Since pedestrian accidents can be so catastrophic, holding negligent parties accountable and recovering compensatory damages is often crucial for victims in Northport
There are many types of accidents that commonly injure pedestrians, including those that happen while drivers are backing up, operating their vehicles under the influence of alcohol, and making illegal turns. Other times, pedestrians might be hurt by negligent bicyclists or motorcyclists. Regardless of the exact cause of your accident and injuries, you can build evidence by calling 911, going to the hospital, and enlisting help from our lawyers. Doing this as soon as possible will be important, as you will only have two years to sue for a pedestrian accident in Northport. Furthermore, waiting to bring your claim could hurt your chances of success, even if you file the lawsuit before the final deadline to sue for injury in Alabama.
To have Howe Law evaluate your case for free, contact our Northport, AL pedestrian accident lawyers by calling (844) 876-4357 today.
Common Types of Pedestrian Accidents in Northport, AL
Pedestrians might be injured in various types of accidents in Northport. Some of the most common types of collisions that hurt pedestrians include backing up accidents, drunk driving accidents, and turning vehicle accidents, among others.
Backing Up Accidents
When a driver backs out of a parking spot in a lot or out of a driveway, they might injure a pedestrian if they do not act responsibly and carefully back out. Despite the growing popularity of backup cameras in cars, these types of accidents still occur, especially in parking lots or other areas where pedestrians commonly are.
Drunk Driving Accidents
Drunk drivers have reduced reaction times, making them unable to veer away from pedestrians in many instances. Intoxicated drivers might also run their cars up on sidewalks or lawns, injuring pedestrians or passersby. Suppose you were hurt by a drunk driver as a pedestrian in Northport. In that case, our car accident lawyers can help you recover compensation, including possible punitive damages that punish the intoxicated driver for their gross negligence.
Turning Vehicle Accidents
Walking across intersections, whether they are located on popular roadways or not, puts pedestrians in danger. Drivers are often focused on being aware of other cars on the road, not necessarily pedestrians. This puts pedestrians at risk of being struck by negligent drivers who are not paying attention to pedestrians who might be crossing the street when attempting to make a turn. Drivers speeding up to make a turn before the light turns red or those who choose to make illegal turns might be more likely to injure pedestrians in Northport.
Other Accidents
Pedestrians might be hurt in any number of accidents in Northport. Accidents initially involving only passenger cars might harm pedestrians, especially if the crash occurs close to a sidewalk or crosswalk. Pedestrians might be struck by bicyclists or motorcyclists as well, not just passenger cars. Larger vehicles like semi trucks might be more likely to be involved in pedestrian accidents as they often have larger blind spots than smaller cars.
Building Evidence in Support of Your Northport, AL Pedestrian Accident Claim
Because your access to compensatory damages is so important, your focus following a pedestrian accident, after getting the necessary medical care, should be building evidence in support of your claim in Northport.
You can start building evidence for your pedestrian accident case immediately after it takes place. Because pedestrians often become severely injured after being hit by vehicles, they might have difficulty taking photos of their injuries or speaking with involved parties. Eyewitnesses or emergency personnel can take pictures on your behalf that our pedestrian accident lawyers can use in support of your claim. Police officers can speak to the negligent driver responsible for the incident to obtain their information.
Victims can build additional evidence of their injuries by seeking medical attention. This should be done immediately after a pedestrian accident takes place in Northport. Medical care will be necessary in order to ensure your injuries are properly diagnosed. Victims can build further medical evidence by continuing to get medical care from doctors and specialists.
Reasons to File Your Pedestrian Accident Claim Quickly in Northport, AL
In general, the sooner you file your pedestrian accident claim in Northport, the better. Delaying the initiation of your case might make it harder to prove certain elements, such as causation.
The first reason you should bring your claim quickly after being injured as a pedestrian is because of the statute of limitations. In Northport, the deadline to sue for personal injury is two years, according to Ala. Code § 6-2-38. Any attempts to file a lawsuit outside of the allotted timeframe may be unsuccessful for victims.
Suppose you file your claim one year and 364 days after the accident. While you could still technically sue for injury, your case might be harder to prove. That is because certain evidence, like eyewitness statements, might degrade or become inaccessible as time passes. Furthermore, it might be harder to convince a jury that you are in dire need of compensation because you have waited so long to sue in Northport.
All of that said, you should take the time to confer with our lawyers before bringing your claim. While filing quickly is important, so is waiting long enough to get a clearer idea of your total damages. If you file too soon, you might not have a full understanding of your injuries and their likely impact on your life.
Our lawyers will take the time to prepare your case and gather evidence while ensuring you file within the proper timeframe so that you have the best chance of financial recovery after your pedestrian accident in Northport.
Call Our Injury Lawyers in Northport, AL Today
Call the pedestrian accident lawyers of Howe Law at (844) 876-4357 for a free case assessment.
