Can I Recover Compensation After Being Injured in a Crosswalk?

If you were a pedestrian who was hit and injured while walking in a crosswalk, it is important that you discuss your case with an attorney. You may have the right to file a lawsuit or insurance claim against the party who caused the accident. To protect your rights, you will need to take some proactive steps. First, you should call the police and request emergency medical personnel and a police officer to come to the accident scene. Ensure you get medical attention for your injuries and follow your doctor's orders. Once you have received medical treatment, it is wise to contact a personal injury attorney who can help you pursue compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, and other damages.

If you have been involved in a pedestrian accident, it is crucial to thoroughly document your injuries. This will play a pivotal role in your pursuit of fair compensation for the physical, emotional, and financial hardships you may endure as a result of the accident. Pedestrians are more vulnerable to the forces of a collision compared to occupants of motor vehicles, making the documentation process especially important. Unlike drivers or passengers who benefit from the protection of a car's structure, pedestrians have no such external safeguards, making them more susceptible to severe physical injuries.

Documenting your injuries helps demonstrate the severity and extent of the harm you've suffered. This information will be vital in assessing the compensation you deserve. Pedestrian accidents often result in serious injuries, including broken bones, head injuries, spinal cord injuries, and internal organ damage. Detailed documentation can provide a clear picture of the physical trauma you've endured.

Keeping thorough records of all medical treatments, doctor visits, surgeries, medications, and therapy sessions is essential. These documents provide concrete evidence of your injuries and the steps to address them. It can also establish a direct link between the accident and your medical expenses.

Pedestrian accidents can result in various expenses, including medical bills, rehabilitation costs, transportation expenses, and more. Documenting these expenses meticulously helps you calculate the total financial impact of the accident accurately. It also makes it easier to demonstrate these costs to the responsible party or their insurance company.

When pursuing compensation, you'll need to build a strong case. Proper documentation forms the foundation of your legal argument. An attorney can use this evidence to establish liability on the part of the driver who caused the accident and to negotiate for a fair settlement or present a compelling case in court if necessary.

Don't forget to document the emotional and psychological toll the accident has taken on you. This can include anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other mental health issues. These effects are just as real and deserving of compensation as physical injuries.

An experienced personal injury attorney can guide you through documenting your injuries and building a strong case. They can help you gather and organize the necessary evidence, consult with medical experts, negotiate with insurance companies, and represent you in court if a fair settlement cannot be reached.

Thoroughly documenting your injuries and related expenses after a pedestrian accident is crucial for securing the compensation you need and deserve. It helps paint a clear picture of the physical, emotional, and financial impact of the accident, making it easier to pursue a successful claim. An attorney can be an invaluable partner in this process, ensuring that your rights are protected and advocating for your best interests throughout the legal proceedings.

If you can do so safely, take photos of the accident scene and your injuries. Doing so will help you substantiate the severity of your injuries. Many accident victims take photos of their injuries daily to show the recovery process. You may want to keep a journal and write down your pain levels, days you have had to miss work because of your injury, and any activities you have missed out on. You should also keep organized copies of your medical records and bills. Your attorney can use these documents to begin a case file supporting your right to monetary compensation because of the at-fault party’s negligence.

Holding at-fault drivers financially responsible for your expenses can be a challenging process. You will need to provide substantial evidence showing that the other party caused the accident and that your injuries are severe enough to justify the amount of compensation you are seeking. An important piece of evidence could be the police report. The accident report may state whether the at-fault driver was in the crosswalk illegally.

For example, the police report may state that the driver ran a stoplight or another traffic control signal and entered the crosswalk illegally when the accident occurred. Perhaps the driver was arrested for driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol or appeared intoxicated after the accident. In other cases, the driver may have been distracted by something inside or outside their vehicle and failed to see the pedestrian, resulting in a collision. There are many other ways that a driver may have engaged in negligent behavior that caused the accident that resulted in your injuries. If you were lawfully in the crosswalk and another party caused the accident, they are liable for your damages.

The financial aftermath of a pedestrian accident can add to the stress and anxiety of a victim's physical recovery. Many victims cannot return to work because their injuries are so severe that they cannot work. Trying to figure out how to pay mounting medical expenses can be even more stressful when you are in pain and navigating a claim for compensation.

When you work with the attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, you can rest assured that we will handle every aspect of your claim, from the investigation to taking your case to court, if necessary. Many personal injury accident claims are settled out of court between the parties.

However, it is important that you do not accept the first settlement offer the insurance company or defendant makes you. Generally, the first offer is far too low and attempts to get you to sign away your right to pursue compensation through a court case while saving the defendant or insurance company money. An attorney can review the settlement offer and help you understand the actual value of your claim. Your attorney can begin negotiating aggressively for the most amount of compensation possible.

If you have been seriously injured in a crosswalk accident, it is crucial that you discuss your case with an attorney. Contact the skilled Charlotte personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, to schedule a free case evaluation.