As a pedestrian, you have a right to walk freely and safely without worrying about getting injured. When a motor vehicle hits you, the results can be devastating. You most likely will suffer severe injuries and need medical treatment that can be expensive. You have a right to compensation for your injuries when involved in a pedestrian accident that is not your fault. Allow a Decatur, Georgia, pedestrian accident lawyer to fight for your legal rights and get you a fair settlement for the injuries that you have sustained.
When walking through intersections and crosswalks, you have the right of way and vehicles need to yield to you when you are walking as long as you are obeying the rules of the road. This means crossing in designated crossing areas and obeying walk signals. When a vehicle does not stop or yield you the right of way, an accident can happen without warning, eliminating any way to protect yourself from injury. The results are disastrous and can leave you with serious injuries or worse; they could be fatal.
If you are involved in a pedestrian collision, you need to call a pedestrian wreck lawyer that can help you with your case and get you the compensation you need to pay mounting medical bills and your lost wages from missing work for your recovery.
Hiring A Decatur, GA, Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
When you work with a Decatur, Georgia, pedestrian accident attorney, you will have legal representation that fights to get you a settlement that will fairly compensate you for your injuries. A pedestrian accident attorney knows the laws when it comes to a pedestrian’s right of way and will support your injury claims against a vehicle driver. A personal injury lawyer will negotiate with a driver’s insurance company and work to get you a settlement that accurately reflects your injuries.
By using a series of investigative tools, your pedestrian accident attorney will examine your claims and the events of the accident to determine where negligence played a part by another driver. Your pedestrian wreck lawyer can help you determine if you have a claim that deserves compensation. They can advise you on your rights as a pedestrian and help you decide the best course of action to take with your case.
A pedestrian accident attorney in Decatur, GA, is there to support you during your legal case. They will represent you in court as well as against a driver’s insurance company. Your pedestrian accident lawyer will fight to win your case and will not settle for compensation that is not worthy of the injuries you suffered because of the crash. Let your pedestrian wreck lawyer work for you and help you receive the maximum settlement award in your collision case.
Proving A Decatur, GA, Pedestrian Accident
While your pedestrian accident lawyer in Decatur, Georgia, will fight to prove your injury claims in a court of law, it is also important that they reduce your negligence in the case. Decatur, Georgia, has a comparative fault law that is used to determine settlement award amounts.
With a comparative fault law, the jury looks at your percentage of negligence in an accident as well as the defendants. Your negligence percentage is reduced from the total settlement amount awarded by the jury. This can reduce your total compensation in a lawsuit and prevent you from receiving the maximum settlement that you were to receive had you not be negligent in any way.
Your pedestrian accident lawyer will develop a case the help to prove the negligence of the driver in an accident is greater than your negligence. By using witness testimony and accident reports, they can establish fault in your case with the driver that hit you while you were walking. This can help to improve your total settlement award as the lower your negligence is in a case, the higher compensation you will receive for your injuries.
For example, the jury may determine that you are 20 percent negligent for the accident and the driver of the vehicle that hit you was 80 percent at fault. In this instance, if your total settlement award were $20,000, you would only receive $16,000. A total of 20 percent is subtracted from your total compensation. For this reason, you need a Decatur, GA, pedestrian accident lawyer that will fight for your rights in court and work to establish fault with the driver that hit you.
If the jury determines that you are 50 percent or more at fault for an accident, you will not receive a settlement at all. You need to trust that your pedestrian accident lawyers will work to reduce your negligence in your crash case and prove the severity of your injuries to the court. Having a car accident lawyer on your side can help you win your pedestrian accident case and get you the highest settlement possible.
Filing A Decatur, GA, Pedestrian Accident Lawsuit
There are laws in Decatur, Georgia, that outline when a pedestrian injury case needs filing with the court. The law dictates that a pedestrian accident case needs filing with the court within two years from the date of the accident. If the injuries in the case were fatal to the victim, then the deadline amends to two years from the date of the death of the victim.
Speak to your pedestrian accident lawyer as soon as possible about your case. A pedestrian accident attorney will ensure you file within the deadlines of the law and allow your case to go before a jury for trial. Should you fail to file your pedestrian accident lawsuit within the deadline, the judge will dismiss your case and prevent a settlement award in your lawsuit, regardless of the extent and severity of your injuries.
Allow plenty of time for your pedestrian accident lawyers to develop a case against a driver that hit while you were walking. Your pedestrian accident lawyer also needs time to negotiate with insurance companies prior to filing a lawsuit. If a far settlement is unreachable, your pedestrian wreck lawyer may advise you that your case will fare better in court with a lawsuit. This can provide you a better settlement outcome, and your pedestrian accident lawyer will help you understand the legal process you are about to enter upon with your case.
