You're walking to work, crossing the street, and boom! A car comes barreling around the corner and hits you, leaving you lying in the street injured.
Pedestrian accidents may happen to anybody at any moment, no matter how cautious you are, and they often end in severe injury or even death. Suppose a negligent driver hit you while crossing the street or walking along the sidewalk.
In that case, it's best to hire an attorney specializing in pedestrian accident lawyers to help you with your issue and ensure you receive compensation for your injuries. Here's why this might be a good idea.
Pedestrian Accident
Pedestrian accidents happen every day. These collisions may be the most common
type of car accident and often result in serious pedestrian injuries. If you are the victim
of a pedestrian accident, contact a pedestrian accident lawyer immediately to ensure your rights are protected.
Pedestrian accidents can range from someone slipping and falling on ice or snow to being hit by a car while crossing the street. They can also occur when children playing outside don't see a vehicle coming or when cars run through intersections without yielding to pedestrians.
Regardless of what caused the accident, you will almost certainly need medical treatment and should obtain legal advice as soon as possible after an accident happens. Regarding legal matters involving pedestrians, two types of laws come into play: vehicular negligence and pedestrian rights.
A vehicular negligence claim is when someone is injured because the driver was negligent or reckless. For example, if an individual is seriously injured after getting hit by a driver who ran a red light or drove drunk.
On the other hand, pedestrian rights protect people who walk on public streets and sidewalks; for instance, if someone slips on the ice at a bus stop, this would fall under this category.
Pedestrian Accident Attorney
A pedestrian accident attorney from Ryan Hughes Law can help identify what type of law will apply to your case based on your situation's facts and how much liability insurance coverage your potential defendant has.
Pedestrians have certain protections under the law that drivers do not have; for instance, drivers cannot legally strike someone just for crossing outside a crosswalk or jaywalking.
If you need help understanding which type of law applies to your situation, consulting with Ryan Hughes Law is highly recommended!
Pedestrian Accidents: Top Causes
A pedestrian accident can happen at any time of day, in any weather condition, and to anyone. Pedestrian accidents are more severe because the vehicles involved have much more significance—speed and weight than a person on foot.
According to recent data, the top causes of pedestrian accidents are as follows:
- Distracted Walking: One of the most common causes of pedestrian accidents is distracted walking. Cell phone use, texting, and talking have all been shown to increase the risk of a pedestrian accident.
- Texting and driving have also increased your risk of an accident. All it takes is one text message or email notification that pops up in the middle of your visual field for you to lose concentration for just a moment and cause an accident.
- Pedestrians should be aware of their surroundings when crossing the street so they don't get hit by cars or bikes.
- Aggressive Driving: Aggressive driving is one of the top causes of pedestrian accidents. This form of reckless driving involves speeding, tailgating, and weaving in and out of traffic.
- These types of behaviors put pedestrians at risk for injury or death. Aggressive drivers create potential hazards in many ways that are not always. Obvious to pedestrians.
- For example, they may block sidewalks while parked or make crossing intersections difficult because they stop at red lights only when the coast is clear.
- Often, an aggressive driver will speed up when a pedestrian enters the road to pass them on their left or overtake them from behind without notice. Aggressive drivers also tend to be impatient with bicyclists and enjoy honking their horns frequently for no apparent reason other than agitation.
Top Reasons to Hire Pedestrian Accident Attorney
When you are injured in an accident, and the other party is responsible, you may be able to seek compensation by hiring an attorney.
However, not all attorneys provide the exact legal representation, so you want to hire someone who specializes in pedestrian accidents and will handle your case carefully and diligently.
If you have been harmed in a pedestrian accident, these are the top reasons to engage a pedestrian accident attorney:
- They Know the Law: If you have been injured in an accident, you must hire an attorney who knows the law. These professionals are qualified and experienced in pedestrian accidents. They know the law and how it applies to your case, which will help your chances of getting compensation for your injuries. An attorney can also be an asset in negotiations with insurance companies.
- They Have the Experience: When you've been in an accident, it's hard to know the best course of action. You don't want your insurance company or job to find out about the accident and terminate you. You may not know all your rights as a pedestrian and could face severe medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. A pedestrian accident attorney can help you with these challenges because they have experience handling these cases. They know how the insurance companies work, how employment works, how much compensation is available for different injuries, etc. Furthermore, they are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so you don't have to wait until business hours or deal with other lawyers who don't specialize in pedestrian accidents.
- They Will Fight for You: You should hire a pedestrian accident attorney, not just when you have been in an accident. Lawyers will fight for your rights, represent you in court, and help you get the compensation you deserve. They can also help protect your family by protecting you if something were to happen to you.
By now, you have understood why you need a pedestrian accident lawyer. If you have
yet to find one, you will not have to worry.
Get in touch with Ryan Hughes Law. They have proper knowledge, resources, and experience, so you will always get the desired solution and compensation you deserve.
