As a pedestrian, drivers and cyclists owe you a duty of care. They are required to avoid behaviors that could put you at risk of an accident. However, some drivers act negligently and, in doing so, cause crashes, whose impacts can often be felt for months or years after the crash.
If you have specific questions regarding this topic, contact a Los Angeles Personal Injury Attorney with El Dabe Ritter Trial Lawyers.
What Causes Pedestrian Accidents?
Pedestrian accidents are often caused by driver error. They happen when one party fails to act with reasonable care. In most cases, the at-fault party is usually the driver unless you acted recklessly, like racing across a highway or not observing traffic lights.
Common causes of pedestrian accidents include:
- Illegal U-turns
- Distracted driving
- Intoxicated driving
- Poor road layout
- Speeding
- Pedestrians jaywalking across a busy street
- Reduced visibility
Benefits of Having an Attorney
A pedestrian accident can result in severe injuries. These injuries could require extensive treatment, rehabilitation, and aftercare. In most cases, they could also keep you from working, which could lead to lost income. The result is often increased bills and piling debt.
When faced with these losses, a settlement award could help alleviate your financial situation. A personal injury attorney can help you achieve this by doing the following:
- Determining Damages
An auto accident can result in economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include medical bills, lost income, and property damage. Non-economic damages, on the other hand, cover subjective damages with no monetary value such as emotional trauma, mental anguish, and pain and suffering.
While economic damages are easy to establish, non-economic damages can be subjective. A pedestrian accident attorney can work with you to determine the exact value of your losses. This will ensure you get the compensation you deserve.
- Proving Fault
Once you established the losses you suffered in an accident, you can file a claim or lawsuit against the at-fault party. You will then receive a settlement or reward if successful. However, you first have to prove that the at-fault party caused your injuries. You must show that they acted negligently and, in doing so, caused the accident. This is called establishing liability.
- Handling Negotiations
Your attorney will file an official claim with the at-fault party’s insurer. The insurance company will then likely dispute or deny the claim. In most cases, you will receive a settlement offer less than what you deserve. Your attorney will negotiate a better deal.
- Representing You in Court
If you don’t receive a fair settlement offer, your attorney might file a personal injury lawsuit on your behalf. They will then guide you through the entire litigation process.
Contact a Personal Injury Attorney
Just because you were not at-fault for an accident doesn’t mean you will automatically get compensated for your injuries. Insurance companies have the reputation of denying claims or paying less than you deserve. Fortunately, a pedestrian accident attorney at El Dabe Ritter Trial Lawyers can help protect your rights.
If you have been injured in a pedestrian accident, contact their offices at 888-542-6021 to speak to an expert Los Angeles Personal Injury Attorney.