful. Even though vehicles are not moving as fast in lots or garages, they can still cause serious injuries to pedestrians. Like on the road, drivers should yield to pedestrians in parking lots and garages.
Many pedestrian accidents happen because drivers are not paying attention. Distractions are unfortunately common. Perhaps the defendant in your case was texting and driving or looking at a GPS device for directions. Either way, they may be liable for hitting you.
Alcohol is another common factor. Drinking and driving is not only extremely dangerous but illegal. If the driver who hit you was drunk during the collision, they might face criminal charges. In that case, we can use a guilty plea or verdict in our civil claims as evidence of their liability.
The People Responsible for Your Pedestrian Accident in Marietta, GA
Making sure you include the correct parties in your lawsuit is harder than you might think. While the driver who hit you should be held accountable, their identity might not be clear, especially if they fled the scene. On top of that, other parties might share liability. Your lawyer can help you identify all the defendants who should be held liable for your injuries.
Of course, we should name the driver who hit you in your lawsuit. If the driver remained at the accident scene and exchanged information with you as they should have, identifying them should be simple. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Many injured pedestrians are so badly hurt they cannot even recall the accident, only waking up in the hospital. In other cases, the driver might have fled the scene in a hit and run, and we might need to work with law enforcement to find and identify them.
If the driver was on the job when the crash happened, their employer might be vicariously liable. For example, suppose you were hit by someone driving a delivery truck. In that case, you might also sue the delivery company that employed the driver.
Damages and Compensation for Marietta, GA Pedestrian Accidents
Damages in pedestrian crashes are often severe for the pedestrian, but not so much for the defendant. With serious injuries come serious medical bills. Many people cannot afford extensive medical care, even with the help of health insurance. You should claim these costs as part of your damages and make the defendant pay.
In addition, pedestrians sometimes cannot go back to work because of the magnitude of their injuries. If you lose income because of your injuries, that lost income should be counted among your damages.
We should also include damages for your emotional distress. Pain, suffering, humiliation, and other painful experiences are common in serious injury cases. Although there might not be a bill connected with these damages, they should still be fairly compensated.
Call Our Marietta, GA Pedestrian Accident Attorneys for Assistance
Arrange a free, confidential assessment of your case by calling our pedestrian accident attorneys at Howe Law at (844) 876-4357.
