Perhaps you were walking around town and enjoying the day when a negligent driver came out of nowhere and hit you. You might have severe injuries that need immediate medical care, and your life might be turned upside down.
Pedestrian accidents commonly occur in places like parking lots, sidewalks, crosswalks, and other places where pedestrian and auto traffic meet. An attorney can help you begin a lawsuit against the negligent driver who hit you by assessing your damages, finding evidence, and exploring various legal options. While the negligent driver who struck you is directly responsible for the crash, others might be responsible in less direct ways, and a lawyer can help you make sure all responsible parties are included in your lawsuit. The time it takes to complete your case depends on your unique situation. While some cases finish quickly, others do not, and your attorney can keep you advised of your case’s progress.
Call our pedestrian accident lawyers at (844) 876-4357 to schedule a private, free case evaluation with our staff at Howe Law.
Places to Be Careful of Pedestrian Accidents in Stonecrest, GA
While drivers should always stop for pedestrians, there are certain places where this rule is a legal obligation. For example, if pedestrians are in a crosswalk, drivers have a duty to stop. Some crosswalks have signals that tell drivers and pedestrians when to go, but others do not. Regardless, drivers should stop for people crossing the street.
When parking a car, a driver might not look out for pedestrians. Instead, they look for the next available parking space, especially if the lot or garage is crowded. Drivers also tend to move slower in lots and garages, making them more comfortable letting their guard down. Pedestrians might be walking through the garage or lot, and a collision at a slower speed could still cause serious injuries.
Drivers should almost never find themselves on sidewalks. These spaces are reserved for pedestrians and pedestrians only. Unfortunately, drivers sometimes lose control of their vehicles and run up on sidewalks, injuring unsuspecting pedestrians. In some cases, drivers lose control because they are intoxicated. In others, the vehicle experienced some malfunction, like a tire blew out, causing the driver to swerve. In either case, the driver may be held liable.
How a Lawyer Can Help You with Your Pedestrian Accident Case in Stonecrest, GA
After getting to a hospital and being treated by a doctor for your injuries, you should contact an attorney as soon as possible. Your lawyer can help you begin your lawsuit by examining your potential damages, finding evidence, and advising you on other legal options.
You must file a formal complaint with the courts to begin a lawsuit. The complaint is more than just a grievance or allegation against the defendant. It must contain specific details about how the defendant caused the accident, the extent of your damages, and evidence to support your claims.
We must identify your damages before we submit the case. Although damages are only decided and awarded at the end of the lawsuit. However, they must be evaluated early in the legal process.
Once your attorney has helped you identify and evaluate your damages, they can help you find evidence to show how the defendant is responsible for your injuries. Much evidence might come from the scene of the crash. If security cameras were in the area, our pedestrian accident lawyers can try to obtain copies of footage of the accident. We can also talk to witnesses and see if anyone can testify about what they saw. We do not need definitive evidence of the defendant’s liability to begin the case. We only need enough evidence to convince the court that you have a valid cause of action.
Your lawyer should also help you explore other legal options. While a lawsuit can help you recover significant damages from a negligent driver, it might not be your only option. Settlements or insurance claims might also net you valuable compensation. Your attorney can advise you of these options so that whatever decision you come to is an informed one.
Determining Who is Responsible for Your Pedestrian Accident in Stonecrest, GA
Various parties might be implicated in a pedestrian accident case. While many pedestrians hone in on the negligent driver, other potentially liable parties should not be overlooked. Your attorney can help find all possibly liable parties for your lawsuit.
We should include the driver in your lawsuit. They are the ones directly responsible for causing the accident and should be held accountable. If they were driving as part of their job (e.g., a taxi driver, bus driver, delivery driver), we should also include their employer.
Employers may be vicariously liable for the negligence of employees on duty. In many cases, individual drivers cannot fully pay for all the plaintiff’s damages. Including the defendant’s employer is a good idea because they might have more insurance and assets to help cover your damages.
We should also examine other details of your accident to help us figure out if any other parties share responsibility. Although less typical, someone might have pushed you into the street in front of an oncoming car. This might have been an accident or purposeful, but the person who pushed you should be held accountable.
How Long Do Pedestrian Accident Cases Take in Stonecrest, GA?
A major determining factor in how long your case takes is evidence. In short, the more evidence you have to support your claims, the faster your case might be resolved. In cases where plaintiffs have particularly strong evidence, defendants might rather settle privately than endure a grueling trial only to be found liable by a jury.
The situation’s complexity also plays a role in the length of the legal process. Some cases are legally simple. The case might be an open-and-shut situation. Other cases might be complicated and require lengthy police investigations, witness interviews, and much back-and-forth between the parties.
Finally, your wants and needs help determine the duration of your case. You should discuss what you want out of your case with your attorney. Some plaintiffs want a full trial and their day in court. Others want to get compensation as quickly as possible and move on. Your case might be lengthy or end quickly, depending on your goals and what you must do to achieve them.
Call Our Stonecrest, GA Pedestrian Accident Lawyers for Help
Call our pedestrian accident lawyers at (844) 876-4357 to make an appointment for a confidential, free case assessment with our legal team at Howe Law.
