Why Hire a Pedestrian Accident Attorney?

While all accidents are traumatizing, getting hit by a car while you’re on foot can leave a lasting impact on your mental, as well as physical well-being. Depending on the injuries you or your loved one has suffered, you might even end up with crippling financial debts due to long recovery time and medical bills. 

What can you do?

The best course of action is hiring an experienced pedestrian accident attorney who will go to great lengths to help you receive the compensation you rightfully deserve.

How Dangerous Is Florida For Pedestrians?

You might already know the answer to this if you’ve been watching the news over the past few years. If you haven’t, the answer is very.

Florida is notoriously dangerous for pedestrians. In fact, a study has revealed that the Sunshine State is occupying second place nationwide in death cases in which pedestrians were struck by vehicles. Along with that, on the list of the top 20 most dangerous metropolitan areas, Florida has seven entries. Guess what’s the most dangerous place to walk in the US? Daytona Beach.

Pedestrians that survive these accidents usually have to deal with severe injuries, including:

1. Soft tissue injuries such as muscle tears or lacerations that are not as serious as other ailments, but can still cause severe pain for the victim and lead to permanent disfigurement.

2. Spinal cord injuries often happen when a vehicle collides with a human body at high speed. Sadly, this may result in permanent paralysis which requires expensive long-term care.

3. Traumatic brain injuries are common in these types of accidents, with most pedestrians suffering moderate brain injuries. The symptoms of severe cases usually last for a lifetime and significantly decrease the life quality of the affected person.

Who Can Be Held Responsible For The Accident?

As with any other traffic accident, there could be many causes. Depending on what caused the accident, different parties may be held accountable:

1. The driver

The most common cause of accidents is driver negligence. This may happen due to distracted driving which typically involves smartphone use. A frequent cause of traffic collisions is also driving under the influence.

Alternatively, drivers who don’t follow the traffic rules put everyone else on the road at risk. This includes drivers not yielding to pedestrians on crosswalks or recklessly turning at intersections without checking if it’s safe. 

While urban areas have a higher number of accidents than rural counterparts, traffic accidents involving pedestrians happen on country roads too. Rural areas usually have winding roads with limited visibility and when combined with high speeds, the chance for accidents with devastating consequences is very high. 

2. The pedestrian

Sometimes, the pedestrian may be responsible for the accident. For instance, they may run into the road between parked cars without checking if there is ongoing traffic.

3. The vehicle manufacturer 

The driver is not at fault for the accident if the car was defective. In some cases, the vehicle manufacturer may be liable. There could be a design defect that caused the vehicle to fail below industry safety standards, Additionally, there may also have been a manufacturing defect that somehow passed through quality control.

4. The government

If the road design or the location of the crosswalk contributed to the accident, the government agency or an engineering firm responsible for designing and maintaining these crosswalks may be liable. This is because they are responsible to ensure that the traffic participants are safe. 

This is why hiring a pedestrian accident attorney is important as they will be able to conclude exactly which agency is responsible for your accident.

The Compensation Available In Pedestrian Accidents

If you or a loved one were hurt in an accident, you can receive compensation for economic and non-economic damages. The first one refers to compensation for financial losses you suffered in the event, which includes lost wages and loss of earning potential and, more importantly, current and future medical expenses.

The second type of damages aren’t as straightforward, but they’re certainly viable. Non-economic damages refer to non-monetary losses such as pain and suffering, emotional anguish, as well as loss of consortium (loss of benefits of a relationship due to injuries suffered in an accident).

Why Getting A Pedestrian Accident Attorney Is Worth It?

The period following the accidents is hard to navigate. Not only do you have to recover from your injuries, but you also have to deal with the mental anguish of not being able to work. On top of all of that, you have to deal with the insurance company.

To make this entire process a lot simpler and as pleasant as possible (considering the circumstances), it’s recommended you work with a pedestrian accident attorney. Here is how having them on your side can help your claim:

1. They’ll help you investigate your accident

Most accidents devolve into a ‘’whodunit’’ type of situation so to ensure a favorable outcome, it’s important to learn exactly what caused the accident and who’s liable. This is where a pedestrian accident attorney is crucial as they’ll conduct a thorough investigation on your behalf.

They can gather the relevant evidence to prove liability by interviewing witnesses, examining any video footage or photographs, and reviewing the police report. Additionally, they may hire experts who can help them recreate the scene of the accident.

2. Learn the value of your case

Many people are overwhelmed by the initial debt they may face so they’ll accept the first settlement offered, no matter how low it might be. This is a mistake as you’ll most likely have to pay for any future bills out of your pocket.

A pedestrian accident attorney can help you learn the true value of your case. They will consider your current bills and any future expenses and provide you with a rough estimate of how much money you can actually receive if you stick to your guns.

3. Negotiating with the insurance company

Insurance companies will try to cheat you out of a fair settlement even if the case is clear-cut. A pedestrian accident attorney may be your godsend as they’ll negotiate with the company on your behalf and try to recover the full amount.

If the negotiations aren’t successful, they’ll take your case to court.

How To Choose A Pedestrian Accident Lawyer?

Not every attorney is the same and because your future depends on the skills of the legal representation you hire, research before making a decision.

The first thing to do is to check the attorney’s track record. Learn how many cases they have won or successfully settled. 

Next, experienced ones generally work on a contingency basis instead of charging by the hour. In other words, they’ll get paid from the proceeds of the case instead of taking money directly from you.

Law Offices of RITE law fit the bill perfectly! We’ve got extensive experience in personal injury and we work on a contingency basis. Call us at (904) 500-RITE (7483) or send us a message at info@rite4justice.com for a free consultation.

Note: 

The information in this blog post is for reference only and not legal advice. As such, you should not make legal decisions based on the information in this blog post. Moreover, there is no lawyer-client relationship resulting from this blog post, nor should any such relationship be implied. If you need legal counsel, please consult a lawyer licensed to practice in your jurisdiction.