Why You Need a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Pedestrians who are hit by cars have a greater risk of suffering catastrophic injuries. Broken bones or fractures, organ damage, traumatic injuries, spinal cord trauma and disfigurement are all common injuries.
A NYC pedestrian accident lawyer will assist victims to recover compensation to cover future and present rehabilitation costs, medical costs and lost wages due to the absence of work, and other injuries.
What to do after a Pedestrian Accident
Even with sidewalks and crosswalks, walking near a road puts you at risk of being struck by a car. If you're walking across the street, or walking back to your car after shopping, pedestrians can suffer serious injuries or even death if they are struck by a motor vehicle. If you've been hit by the vehicle while walking, it's important to act immediately to protect your legal and financial rights. A seasoned New York pedestrian accident lawyer can help you navigate the complicated process of filing an injury claim.
It is also crucial to seek medical attention right away following a pedestrian crash. This should be done before discussing the incident with any insurance company. It's important to get the diagnosis of a physician and a medical examination. Your adrenaline may mask any symptoms or discomfort. Delays in seeking treatment can hinder your ability to claim compensation for the losses or injuries you sustained.
If you've sought medical attention, you should call the police and file the police with a report. Make sure you get the name of the officer and badge number, as well as the case number assigned to your case. It's much easier to obtain the police report after it's completed. It's also helpful to record any additional information you provide to the police officer so you can have a clear and complete image of what transpired.
Take pictures of the accident scene and your injuries if you own an mobile phone. This can be vital evidence to back up your assertions. Not least you should attempt to find the names and contact numbers of any witnesses who were present at the time of the collision. This will be helpful evidence to support your claim, as it is difficult to establish fault without the testimony of other parties involved in the collision.
An attorney will evaluate your claim and determine the kinds of damages you're entitled to. This could include future and present medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost wages from missing work and property damage, emotional distress, and suffering and pain. A pedestrian accident attorney can maximize your compensation by making sure that all of your losses are accurately recorded and properly documented.
Establishing Liability
Your lawyer can assist you to determine who is responsible for your injuries, and then build an effective case against the party responsible or parties. They will collect evidence such as eyewitness testimony, CCTV footage and police reports to support your case. They also work with experts in accident reconstruction who recreate the scene to determine factors like speed, impact angles, and other factors.
Other parties may be accountable for your injuries, even if the driver who hit the pedestrian was typically at fault. This includes the government body responsible for road conditions, if it can be established that poor lighting or obstructed views contributed to the accident. You may be entitled, based on the laws of your state, to compensation under the no-fault policy of the driver.
Additionally, your lawyer can review any evidence of a hit-and run accident and try to locate the driver who fled the scene. This is especially important if you've been injured by an impaired driver.
It's also worth noting that pedestrians could be held accountable in certain states for failing to exercise care for their own safety. In New York, for example, pedestrians must obey traffic signals and signs and remain vigilant in areas with a high volume of traffic. If a judge determines that you contributed to the accident in some way, your damages could be reduced by the percentage proportional to the amount of blame.
Your NYC pedestrian accident lawyer can help you obtain compensation to cover any medical expenses you may have incurred, including future ones, lost earnings due to working hours missed and pain and suffering. They can also assist you in recovering compensation if you've suffered property damage or other damages. They will work with industry experts to accurately estimate your losses, so that they reflect your accident's full impact on your life. They can also negotiate with insurance companies to ensure you are paid fairly and do not be a victim of bad-faith tactics. They can even take over interactions with insurance companies to ensure that you don't have to accept less than you deserve.
How to File a Claim
Pedestrian accidents can be difficult and difficult to navigate without the assistance of a seasoned attorney. Whether you should declare an insurance claim or sue to recover damages for your losses and injuries is not always clear, and choosing the wrong route can have devastating financial consequences. For example choosing to settle with an insurance company may seem like a sensible option after you are hit by a vehicle, but typically, their plans do not cover all of your losses.
It is important to seek medical attention for any injuries you've sustained. It is essential to document the severity of the injury and its effects like physical discomfort, emotional stress, and loss of quality. It is also helpful to keep track of any expenses incurred as a result of the accident, like medical bills, lost wages due to missed workdays and property damage.
The next step is to make an insurance claim with the driver's or vehicle owner's insurer. In states with no-fault laws the personal injury protection coverage of the driver, which is part of the majority of insurance policies for cars will take care of pedestrian's injuries regardless of who was who is at fault for an accident. In You Tube could be covered by their own insurance company, depending on what kind of insurance they have.
Before submitting any insurance claim, it is important to consult a New York pedestrian injury lawyer. Insurance companies are skilled in settling claims for less than their value. They also know how they can discover loopholes in the law that hinder you from recouping your full loss.
An experienced lawyer for pedestrian accidents from Shaevitz & Shaevitz can help you decide on the best avenue to pursue for the recovery of your losses. We can review any settlement offer from the insurance company to ensure that it's sufficient to compensate you for your damages that include medical expenses as well as lost wages due to missed workdays as well as emotional distress and costs of rehabilitation. In certain situations our firm can help you seek compensation from other parties that could be responsible for your losses. For example the city may be liable for poorly designed crosswalks and sidewalks or a business could be responsible for the driver on duty.
Recovering Compensation
Being struck by a vehicle is a devastating and life-altering event. You may have to pay for medical bills that are expensive and lose earnings due to missed work. It can also cause constant emotional and physical pain. You need an attorney to help you obtain the most compensation. A lawyer with experience in pedestrian accident cases is the best choice because they know how to determine the total amount you'll be entitled to and how to deal with insurance companies who try to reduce or deny your claim.
A NYC pedestrian accident attorney who has experience can collect evidence in court to prove that pedestrians have the right of way in a variety of traffic situations. They will rely on witness testimony as well as video footage and police reports to create a strong case on your behalf. This will give your best chance of obtaining the compensation you are entitled to for medical expenses or lost wages, as well as other damages resulting from the accident.
You will only receive the amount of compensation you require after being struck by a pedestrian vehicle when you hire an attorney. Your lawyer will also shield you from being cheated of by the at-fault driver's insurance company and negotiate a settlement that is fair to you.
Based on the nature of your injuries, you might be eligible for compensation for your economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages can include medical expenses and lost income. Non-economic damages include suffering and pain.
It is important to know that New York is a no-fault insurance state, which means that your injury claim will be filed with the driver at fault's insurance company. If your injuries are severe, you can sue directly the driver for their negligence.
It is important to speak with an attorney for pedestrians immediately following your accident, since the statute of limitations is very short. A qualified and experienced lawyer will be able guide you through the process and ensure you have all the required evidence before the deadline ends.