Why You Need a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Pedestrians hit by automobiles are at a greater chance of suffering catastrophic injuries. Broken bones or fractures, organ damage, traumatic injuries as well as spinal cord trauma and disfigurement are all common injuries.
A NYC pedestrian accident attorney will help victims recover compensation to cover future and current medical expenses, rehabilitation costs and lost wages due to missed work and other damages.
What to do After an Pedestrian Injury
When you’re walking along a street even with pedestrian crossings and sidewalks there is a risk of being struck by an automobile. If you’re walking across the street, or jogging back to your car after a shopping spree, pedestrians can suffer serious injuries or even death if they’re struck by a motor vehicle. If you have been struck by a vehicle while walking, it is imperative to act quickly to safeguard your legal and financial rights. An experienced New York pedestrian accident lawyer can assist you through the complicated process of filing a personal injury claim.
It is also essential to seek medical attention right away after a pedestrian accident. It is important to seek medical attention prior to speaking with insurance companies. Your adrenaline may mask any signs or symptoms, so it’s critical to have medical examination and a diagnosis from a physician. The delay in seeking treatment could hinder your ability to claim compensation for the losses or injuries you sustained.
After seeking medical treatment If you require medical attention, you must call the police to file a formal report of the incident. You should obtain the name of the officer, his badge number and the case number that was assigned to him. This will make it easier to obtain a copy of the police report once it’s completed. It’s also helpful to write down any additional statements you make to the police officer, so you have a clear and complete picture of what happened.
If you own an Android phone, make sure you snap photos of the scene as well as the injuries. This could be crucial evidence to back your claim. Last but not least, you should try to find the names and contact information of any witnesses who were present at the time of the accident. This can also be helpful evidence to back your case, as it can be difficult to prove liability without the testimony of other participants in the collision.
An attorney can review your claim and determine the type of damages you’re entitled to. This could include future and current medical expenses, rehabilitative costs, lost wages due to missed work or work, property damage, emotional distress as well as pain and suffering. An attorney for pedestrian accidents can help maximize your compensation by ensuring all of your losses are properly recorded and properly documented.
Establishing Liability
Your lawyer can assist in determining who is accountable for your injuries, and help you create an argument that is convincing against the person or parties responsible. They will look over evidence like CCTV footage, eyewitness testimonies and police reports to collect important information that can help strengthen your case. They also work with accident-reconstruction experts who recreate the scene to determine factors like speed, impact angle, and other factors.
While the at-fault party in a pedestrian accident is typically the driver that hit you, other parties could be liable for your injuries. If it can be proven that poor lighting or obstructed vision contributed to the accident, then you can also claim the government agency that is responsible for road conditions. You could be entitled, depending on the laws in your state to a compensation under the no-fault policy of the driver.
Additionally to that, your lawyer can look over any evidence of a hit-and run accident and attempt to track down the driver who fled the scene. This is especially important if you were injured by an impaired driver.
It’s also worth noting that pedestrians may be held liable in some states for failing to exercise security measures for themselves. In New York, for example pedestrians must follow traffic signals and signs and be vigilant in areas with high traffic volumes. If a judge determines that you were responsible for your accident, your damages could be reduced proportionally to the amount of your fault.
Your NYC pedestrian accident attorney can assist you in obtaining compensation to cover any medical expenses you might have suffered in the future, as well as lost wages due to missed workdays as well as suffering and pain. They can also help you recover compensation in the event of property damage or other damages. They will work with leading experts in the field to evaluate your losses in order to reflect the full impact of your accident on your life. They can also negotiate with insurance companies to ensure that you’re compensated in a fair manner, and don’t fall victim to unfair tactics. They can even manage interactions with insurance companies to ensure that you aren’t forced to settle for less than you deserve.
Making a Claim
Pedestrian accidents can be a bit complicated and difficult to navigate without the assistance of a seasoned attorney. The decision of whether to declare an insurance claim or sue to recover damages for your injuries and losses is not always clear, and making the wrong choice could have disastrous financial consequences. For example the option of settling with an insurance provider may seem like a viable option after you’ve been struck by a vehicle, but typically, their plans do not cover all your losses.
The first step is to seek medical attention right away for any injuries. It is important to document the severity of your injury as well as the results, which could include physical pain, emotional stress and loss of quality of life. It is essential to keep track of all expenses related to the accident. This includes medical bills as well as lost income due to missed workdays, and property damage.
The next step is to make a claim with the vehicle owner or insurer of the driver. In states that have no-fault laws, the personal injury protection insurance of the driver, which is a part of the majority of car insurance policies will pay for pedestrians’ injuries regardless of who was who is at fault for an accident. In other cases, the pedestrian’s own auto insurance could be in place, based on the type of car insurance coverage.
Before submitting any insurance claim, it is important to consult an New York pedestrian injury lawyer. Not only are insurance companies experts in settling claims for less than they are worth, but they also know how to find loopholes in the law that might prevent you from recovering all of your losses.
An experienced lawyer for pedestrian accidents from Shaevitz & Shaevitz can help you decide which option to pursue in order to recover of your losses. We can evaluate any settlement offer made by the insurance company and ensure that it’s sufficient to compensate you for your damages, including medical bills and lost wages due to working hours missed as well as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and the cost of rehabilitation. In certain cases, our firm can help you seek compensation from other parties who might be responsible for your losses. For example the city might be held accountable for shoddy crosswalks and sidewalks, or a company might be accountable for the driver on duty.
Recovering Compensation
Being struck by a car is a devastating and life-altering incident. It can result in serious medical expenses and lost earnings due to the absence of work. There may be persistent emotional pain and suffering. You need an attorney to help you obtain the maximum amount of compensation. The best choice is an attorney with prior experience with pedestrian accident claims. They know how to calculate the full amount of damages and how to deal effectively with insurance companies.
A NYC pedestrian accident lawyer who is experienced can gather evidence in court to prove that pedestrians have the right of way in many traffic situations. They will use witness testimony as well as video footage and police reports to create an argument that is strong on your behalf. This will give you the best chance to recover the compensation you are entitled to for your medical bills as well as lost wages and other damages resulting from the accident.
You will only be able to get the amount of compensation you require after being hit as a pedestrian by a vehicle when you hire an attorney. A lawyer can also protect you against being taken advantage of the insurance company of the driver who was at fault and negotiate an appropriate settlement for you.
Depending on the nature of your injuries, you could be able to claim compensation for your economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include medical expenses and lost income. Non-economic damages include pain and suffering.
New York is an insurance no-fault state. This means that any injury claim must be filed with the insurance company for cars of the driver at fault. If your injuries are severe, you can sue directly the driver for negligence.
A pedestrian accident lawyer must be contacted as soon as possible following your collision since the statute of limitation is very short. A qualified and experienced lawyer will guide you through the process of filing an injury claim and will make sure you have all the necessary evidence before the deadline expires.