Table of Contents
Understanding the Need for Legal Representation
Being struck by a vehicle while walking is a traumatic experience that can leave lasting physical, emotional, and financial scars. Pedestrians involved in accidents with vehicles almost always suffer serious injuries due to their complete lack of protection. In the immediate aftermath of such an accident, victims and their families often feel overwhelmed and unsure of what steps to take next. This is where help from a pedestrian injury attorney becomes invaluable. An experienced attorney can guide you through the complex legal process, protect your rights, and fight to ensure you receive fair compensation for your injuries and losses.
Investigating Your Accident Thoroughly
One of the most important services a pedestrian injury attorney provides is conducting a thorough investigation of your accident. This investigation goes far beyond the basic police report and may include visiting the accident scene to document conditions, identifying and interviewing witnesses who saw what happened, obtaining surveillance footage from nearby businesses or traffic cameras, reviewing the driver’s history for prior violations or accidents, examining whether road design or maintenance issues contributed to the accident, and consulting with accident reconstruction experts who can recreate the collision. This comprehensive investigation is essential for establishing liability and building a strong case.
Dealing with Insurance Companies on Your Behalf
After a pedestrian accident, you will likely be contacted by insurance adjusters representing the driver or other parties. While these adjusters may seem friendly and concerned about your well-being, their primary job is to minimize the amount the insurance company pays out on your claim. They may use various tactics including requesting recorded statements that can be twisted and used against you, offering quick but inadequate settlements before you understand the full extent of your injuries, disputing the severity of your injuries or arguing that pre-existing conditions are responsible, and attempting to shift blame onto you by arguing you were jaywalking or not paying attention. Help from a pedestrian injury attorney protects you from these tactics by handling all communications with insurance companies on your behalf.
Accurately Valuing Your Claim
One of the most challenging aspects of a pedestrian injury case is determining the true value of your claim. Insurance companies often try to settle cases quickly for far less than they are worth, hoping that victims will accept inadequate compensation before they understand the full impact of their injuries. A pedestrian injury attorney knows how to properly value your claim by accounting for all past and future medical expenses including emergency care, surgery, hospitalization, and ongoing treatment, all lost wages and reduced earning capacity if your injuries prevent you from working, property damage to clothing, electronics, or other personal items, pain and suffering and emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life if your injuries prevent you from participating in activities you once enjoyed.
Navigating Complex Liability Issues
Pedestrian accidents can involve complex liability issues that are difficult for non-lawyers to navigate. Questions may arise such as whether the driver’s employer should be held liable if the driver was working at the time, whether a government entity is responsible if poor road design or maintenance contributed to the accident, whether a property owner should be liable if inadequate lighting or other dangerous conditions played a role, and how comparative fault rules apply if the insurance company argues you were partially responsible. Help from a pedestrian injury attorney ensures that all potentially liable parties are identified and held accountable.
Preparing Your Case for Trial if Necessary
While many pedestrian injury cases settle out of court, some cases require litigation to achieve a fair result. Insurance companies know which attorneys are willing to go to trial and which are not, and they adjust their settlement offers accordingly. A pedestrian injury attorney with trial experience sends a clear message that you are prepared to pursue your case fully if a fair settlement cannot be reached. This willingness to litigate often results in better settlement offers. If your case does go to trial, your attorney will prepare by gathering expert testimony, creating compelling presentations of evidence, preparing you for testimony, and presenting persuasive arguments to the jury.
Providing Support Throughout the Recovery Process
Beyond the legal aspects of your case, help from a pedestrian injury attorney includes support and guidance throughout your recovery process. Your attorney can recommend qualified medical providers who specialize in treating injuries like yours, help you understand your medical treatment and prognosis, coordinate with medical providers to ensure bills are paid through appropriate channels, keep you informed about the progress of your case, and answer your questions and address your concerns promptly. This comprehensive support allows you to focus on healing while your attorney handles the legal complexities.
Working on a Contingency Fee Basis
One of the most important aspects of pedestrian injury representation is that most attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay no attorney fees unless and until your attorney recovers compensation for you. The attorney’s fee is typically a percentage of the recovery, which means the attorney only gets paid if you get paid. This arrangement removes the financial barrier that might otherwise prevent accident victims from obtaining quality legal representation. There is no risk in seeking help from a pedestrian injury attorney—only the opportunity to level the playing field against insurance companies and ensure that your rights are protected. If you or a loved one has been injured as a pedestrian, do not delay in seeking legal help. Contact a pedestrian injury attorney today for a free consultation to discuss your case and learn about your legal options.