Why You Need a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
pedestrians who are hit by automobiles are at a greater risk for catastrophic injuries. Broken bones or fractures organ damage, trauma as well as spinal cord trauma and disfigurement are all common injuries.
A competent NYC pedestrian accident lawyer can assist victims to recover compensation for current and future medical expenses, rehabilitative care expenses, loss of income due to absence from work and other damages.
What to Do After an Pedestrian Accident
When you're walking along a street, even with pedestrian crossings and sidewalks there is a risk of being hit by a motor vehicle. If you are walking across the street, or jogging back to your car after a shopping spree pedestrians could be seriously injured or even death if struck by the vehicle. If you've been struck by a vehicle while on the sidewalk, it's crucial to immediately take action to safeguard your legal rights and financial interests. An experienced New York pedestrian accident lawyer can assist you through the complex procedure of filing an injury claim.
It is also recommended to seek medical treatment as soon as you can after a pedestrian collision. It is important to seek medical attention prior talking to insurance companies. It's important to get an appointment with a doctor and undergo a medical examination. Your adrenaline could conceal any symptoms or pain. Delays in seeking treatment can affect your ability to receive compensation for the losses or injuries you sustained.
After you have received medical attention, contact the police and submit an official report. You should obtain the name of the officer as well as his badge number and the case number assigned. It will be much easier to obtain the police report once it's completed. Note any additional comments you make to the police officer to ensure that you have a complete record.
Take photos of the scene of the accident as well as your injuries if you own an mobile phone. This could be a crucial piece of evidence to prove your claim. Last but not least you should try to obtain the names and contact details of any witnesses who were present at the time of the collision. This will also serve as evidence to support your case, since it can be difficult to prove liability without the testimony of other people involved in the collision.
An attorney can review your claim and determine the types of damages you're entitled to. This could include future and present medical expenses, rehabilitation expenses, lost wages resulting from absence from work or work, property damage, emotional distress, and pain and suffering. A pedestrian accident lawyer will maximize your compensation by making sure that all your losses are recorded and properly accounted for.
Establishing Liability
Your lawyer can aid you in determining who is responsible for your injuries, and help you build an argument against the party or parties accountable. They will gather evidence such as eyewitness testimony, CCTV footage and police reports in order to strengthen your case. They also work with accident reconstruction experts who recreate the scene in order to determine the factors that affect speed, impact angle, and more.
Other parties may be liable for your injuries even if the person who hit the pedestrian is typically at fault. If it is proven that poor lighting or obstructed vision contributed to the accident, then you could also sue the government agency responsible for road conditions. Depending on your state's laws, you may be entitled to compensation under the driver's no-fault insurance policy.
Your lawyer can also review any evidence from a hit-and run accident, and then try to track down the driver who fled the scene. If you've been injured due to an impaired driver, this may be especially important to ensure that the driver is accountable for their actions.
In certain states, pedestrians are also accountable for failing to take the necessary precautions to ensure their safety. In New York for example, pedestrians are required to obey traffic signs and signals and be vigilant in areas where there is a lot of traffic. If a judge determines that you contributed to your accident in any way, your damages could be reduced by a percentage proportional to your degree of fault.
Your NYC pedestrian accident lawyer can help you obtain compensation to cover any medical costs you might have suffered, including future ones, lost wages due to missed workdays, and the pain and suffering. They can also assist you in recovering compensation in the event of property damage or other damage. 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 that you are compensated the right amount and don't fall victim to unfair tactics. They can also manage your interactions with insurance companies to ensure that you don't have to accept less.
Filing a Claim
Pedestrian accidents can be complicated and difficult to navigate without an experienced attorney. If San Antonio accident attorney need to declare an insurance claim or sue to recover damages for your injuries and losses isn't always clear and choosing the wrong route could have disastrous financial consequences. If you're struck by a car for instance it might seem like the best option to settle the matter with your insurance company, however their plans may not cover all damages.
The first step is to seek medical attention immediately for your injuries. It is important that you document the severity of the injury and its effects, such as physical pain, emotional distress, and loss of quality. It is also important to keep track of any expenses you incur as a result of the accident, including medical expenses, lost wages due to working hours missed and property damage.
The next step is to make a claim with the vehicle owner or driver's insurance company. In states that have no-fault laws the personal injury protection coverage of the driver, which is a part of most car insurance policies will pay for pedestrian's injuries, regardless of the person who is at fault for an accident. In certain instances the pedestrian could be covered by their own auto insurance dependent on the kind of insurance they have.
It is important to consult with a New York pedestrian accident lawyer prior to filing any insurance claim. Insurance companies are adept at settling claims below their value. They also know how they can uncover loopholes in the law that prevent you from recovering your full losses.
Shaevitz & Shaevitz, an experienced pedestrian accident attorney, can help you determine the best way to recover your losses. We can review any settlement offered by the insurance company to ensure that it will cover your losses including medical expenses as well as lost wages from working hours missed and emotional stress and the cost of rehabilitation. In some instances, we can also assist by seeking compensation from other parties who could be liable for your losses, like the city for poorly designed crossingwalks and sidewalks, or a business if an driver on duty hits you.
Recovering Compensation
A car crash can be a life-changing event. You could be required to pay for medical bills that cost a lot of money and lose money due to missed work. There may be ongoing pain and emotional distress. If you find yourself in this situation, you need a lawyer who will help you recover the maximum compensation available. A lawyer with expertise in pedestrian accident cases is the best choice because they understand how to calculate the full amount of damages you should be entitled to and how to handle insurance companies that attempt to reduce or deny your claim.
Pedestrians have the right of way in many traffic situations and a seasoned NYC pedestrian accident lawyer will gather evidence to show this in court. They will use witness testimonies as well as video footage and police reports to build a strong case on your behalf. This will give you the best chance to recover the amount you're entitled to for medical expenses or lost wages, as well as other damages resulting from the accident.
Employing a lawyer is the only way to receive the compensation you require to pay for your losses after being hit by a car as pedestrian. A lawyer can also protect you from being taken advantage of by the insurance company of the driver at fault and negotiate a fair settlement for you.
Depending on the severity of your injuries, you might be eligible for compensation for your economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are medical expenses and lost income. Non-economic damages include suffering and pain.
New York is an insurance no-fault state. This means that any claim for injury must be submitted to the insurance company for cars of the driver at fault. If your injuries are severe you may sue directly the driver for negligence.
A pedestrian accident lawyer should be contacted as soon as you can following the collision as the statute of limitations is very short. An experienced and qualified lawyer can guide you through the procedure of filing an injury claim and will ensure that you have all the necessary evidence ready before the deadline expires.