Pedestrian accident law firms handle consultations, investigation, damage identification, and obtaining compensation for individuals who were involved in a pedestrian accident. While the specifics of these accidents can vary greatly case by case, there are important steps that must be taken to ensure you receive the justice and compensation deserved following an accident. Learn what qualifies as a pedestrian accident, what you’re entitled to, and what steps you should take next below.
What is a Pedestrian Accident?
A pedestrian accident is an accident that typically involves a pedestrian and motor vehicle, a bicycle, and even a horse or tractor in areas where those are common. The pedestrian may be walking, jogging, running, or just standing still. Frequent causes of pedestrian accidents involve distracted or impaired drivers, road rage and recklessness, bad weather and low visibility, and other situations in which a driver is not able to properly control their vehicle and a pedestrian faces the consequences.
What Should You Do Following a Pedestrian Accident?
Following a pedestrian accident, the priority should be your safety — and the safety of those around you. Once you have gotten to a secure place, immediately call 911 and inform responders about what happened. Head to the hospital or doctor and have any injuries checked/cared for and make sure that you are in a stable condition. Even if you think you don’t have any immediate injuries, you should likely get tested for less noticeable impacts like a concussion or whiplash. After a pedestrian accident, adrenaline can often mask potentially serious issues. Even if pain has not set in, you should see a doctor to determine if anything is wrong.
If you are able, document the accident while you are awaiting first responders. Get an image of the other driver’s license and insurance, as well as any vehicles and damages that were involved in the accident. Once you have done these things, it’s time to get in touch with a pedestrian accident law firm. A pedestrian injury lawyer will help you determine the next steps. This should be done as soon as possible, so important evidence can be collected or documented before it’s destroyed, and your memory is still fresh following the incident.
Common Injuries and Damages Handled by a Pedestrian Accident Law Firm
Because these accidents typically involve a moving vehicle and a defenseless pedestrian, serious injuries can occur. Some of the most common injuries seen by a pedestrian injury lawyer include head and brain injuries, broken bones, spine damage, road rash, lost teeth, internal bleeding, and even wrongful death. These injuries can have a massive, long-term impact, both to your health and to your finances. That is why it is crucial to have a pedestrian injury lawyer by your side to seek justice for your damages and represent you throughout the process.
What are the common damages accrued following a pedestrian accident? In Colorado, these damages are separated into three categories. The first are the economic damages. These include medical bills, lost wages, and other injury expenses. Then, there are the non-economic losses. These include physical and mental pain and suffering following the incident, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health challenges that can occur after a traumatic event, or ongoing pain and health issues from the impact. The third type of damages are long term physical impairment and disfigurement from the incident. Ongoing medical care, surgeries, and other treatments that are necessary as a direct result of the accident should be accounted for. If there was a death involved in the accident, there are additional damages that should likely be address by a wrongful death attorney.
Determining Accident Fault
Sometimes, determined fault for an accident isn’t straight forward. If a pedestrian was not following traffic laws or paying attention (jaywalking, looking at a phone while crossing a street, or crossing quickly without giving the driver adequate time to react), there may be more information to unpack when it comes to identifying fault. Sometimes it is largely the vehicle driver’s fault (texting, poor judgement, not following the law, intoxicated driving). Either way, identifying evidence for a case can be a complicated task. That’s why it is best to get in touch with a pedestrian accident law firm as soon as possible. They have a wealth of experience in pedestrian accidents of all kinds and can provide expert advice to help get better outcomes for your case.
Have a Pedestrian Injury Lawyer Work with Your Insurance Company
Handling the insurance details following a pedestrian accident is an extremely daunting and stressful task. In fact, we do not recommend speaking with insurance company until you have spoken with a pedestrian accident law firm. Ultimately, insurance companies are going to try and find ways to increase their profit and not provide the full value from you claim. Personal injury lawyers like Eisenstein Law are on your side and have a wealth of experience working with insurance companies, ensuring that our clients get as much as possible from their claim.
Establishing and Fighting for the Compensation You Deserve
Of course, one of the most important elements of having a personal injury law firm on your side is accessing expertise in compensation from these accidents. Unfortunately, following an accident there may be an effort to minimize the impact — and even misinform you about what you can receive from a settlement. Ultimately, you should get a lawyer involved right away to avoid confusion and have an expert available to weed through the information you are receiving. Someone needs to be in your corner to fight for the compensation you are entitled to from an accident.
A personal injury lawyer can walk you through your case and identify where compensation is due and who is at fault. With that information, we can help you file insurance claims and negotiate a settlement. If a settlement is not possible, we can take your case to court and fight for you. A skilled lawyer ensures that you recover the maximum allowed by the law, by building a strong case that outlines any economic and non-economic damages from the event.
Your Partner in Finding the Next Step
A Denver personal injury law firm like Eisenstein Law can help you with your case. Pedestrian accidents can be an extremely unsettling and distressing event. They should not be handled alone. An expert can identify and implement successful outcomes that recover damages and provide peace of mind to those that were negatively impacted. The first step is a free case evaluation, where you can describe the situation and get initial advice about what to do next. You will be consulted at every step to ensure you are fully informed, protected, and that justice is best served.
Work with a Pedestrian Accident Law Firm You Can Trust
Interested in working with a qualified Denver pedestrian accident attorney? Eisenstein Law can walk you through the necessary steps to seek compensation and justice following a pedestrian accident. One mishap can have major implications down the line, and Eisenstein Law can help determine the damages and ensure that you get the compensation you deserve. Contact your local personal injury lawyer today to get started.