Why You Need a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
pedestrians who are struck by cars are at a higher risk of suffering catastrophic injuries. Common injuries include broken or fractured bones, internal organ damage, traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury and disfigurement.
A experienced NYC pedestrian accident lawyer will assist victims to recover compensation for future and current medical expenses, rehabilitative care costs, lost income due to absence from work and other damages.
What to do following an Pedestrian Accident
Even with sidewalks and crosswalks walking along a road can put the risk of being struck by a vehicle. If you are walking across the street or jogging back to your car after shopping pedestrians could be seriously injured or even death if struck by a motor vehicle. If you've been struck by a car while you were on the sidewalk, it's crucial to take immediate action to protect your legal rights and financial interests. An experienced New York pedestrian accident lawyer can help you navigate the complicated procedure of filing an injury claim.
It is also recommended to seek medical assistance as soon as is possible after a pedestrian crash. This should be done before discussing the incident with any insurance companies. Your adrenaline could mask any signs or symptoms, so it is essential to get a medical exam and diagnosis from a doctor. In the event of delay, it can severely hinder your ability to claim compensation for your injuries and losses.
After you have received medical attention, contact the police and submit a report. You should get the name of the officer who was responsible, his badge number, and the case number assigned. This will make it easier to get a copy of the police report after it's done. Note any additional comments you make to the police officer to ensure that you have a complete picture.
Photograph the accident scene and your injuries if you have an mobile phone.
Baltimore accident attorney can be crucial evidence to support your assertions. Lastly, try to get the names and contact numbers of any witnesses at the scene of the accident. This will provide evidence to back your claim, as it is difficult to establish fault without the testimony of the other parties involved in the collision.
An attorney will evaluate your claim and determine the kinds of damages you're entitled to. These may include future and current medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost wages from missed work, property damage, emotional distress as well as pain and suffering. A pedestrian accident lawyer can maximize your compensation by making sure that all your losses are accurately recorded and properly accounted for.
Establishing Liability
Your lawyer can help you determine who is responsible for your injuries and help you build an effective defense against the responsible party or parties. They will collect evidence like eyewitness testimony, CCTV footage and police reports in order to strengthen your claim. They also work with experts in accident reconstruction who can recreate the scene to determine factors like speed, impact angles and more.
Other parties may be accountable for your injuries even if the person who hit the pedestrian is usually at the fault. This can include the government entity that is responsible for road conditions and road safety, if it is established that inadequate lighting or obstruction to views contributed to your accident. You could be entitled, based on the laws of your state, to a compensation under the no-fault policy of the driver.
Your lawyer can also review any evidence from a hit and run accident and try to locate the driver that fled the scene. This is especially important if you were injured by an impaired driver.
It's also worth noting that pedestrians may be held accountable in certain states for not taking security measures for themselves. In New York for example, pedestrians are required to follow traffic signals and signs and remain vigilant when in areas with a lot of traffic. If a judge decides that you are at fault for the accident, your damages may be reduced proportionally to the extent of your fault.
Your NYC pedestrian accident lawyer can help you obtain compensation for current and future medical expenses, lost wages due to absences from work, injuries and suffering as well as property damage, among other damages you've incurred. They will collaborate with experts in the field to accurately estimate your losses, to ensure that they reflect your accident's full impact on your life. They can also negotiate with insurers to ensure that you are compensated in a fair manner, and don't fall victim to bad-faith tactics. They can even take over interactions with insurance companies to ensure that you aren't forced to accept less than you deserve.
Making a Claim
Pedestrian accidents can be difficult and confusing to navigate without the assistance of an experienced attorney. It is not always obvious whether you should file an injury claim or sue for damages. The wrong choice can result in a devastating financial burden. If you're struck by a vehicle for instance it might be the best option to negotiate with your insurance company, but their policies often don't take care of all your losses.
The first step is to seek medical attention immediately for any injuries. It is crucial to record the severity of your injury as well as the resulting effects, including physical pain, emotional stress and loss of quality of life. It is crucial to keep track of all costs incurred due to the accident. This includes medical expenses and lost income due to missed workdays, and property damage.
Next, you will need to make an insurance claim with the owner or driver's insurer. In states with no-fault laws the personal injury protection insurance of the driver, which is part of the majority of car insurance policies will pay for pedestrian's injuries, regardless of the person who is at fault for an accident. In other situations the pedestrian's personal insurance could be in place, based on the type of car insurance coverage.
It is crucial to consult with a New York pedestrian accident lawyer before filing any kind of insurance claim. Insurance companies are not only experts at settlements for claims that are less than what they're worth They are also able to look for loopholes in the law that can stop you from recovering the full amount of your losses.
Shaevitz & Shaevitz, an experienced pedestrian accident attorney will assist you in determining the best method to recover your losses. We can examine any settlement offered by the insurance company to ensure that it covers your damages including medical expenses as well as lost wages from missed workdays and emotional distress and the cost of rehabilitation. In some instances we can also help by pursuing compensation from other parties that could be liable for your losses, such as the city for poorly designed sidewalks and crosswalks or a company in the event that an driver on duty is able to hit you.
Recovering Compensation
VIDEO A car crash can be a life-changing event. It is possible to be responsible for medical bills that cost a lot of money and lose earnings due to the absence of work. There is also the possibility of persistent emotional pain and suffering. You need a lawyer who can help you get the maximum amount of compensation. An attorney with expertise in pedestrian accident cases is the best option because they know how to determine the total amount you'll be entitled to and how to handle insurance companies that attempt to deny or reduce your claim.
A NYC pedestrian accident lawyer who has experience can gather evidence in court to demonstrate that pedestrians have the right to use the right of way in many traffic situations. They will rely on witness testimony, video footage, and police reports to build a strong case on your behalf. This will give you the best chance of obtaining the amount you're entitled to for medical expenses or lost wages, as well as other damages resulting from the accident.
You will only receive the amount of compensation you require after being struck by a pedestrian vehicle when you hire a lawyer. Your attorney will also protect you from being swindled of by the at-fault driver's insurance company and negotiate an amount that is fair to you.
Depending on the nature of your injuries, you may be able to claim compensation for your economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are the amount of your medical expenses and your loss of income, while non-economic damages are for your pain and suffering.
New York is an insurance no-fault state. This means that any claim for injury must be submitted to the car insurance company of the driver responsible. If your injuries are serious enough to warrant a serious threshold for injury, you can bring a lawsuit directly against the driver for negligence.
A pedestrian accident lawyer should be contacted as soon as you can after your collision as the statute of limitation is very short. A qualified and experienced lawyer will guide you through the process of filing a personal injury claim and will make sure you have all the necessary evidence in place before the deadline expires.