Although pedestrians tend to avoid moving vehicles as much as possible, drivers still manage to cause numerous pedestrian accidents each year. Pedestrians might be gravely injured, and they can take legal action against the driver to get fair compensation.
Our attorneys can help you explore numerous legal options for compensation. You might want to file an insurance claim, sue the driver, or reach a private settlement. You might be entitled to significant compensation since injuries and damages tend to be severe. To back up your claims, we need evidence of the accident and the defendant’s liability. Photos, videos, and witnesses might all be very useful. While each case has its own specific set of circumstances, common ones include accidents in places where pedestrians and vehicles cross paths, like crosswalks.
Call (844) 876-4357 and speak to our pedestrian accident attorneys at Howe Law to schedule a free case assessment if you were hit by a vehicle.
How Our Opelika, AL Lawyers Can Help You After a Pedestrian Accident
If you were struck by a moving vehicle while out walking, you should speak with a lawyer about how to get fair compensation for your injuries. One possibility is that you can sue the driver for damages. Drivers have a legal duty to drive with reasonable safety under the circumstances and follow traffic laws. If they breach this duty and hit a pedestrian, that pedestrian can sue them for their negligence. While lawsuits can be long and challenging, many plaintiffs believe the payoffs are worth the effort.
Your attorney can also help you file an insurance claim. Even though you were not in a vehicle when the accident occurred, it may still be considered an auto accident. As such, you can file a third-party claim with the driver’s insurance. If the driver is uninsured, you might file a claim with your own auto insurance if you have any. Many pedestrians do not have auto insurance because they do not drive. In that case, talk to your lawyer about a lawsuit.
A settlement is a private agreement between you and the driver who hit you. Essentially, the driver agrees to pay for some of your damages while you agree to waive your right to sue. How much of your damages are covered by the settlement is up for negotiation. The stronger your evidence, the more leverage you have during negotiations. Plaintiffs with especially strong evidence might be able to negotiate for the full extent of their damages.
Common Injuries and Damages in Opelika, AL Pedestrian Accident Cases
Pedestrians hit by moving vehicles tend to be very badly hurt. Meanwhile, the drivers who cause these accidents are often largely unscathed. Not only might your physical injuries be grim, but you might also be left with deep emotional scars.
Bodily injuries might be serious, and injured pedestrians should get to a hospital as quickly as possible. Even if you think you are okay and do not need to see a doctor, go to the hospital anyway. Not only might you have unseen internal injuries, but you need to establish medical records of your injuries that our pedestrian accident attorneys can use later as evidence.
Common injuries in pedestrian accidents include broken bones, skull fractures, brain damage, spinal cord injuries and paralysis, and road rash. Many pedestrians suffer from multiple injuries, making their condition even more dire. Worse still, some injured pedestrians never fully recover. Many are left with permanent disabilities or chronic pain.
With such severe injuries, your medical bills will likely be off the charts. On top of that, your injuries might prevent you from working, and you might lose precious income when it is most important. These financial losses should be accurately accounted for so you get the most compensation possible.
Not only that, but the accident might take a significant psychological toll. Many accident survivors are deeply distressed. Struggling with depression, PTSD, and feelings of anxiety and fear are somewhat common. Although these experiences do not cost plaintiffs money, they should still be compensated as part of your damages.
How to Support Your Legal Claims in a Pedestrian Accident Case in Opelika, AL
You cannot win your case on allegations alone. We need evidence of the defendant’s wrongdoing to prove their liability. In many pedestrian accident claims, plaintiffs submit pictures of the accident scene as evidence. These pictures are often taken right after the accident so the injured party has something to show insurance companies. These photos can make for great evidence as they might contain important details about the collision.
Many pedestrians cannot take photos due to the severity of their injuries. In that case, we can check the surrounding area for video footage from traffic cameras or security cameras. Video evidence of the accident can be very powerful, and we should investigate if we believe there was a camera recording in the area.
Even if we cannot come up with physical evidence to show a jury, we can piece together an accurate picture of how the accident happened through reliable witness testimony. Many pedestrian collisions happen in public spaces where there are numerous witnesses. If even only a handful of these witnesses can be found, we might be able to convince a jury of the defendant’s negligence.
Common Circumstances Surrounding Pedestrian Accident Cases in Opelika, AL
A lot of pedestrian accidents happen in areas where people on foot and drivers in cars cross paths. For example, crosswalks are implicated in many pedestrian crashes, often due to distracted drivers or other negligence. Perhaps you were crossing the street, but a distracted driver blew through the red light and hit you in the crosswalk.
You might also have a strong legal claim if you were hit by a car in a parking lot or garage. Although these places are not often considered part of the public roads or highways, drivers still owe a duty of care to pedestrians. You might have been walking to or from your own car in a parking lot when a reckless driver hit you. Many such accidents are due to drivers being in too much of a hurry and neglecting to look out for pedestrians.
Speak to Our Opelika, AL Pedestrian Accident Attorneys About Your Potential Lawsuit
Call (844) 876-4357 and talk to our pedestrian accident lawyers at Howe Law to schedule a free case evaluation if you were hit by a car.
