Pedestrians have a duty to use sidewalks, pathways, and crosswalks when possible. When pedestrians walk on the road, drivers owe them a duty of care to avoid hitting them with their vehicles. They are expected to follow traffic rules and look out for their safety while walking along roads or paths where vehicles could be driving by.
However, pedestrians sometimes suffer injuries due to being hit by cars or other types of motorized vehicles. Injuries may include broken bones, torn ligaments, and even death – depending on how fast the driver was going.
If you were injured in a pedestrian accident, you should seek compensation for your damages. You can do this by filing a personal injury lawsuit against the other party involved. This means that you are suing the at-fault driver for compensation to pay for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
Contact 1-800-Injured To Connect With a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer With Ease
1-800-Injured is an attorney and medical referral service. After any type of injury, taking on additional responsibilities such as reaching out to various law firms, requesting consultations, and hoping to hear back from an available lawyer can add to the many stresses that a victim is experiencing. Instead of going through this process, working with 1-800-Injured is one of the easiest ways to request a free consultation with a personal injury attorney.
Read more below to learn about some of the specifics of a pedestrian accident, like common injuries and the importance of working with a lawyer. Contact us as soon as possible to get started on your case today.
The Importance of Working With a Personal Injury Attorney After a Pedestrian Accident
After an accident where one party is responsible for the crash and therefore liable for the resulting damages, a victim commonly has an option to file a claim against the at-fault party’s insurer or file a lawsuit in the Florida courts. Many people mistakenly believe that they should not hire a lawyer unless they are going to file a lawsuit, but the reality is that a large percentage of personal injury claims are settled before a lawsuit is ever filed — and many lawsuits are resolved before going to trial. This is often because of the work that their attorney does to reach a fair settlement.
Stay Focused On Your Health
When someone else is handling your claim, you will have the time and emotional space to stay focused on your recovery without the added stress and anxiety. In fact, stress is shown to have a negative impact on recovery, and the claims process is highly stressful for anyone who is working on getting the money they deserve.
Instead of taking on the stress of your claim, you can rely on your attorney to take the necessary steps for a fair outcome while you get the care and treatment you need.
Improve Your Chances Of a Fair Settlement
When a personal injury attorney files an insurance claim on behalf of a client, the insurer knows that they will not be able to rely on the usual tactics they employ to convince a claimant to settle for less than they deserve.
Your lawyer will consider the details of your case, compile all of your damages, and present a strong case for a settlement. If they are unable to reach a settlement through negotiations, they will be prepared to move forward with a lawsuit.
Get Answers When You Need Them
A lot of the claims process can be anxiety-inducing, especially as you wonder how you will pay for your medical bills and other losses while suffering from lost wages and impacts to your earning capacity. This anxiety can lead people to accept settlement claims far below what they deserve, but you will have an attorney available to alleviate your anxiety, answer your questions, and offer you useful legal advice.
Common Injuries Caused By Pedestrian Accidents
Here are some of the most common injuries pedestrians experience after being struck by a motor vehicle:
Traumatic Brain Injury
One of the most common types of pedestrian injury is a traumatic brain injury. The pedestrian’s head can smash into the windshield or the car’s frame with a force that results in severe damage. A TBI may range from a mild concussion to a penetrating wound, but regardless of severity, the pedestrian must be examined by a medical professional to ensure that all of the appropriate steps are taken to facilitate a successful recovery.
Broken Bones
This is also a very common injury caused by the force of the impact. A broken bone, or fracture, must be treated and set by a doctor as soon as possible to ensure that the bone heals properly.
Lacerations and Puncture Wounds
These are serious injuries that can lead to scarring, loss of limbs, or even death if they happen to puncture an artery or vital organ. Mild lacerations may heal on their own, but many require stitches or surgery to ensure that the victim heals and does not suffer from infection or excessive scarring.
If you have been involved in a pedestrian accident in Florida, your first step should be to get medical attention from doctors who can diagnose and treat your condition. After this preliminary step, you should consider hiring the services of a good personal injury attorney in Port St. Lucie so they can build a case against the driver who hit you.
How An Attorney Can Help After a Port St. Lucie Pedestrian Accident
Working with an experienced personal injury lawyer is very important because the attorney will be able to do the following:
- Demand an investigation into the accident immediately after it happens, including getting statements from everyone connected to the case before evidence gets tampered with or destroyed.
- Ask for and analyze copies of police reports since these can help bolster your claim. They may even hire their own private investigators to look into more factors surrounding the accident, such as weather conditions and traffic on that day.
- Get medical records filed as proof that you got hurt in some way because you were hit by a motorized vehicle.
- Prepare arguments and lines of questions for court proceedings.
- Negotiate with insurance companies to reach an out-of-court settlement.
Personal injury attorneys in Port St. Lucie handle cases that are very complicated and require a lot of time, effort, and patience.
With all these in mind, choosing the right attorney is crucial, so never settle for less when it comes to hiring legal representation for what could be one of the most difficult times in your life.