Why You Need a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
pedestrians who are hit by cars are at a higher risk of suffering severe injuries. Fractures or broken bones organ damage, traumatizing injuries, spinal cord trauma and disfigurement are all typical injuries.
A experienced NYC pedestrian accident lawyer will assist victims to recover compensation for their current and future medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, income loss due to absence from work and other damages.
What to do following a Pedestrian Accident
Even with crosswalks and sidewalks, walking near a street puts the risk of being struck by a car. If you're walking across the street, or running back to your car after a shopping spree pedestrians may suffer serious injuries or even death if they're struck by a motor vehicle. If you've been struck by a car while on the sidewalk, it's crucial to take immediate action to protect your legal rights and financial interests. A New York pedestrian accident attorney can help you navigate through the complicated process of filing for personal injury claims.
You should also seek medical attention as soon as possible after a pedestrian crash. This should be done before discussing the incident with any insurance companies. It's important to get an appointment with a doctor and undergo a medical examination. Your adrenaline may cover up any signs or pain. Delays in seeking care can severely hinder your ability to claim compensation for your losses and injuries.
After seeking medical treatment After receiving medical treatment, you must contact the police to file a formal report of the incident. Be sure to get the officer's name and badge number, as well as the case number assigned to your particular case. It will be much simpler to obtain an exact copy of your police report once it is completed. Note any additional comments you give to the police officer to ensure that you have a complete record.
Take photos of the scene of the accident as well as your injuries if you own access to a mobile phone. This could be a crucial piece of evidence to back up your claims. Not least, you should try to get the names and contact numbers of any witnesses present at the time of the collision. This will also be useful evidence to back your case, since it is difficult to establish the liability without the testimony of any other people involved in the collision.
Raleigh accident lawyer will evaluate your claim and determine the type of damages that you are entitled to. They can include future and current medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost wages due to missed work, property damages, emotional distress or pain and suffering and emotional distress. An attorney for pedestrian accidents can help maximize your compensation by ensuring that all of your losses are accurately tracked and properly documented.
Establishing Liability
Your lawyer can assist in determining who is responsible for your injuries and help you create an argument that is convincing against the person or parties accountable. They will review evidence such as CCTV footage, eyewitness testimonies and police reports to gather important evidence that can support your claim. They also work with experts in accident reconstruction who recreate the scene to determine factors such speed, impact angles, and more.
While the at-fault party in the case of a pedestrian collision is typically the driver that hit you, other parties may also be held accountable for your injuries. If it can be proved that poor lighting or obstructed vision contributed to the accident, then you can also bring a lawsuit against the government agency responsible for road conditions. You may be entitled, depending on the laws of your state, to compensation under the no-fault policy of the driver.
Your lawyer can also review any evidence from a hit and run accident, and then try to trace the driver who fled the scene. This is especially crucial if you've been injured by an intoxicated driver.
In some states, pedestrians are also at risk for not taking the necessary precautions to ensure their safety. In New York for example, pedestrians are required to obey traffic signs and signals and remain alert in areas where there is an abundance of traffic. If a judge finds that you contributed to your accident in any way, your damages could be reduced by an amount proportional to the amount of blame.
Your NYC pedestrian accident attorney can assist you in obtaining compensation to pay for any medical expenses you might have incurred, including future ones, lost earnings due to working hours missed and suffering and pain. They can also assist you in recovering compensation in the event of property damage or other injuries. They will work with leading experts in the field to assess your losses to ensure that they reflect the full impact of your accident on your life. They can also negotiate with insurance companies to ensure that you're 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 don't have to settle for less than what you deserve.
Making a Claim
Pedestrian accidents can be complicated and difficult to navigate without an experienced attorney. It is not always obvious whether you should file an injury claim or file a lawsuit for damages. A wrong decision can result in a devastating financial burden. For example choosing to settle with an insurance company might seem like a viable option after being struck by a car, however the reality is that their offer may not fully cover all of your losses.
The first step is to seek immediate medical attention to treat your injuries. It is crucial to record the severity of your injury and the resulting effects, including physical pain, emotional stress and loss of quality of life. It is crucial to keep track of all costs related to the accident. This includes medical expenses, lost income from missed workdays, and property damage.
The next step is to make an insurance claim with the owner of the vehicle or driver's insurer. In states with no-fault laws the personal injury protection policy of the driver, which is part of most car insurance policies will pay for pedestrian's injuries regardless of who was who is at fault for an accident. In other instances, the pedestrian's own auto insurance could be in place, based on the type of car insurance coverage.
Before submitting any insurance claim, it is crucial to consult a New York pedestrian injury lawyer. Insurance companies are adept in settling claims that are less than their value. They also know how to discover loopholes in the law that prevent you from recouping your full losses.
An experienced lawyer for pedestrian accidents from Shaevitz & Shaevitz can help you decide on the best avenue you should pursue to ensure the full recovery of your losses. We can review any settlement provided by the insurance company to ensure that it will cover your losses including medical bills, lost wage from missed workdays and emotional distress and the cost of rehabilitation. In certain cases, we can also assist with seeking compensation from other parties who could be responsible for your losses, like the city for poorly-designed sidewalks and crosswalks or a business if an driver on duty hits you.
Recovering Compensation
Being struck by a vehicle is a devastating and life-altering event. It is possible to be responsible for expensive medical bills and lose earnings due to the absence of work. It could also cause constant emotional and physical pain. If you find yourself in this position you require an attorney who can help you recover the maximum amount of compensation. A lawyer with expertise in pedestrian accident cases is the best choice because they know how to determine the total amount you'll be entitled to and how to deal with insurance companies who try to limit or deny your claim.
Pedestrians have the right of way in a variety of traffic situations, and a seasoned NYC pedestrian accident lawyer will gather evidence to demonstrate this in court. They will use witness testimony or video footage as well as police reports to construct a strong case on your behalf. This will give you the best chance to recover the compensation you are entitled to for medical expenses or lost wages, as well as other damages caused by the accident.
Hiring a lawyer is the only way you can receive the compensation you require to cover your losses after being hit by a car as a pedestrian. Your lawyer will also protect you from being taken advantage of by the insurance company of the driver who was at fault and negotiate an equitable settlement for you.
Based on the nature of your injuries, you may be able to claim compensation for your economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include the cost of medical expenses as well as your loss of income, while non-economic damages are based on your suffering and pain.
It is important to know that New York is a no-fault insurance state, meaning that your claim for injury will start with the driver at fault's insurance company. However, if your injuries are serious enough to warrant a serious threshold for injury, you can bring a lawsuit directly against the driver for their negligence.
It is recommended to contact an attorney for pedestrians immediately following your accident, as the statute of limitations is very short. A qualified and knowledgeable lawyer will be able to guide you through the process and ensure you have all the required evidence before the deadline ends.