Getting caught up in a pedestrian-involved accident is no fun. Because these accidents often involve both pedestrians and vehicles, the injuries sustained from them tend to be serious. If you’ve been harmed as a pedestrian, through no fault of your own, it may be time to Hire a lawyer to help you receive a fair settlement for your suffering. There are a few types of pedestrian accidents that you should know about, that way you’ll know exactly when to hire a pedestrian accident lawyer to help you with your unique case:
Driving Auto Accidents
The most common type of pedestrian accident deals with basic auto accidents. When a vehicle suddenly causes harm to a pedestrian, the injuries that can be sustained are often severe, if not life-threatening. With this in mind, it’s key to handle the aftermath of a pedestrian-involved auto accident as quickly as humanly possible. Doing so will ensure you’re able to find the right pedestrian accident lawyer to get you the compensation you deserve, and to bring the responsible driver to justice. If you’re driving, you should always be hyper-aware of any pedestrian presence around you. It’s your responsibility to keep the roadways in your area safe, after all.
Back-Up Accidents
If you want to keep yourself safe in parking lots, and other car-heavy areas, you should always be aware of when a vehicle is backing up. Although most vehicles have some form of back-up camera or tech built into them nowadays, this is not always the case. If you do not think you’re visible to a vehicle, you should always do your best to not walk behind it for this very reason. For pedestrians that are hit by a backing up vehicle, through no fault of their own, using the legal system to gain financial compensation is commonplace. If a driver is intoxicated when this occurs, your chances of receiving a payout become much higher.
Pedestrian Accidents
Not all pedestrian accidents involve vehicles (although most do). In many cases, pedestrian accidents are involved with premises liability accidents. These accidents can include everything from a slip-and-fall accident to an instance of someone being harmed by a property owner’s negligence in keeping their property properly maintained. These cases are handled very differently in court, but can still lead to hefty, substantial payouts. The more experienced your lawyer is at handling a pedestrian accident via the path of premises liability law, the more likely you are to get a solid payout. To stay safe, you should always stay aware of your surroundings when on another person’s property.
Bicycle Accidents
Bicycles are commonly used in nearly every American city. Not only are they comfortable to ride and great for your health, but they can save you tons of money on gas and vehicle maintenance as well. Unfortunately, bikes are often less protected than cars on America’s roadways. Additionally, cyclists are sometimes caught unaware, and end up running into an unexpecting pedestrian. When this happens, major injuries can occur, which will lead to a lawsuit in many cases. By staying aware of all bicycle activity in your vicinity, you can avoid these messy, and painful accidents (and the often severe injuries associated with them).
Multiple Threat Accidents
Unfortunately, there are a lot of bad drivers out there. Due to this, even when a roadway is safely labeled, one bad apple can end up causing a lot of damage. In what’s known as “multiple threat” accidents, a pedestrian can be harmed by a single vehicle failing to stop at a pedestrian crosswalk. Similar situations, where one negligent driver injures a pedestrian who is following traffic laws, happen quite frequently. Because these are pedestrian/vehicle-involved accidents, the chances of the injuries being severe are high. In many of these cases, getting a lawyer is key to staying financially healthy post-accident.
Distracted Driver Accidents
Distracted driving is one of the most common, and dangerous, mistakes that drivers make every single day. Even small distractions can lead to disastrous (or even deadly) consequences, due to the sheer size and power of vehicles. As a pedestrian, staying aware of your surroundings is equally as important. By not allowing yourself to be distracted, you can prevent yourself from being injured. However, if you’re injured by a distracted driver, through no fault of your own, you deserve legal and financial compensation for the suffering you’ve had to endure. By staying vigilant and educated, you can help to ensure your community has safe roadways and low levels of pedestrian-involved accidents in 2023.