Hit By a Car While Walking?

The summer means better weather, longer days, and more people out walking instead of using their vehicles to get around. With more people walking comes the increased potential for a pedestrian accident with a car on the road. Pedestrian accidents can lead to serious injuries for the victim walking, and you find yourself injured in such a crash, you need an experienced attorney to help you navigate your personal injury claims. If you or a loved one was hit by a car while walking, call or contact the law office of GP Law Group today.

Causes of Pedestrian Accidents

 Pedestrian accidents with vehicles can happen in a number of different ways at all times of the day. One of the most common causes of pedestrian accidents happens when a car strikes a pedestrian using a crosswalk at an intersection. These types of accidents can also happen when a person is crossing the street where there is no defined crosswalk and the driver is not paying attention. Inattentive or distracted driving can cause a car to veer onto the shoulder or up onto the sidewalk, striking pedestrians. Driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs contributes to a number of pedestrian accidents, as well.

The Most Common Pedestrian Injuries

 Given the complete lack of protection a pedestrian has when struck by a car, the injuries sustained are often severe and require months, if not years, of medical treatment and rehabilitation to heal if the injuries are not permanent. Some of the most common injuries seen in pedestrian accidents include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Head injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Facial trauma
• Neck injuries
• Broken bones
• Lacerations and road rash
• Amputated limbs
• Soft tissue damage
• Internal injuries
• Spinal cord damage
• Paralysis
• Death

 Many of these injuries have a substantial impact on the victim’s personal and professional life, rendering them unable to work and worried about providing for their loved ones. This is why it is critical that you secure the services of a knowledgeable personal injury attorney to handle your case.

Compensation for a Pedestrian Accident Claim

 Compensation for the victim of a pedestrian accident with a vehicle can include both economic and noneconomic damages for the harm caused by the driver. Economic damages include payment for out of pocket expenses like current and future medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and the loss of future income and benefits. Noneconomic damages cover the costs of intangible harms, like pain and suffering, emotional distress, disability, disfigurement, and the loss of enjoyment of life.

 In the most serious pedestrian accidents in which the victim loses his or her life as a result of the crash, the family of the victim can also seek compensation for wrongful death. Damages for wrongful death include payment for final medical expenses related to the accident, reasonable funeral and burial costs, and the for the loss of love, security, companionship, and future inheritance. An experienced personal injury attorney will be able to review the facts of your case to determine what the full and fair value of your claim should be.

What To Do After a Pedestrian Accident

 The most important thing for you to do after a pedestrian accident is to seek medical attention immediately. This is important for many reasons, including a doctor’s review and treatment of known injuries in addition to examination for any injuries that do not present themselves right away, like internal organ damage or head trauma. Getting immediate medical treatment also creates contemporaneous documentation about the extent of your injuries at the time of the accident. If you wait to see a doctor it can be used against you by the insurance company to claim that you are not as injured as you say.

 If possible, document the scene of the accident. This can include photos and videos of the scene as well as the name, phone number, and address of the driver of the car. If there are witnesses, get their contact information, too, as their statements will be needed as you build your legal case. Record the insurance company of the driver and the relevant policy number, and when you get home, try to write down as much as you can remember about the accident.

 Finally, seek the legal services of a highly qualified personal injury attorney to help you with your case. A lawyer shoulders the burden of the legal claims so that you can focus on what is most important – your health and recovery.

 Call or Contact Our Office Today

 Getting hit by a car while walking has the potential to cause devastating injuries and permanently affect your life. To learn more about your legal options following an accident, Call or contact us at the GP Law Group today for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer now.