Pedestrian Accidents

Overview of Pedestrian Accidents

When it comes to navigating the aftermath of a pedestrian accident, the stakes are high and the legal landscape can be complex. Pedestrian accidents often result in severe injuries or fatalities, leaving victims and their families facing not only physical and emotional trauma but also significant financial burdens. Choosing the right legal representation in these circumstances is crucial.

Alexander Shunnarah Trial Attorneys bring unparalleled expertise and a compassionate approach to each case. Known for our commitment to securing the best possible outcomes, we have a proven track record of helping accident victims navigate the legal system to obtain the compensation they deserve. With our deep understanding of pedestrian accident law, Shunnarah attorneys are ready to advocate on your behalf.

We understand that things may be overwhelming for you after a pedestrian accident, and ultimately, believe that teaming up with an attorney can help you by providing:

Common Causes of Pedestrian accidents

As legal experts in pedestrian accidents, we see many common causes of these devastating occurrences, including:

Distracted drivers

Driving is a discipline that requires dedicated focus. Every driver has due diligence to stay focused on the road, and not be distracted by things around them.

Unfortunately, all too often drivers are trying to multitask and their focus becomes impaired. There are many ways that drivers get distracted. The following are examples of distracted driving:

• Cell phones: making calls or texts
• Radio: changing stations
• Eating
• Drinking
• Talking to passengers
• Checking GPS
• Daydreaming
• Aggressive or Reckless Driving

The reasons are widespread. All these activities and others compromise the driver’s ability to focus on what is important.

Speeding

This one is a no-brainer. You could say it’s why speed limits exist. Many of the drivers who hit pedestrians do so because they are going so fast that they fail to respond to a situation.

Crosswalks are meant to represent a place of safety where pedestrians can cross the road. However, if a pedestrian should think it’s safe and a driver is approaching too quickly, there is often not enough time to stop by the time the vehicle gets to the crosswalk.

Even when you take crosswalks out of the equation, it doesn’t make things any less dangerous. High speed is the perfect recipe to lose control of a vehicle. When this happens, pedestrians who may be going about their business are often the ones to suffer.

Parking lot hazards

You would think since the parking lot is a place for non-moving vehicles, it would represent a safe space for pedestrians. Unfortunately, it’s the presence of these vehicles that create a sticky situation.

Both pedestrians and drivers often have their visibility severely obstructed in parking lots. This is especially true when you have a mixture of smaller vehicles such as sedans and hatchbacks and larger vehicles such as SUVs and pickup trucks.

While pedestrians are not exempt from responsibility, drivers must pay special attention to what’s going on around them and observe low parking lot speed limits. If not, they are going to be held accountable when they cause a pedestrian accident.

Driving under the influence

Intoxication is another well-documented reason for pedestrian crashes. Drunk persons are often severely impaired and unable to make effective decisions or even have full cognitive control, let alone control of their vehicles.

Types of Legal Damages in a pedestrian accident case

A pedestrian accident attorney helps you to navigate the legal system to seek compensation after being hit by a car. The damages you can seek in a pedestrian accident case fall under economic and non-economic categories. 

On the economic side of the spectrum, you find the damages that can be quantified financially. On the other hand, the non-economic damages aim to compensate you for a change in the quality of life.

Economic damages are things that we can quantify financially. These amounts are easy to calculate and can be compensated in a pedestrian accident claim. Examples include lost wages, medical expenses, and wrongful death damages.

Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and loss of enjoyment.

Specific damages from pedestrian accidents

Lost Wages: Many pedestrian accident victims have to miss work for some time or leave their job altogether when healing from their injuries. Financial compensation can be received for all time the victim missed work, including for doctors or medical appointments.

Medical Expenses: The cost of emergency treatment, transportation to the hospital, and any other medical attention you received after the accident would apply here. Ongoing treatment also falls under this umbrella and includes potential necessities like physiotherapy. It is crucial to continue to get treatment and keep all medical bills.

Wrongful Death: Unfortunately, when a driver hits a pedestrian, it can be fatal. Pedestrian fatalities can add to more damage brought on by the surviving immediate family members. The pedestrian accident lawsuit can also include a wrongful death claim, including funeral costs, burial expenses, and loss of future benefits, among others.

Pain and Suffering: The physical pain and suffering of the injured pedestrian after a serious injury can be astronomical. But also, the mental anguish that comes with being hit by a car can be overwhelming. Pain and suffering include all types of pain and suffering, including physical, mental, and emotional.

Loss of Consortium: This damage type is typically sought on behalf of a spouse. Accidents and their associated injuries sometimes leave pedestrians unable to fulfill marital obligations, such as proper companionship or intimacy. Seeking loss of consortium intends to gain compensation in such a case.

Loss of Enjoyment: Unlike the loss of consortium, this one is sought by the injured party. Some injuries prevent victims from partaking in activities they previously enjoyed. For example, an avid runner who suffered paralysis can no longer run and may sue for this kind of damage.

Find a Shunnarah Attorney that Can Help with Your Pedestrian Accident Claim

If you’ve been involved in a pedestrian accident, securing the right legal representation is crucial to navigating the complexities of your claim. Contact a Shunnarah attorney today to explore your legal options and ensure your rights as a pedestrian are fully protected.