Your pedestrian accident lawyers in Decatur, Georgia, will always work to resolve your injury claims prior to filing a lawsuit. A legal battle can be difficult for all parties involved and your pedestrian accident lawyer wants to provide a quick and painless end to your legal issues. In most pedestrian accident cases, a reachable settlement amount happens out of court. Your pedestrian wreck lawyer will work to get you a fair settlement as quickly and easily as possible.
Compensation In A Decatur, GA, Pedestrian Accident Case
As a pedestrian, you have a right to compensation in your case. There are a variety of damages that your settlement award can include. Some of the most common damages include:
Medical treatment expenses:
All of the medical treatment that you receive for your injuries in a pedestrian accident are recoverable as part of your compensation. This would include any medical treatment you would need immediately, during your recovery and long-term. Your pedestrian accident lawyer can help you determine your total medical costs for compensation in your case.
Lost wages from work:
When the recovery from your injuries causes you to lose wages from work, you deserve to recoup these losses. Your settlement award as part of your pedestrian accident case can recover lost wages. This can include wages you have currently lost out on as well as any future earnings you may lose due to missed time from work for your injuries. Your pedestrian wreck lawyer can help you calculate your total lost wages as part of your case.
Pain and suffering damages:
When a pedestrian accident causes you emotional pain and suffering, you are due compensation for this mental anguish. A settlement award can request pain and suffering damages and get you financial compensation for these injuries as well. A pedestrian accident attorney can help you determine if you are entitled to pain and suffering damages.
Punitive damages:
There are cases that deserve punitive damages when the acts of the defendant are reckless in nature. A judge will order punitive damages over and above a typical settlement award to financially punish a defendant and deter others from engaging in the same behavior. Your pedestrian accident lawyers can help you understand if your case qualifies for punitive damages.
What To Do In A Decatur, GA, Pedestrian Accident
As a pedestrian, it can feel challenging at times to remain visible and safe as you walk the city streets. While there are safety precautions you can take such as wearing reflective clothing and gear and walking against the flow of traffic; sometimes a pedestrian accident happens with little to no warning. If you are struck by a vehicle as you are walking, be sure to follow these steps to preserve your case.
Get medical treatment
After you are struck by a vehicle when walking, you need to immediately get medical treatment. You want to make sure that you are not injured, but many injuries appear later. If you think you are hurt get the medical treatment you need without delay to prevent your injuries from getting any worse while waiting until later for treatment. Also, be sure to check that that the driver of the vehicle that hit you is not hurt. Get medical treatment as necessary for them as well.
Call the police
Be sure to call the police and notify them of the pedestrian accident. This will create an accident report which will prove useful in determining negligence in your case. The police will most likely arrive on the scene and will record your statement as well as the driver that hit you. Be sure to include as much information as you remember about the accident for a more detailed report.
Do not admit fault
No matter if you think the pedestrian accident was your fault or not, it is important not to apologize or admit fault in any way. This can be used against you when trying to settle your injury claims with an insurance company in and out of court. It is best to wait for police to arrive without discussing the accident.
Exchange contact information
Get all the contact and insurance information of the driver that struck you. This will help you file a claim with their insurance company and provide you the information you need to file a lawsuit if necessary.
Talk to witnesses
Ask anyone on the scene of the accident what they saw. Get their contact information as they can provide valuable testimony in your case to detail the events that lead up to the accident and back up your story of the accident.
Take photos
Use your cell phone camera to take photos of the accident site and the vehicle that struck you. You will also want to document your injuries to show their severity at the time of the pedestrian accident.
Contact a pedestrian accident lawyer in Decatur, Georgia.
After your crash, be sure to speak with a Decatur, Georgia, a pedestrian accident lawyer about your case. Your pedestrian wreck lawyer will determine if you are entitled to a settlement and how to proceed with your case. A pedestrian accident attorney will negotiate with insurance companies to settle your claim and get you the settlement you deserve.
Contact A Decatur, GA, Pedestrian Accident Lawyer About Your Case
If you are a pedestrian that has been struck by a vehicle in a crash, you need a Decatur, Georgia, pedestrian accident lawyer that you can count on to take your case. The pedestrian accident lawyers at The Weinstein Firm will fight for your legal rights and get you the compensation you deserve for your injuries. A pedestrian accident attorney at The Weinstein Firm is ready to answer your legal questions about your pedestrian crash case. Call us today to set up a consultation.
