With the increasing costs of vehicle ownership, more and more people are choosing to walk rather than drive. Negligent drivers seriously threaten pedestrian safety. Speak to a lawyer immediately if you are the victim of a pedestrian crash.
A pedestrian might be struck by a speeding vehicle in any number of places. Common locations for accidents include places where pedestrians cross the street, parking areas, and sidewalks. In each of these places, drivers have a duty to look out for people on foot. Whether you should sue after an accident is your decision to make, but a lawsuit might help you get fair compensation for economic and non-economic injuries. You can support your claims with evidence from the accident scene, witnesses, and records about your injuries and damages. Compensation should be paid for things like medical bills, the value of damaged property, mental or emotional suffering, and more.
If a negligent driver hits you, call (844) 876-4357 and speak to our pedestrian accident attorneys at Howe Law for a free review of your case.
How You Might Be Injured in a Pedestrian Accident in Dalton, GA
Pedestrian accidents are possible almost anywhere that cars and people are expected to share space. They can even happen where space is not shared and cars are prohibited. When a driver encroaches on pedestrian spaces, our pedestrian accident lawyers can help hold them responsible.
One place where pedestrian collisions are unfortunately frequent is where people cross the street. When crossing a street, pedestrians often use designated walkways and crosswalks. Sometimes, there are lighted signals to tell drivers and pedestrians when they can and cannot proceed. If a driver is speeding, not paying attention, intoxicated, or otherwise negligent, a pedestrian might be struck in the middle of the road.
We often associate bad pedestrian accidents with speed, but speed is not always significant. People are very vulnerable when faced with a moving vehicle. The vehicle does not need to be speeding to cause serious injuries. As such, many bad pedestrian crashes happen in places where drivers are moving rather slowly, like parking lots or garages. A driver might back over a pedestrian when they back out of a parking space. A driver might focus more on finding a parking spot than looking out for pedestrians, creating a very risky situation.
Even though cars and other vehicles are not usually permitted on sidewalks, pedestrian accidents on sidewalks are not uncommon. A driver might be distracted, intoxicated, or driving recklessly, causing them to lose control of the car and drive up on the sidewalk, striking pedestrians.
Should I Sue After a Pedestrian Collision in Dalton, GA?
Whether you should file a lawsuit against the driver who hit you is entirely up to you. Many people have a hard time making this choice, and understandably so. It is a big decision, and you should not make it alone. Contact our legal team to go over your various legal options. If a lawsuit is the best course of action, we can help you get started.
You might want to file a case against the driver because you cannot get compensation otherwise. Some injured victims are lucky, and the other drivers might immediately offer generous settlements in order to avoid costly and embarrassing litigation. In such a case, you might not need to sue, but you should have a lawyer check the settlement terms before you accept.
A lawsuit might be more necessary if there is no settlement and insurance is unavailable or does not cover everything. Your attorney can help you prepare the necessary paperwork and legal documentation needed to kick off the case. Additionally, we can assist you in gathering evidence and preparing legal arguments.
Supporting Your Pedestrian Accident Claims with Evidence in Dalton, GA
Evidence to back up your claims is crucial. Evidence might look different in every case. For some, evidence might be a few or even just one key bit of proof, like a lynchpin that holds the entire case together. In others, evidence might comprise numerous smaller bits of information and objects that form a bigger picture.
We can start our search for evidence at the scene of the pedestrian crash. Did you take any photos of the crash scene? If you did not, did someone else? Photos of the crash scene right after the crash happened might contain very important details. They might show us who was there, the position of the car and the victim, and other details that might be important to the case.
We should also speak with people around when the accident happened. If anyone saw you get hit by the car, they can testify about what they saw. Witnesses who can positively identify the defendant as the driver of the car may be of the utmost importance to the case.
What Kind of Compensation is On the Line in Your Dalton, GA Pedestrian Accident Case
Depending on your situation, a great deal of financial compensation might be at stake. Pedestrians hit by vehicles tend to suffer serious injuries as they are virtually unprotected from the impact. Broken bones, head and brain injuries, neck injuries, spinal cord injuries, and more are all possible.
Compensation should be paid not only for your deep pain and emotional suffering from the accident but also for your many financial expenses. Medical bills are never cheap, and they can be especially high when injured victims require more extensive care. You might also lose a great deal of income if you cannot return to work for some time after being injured.
While your mental and emotional suffering is difficult to measure in dollars and cents, juries may still award compensation. We must show the jury how much the accident has impacted your life to convince them to award the compensation you deserve.
Talk to Our Dalton, GA Pedestrian Accident Lawyers About Your Legal Options
If you were struck by a negligent driver, call (844) 876-4357 to get in touch with our Atlanta pedestrian accident attorneys at Howe Law for a free review of your case.
