Why You Need a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Pedestrians who are hit by cars face a greater risk of suffering catastrophic injuries. Common injuries include broken or fractured bones and internal organ damage, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord trauma, and disfigurement.
A competent NYC pedestrian accident lawyer will help victims recover compensation for current and future medical expenses, rehabilitation expenses, loss of income due to missed work, and other damages.
What to do after a Pedestrian Accident
If you walk along a road, even with pedestrian crossings and sidewalks you're at risk of being hit by an automobile. Whether you're walking across the street or jogging to your car to pick up groceries, pedestrians face the risk of serious injuries and even death if struck by a vehicle. If you've been struck by a car while on foot, it's important to immediately take action to protect your legal rights and financial interests. A seasoned New York pedestrian accident lawyer can assist you through the complicated process of filing a personal injury claim.
It is also crucial to seek medical attention as soon as possible after a pedestrian accident. It is essential to seek medical attention prior speaking with insurance companies. It is essential to obtain a doctor's diagnosis and medical examination. Your adrenaline can cover up any signs or discomfort. If you delay seeking treatment, it could negatively impact your ability to recover compensation for your losses and injuries.
After seeking medical treatment, you should contact the police to file a formal report of the incident. Make sure you get the officer's name and badge number, as well as the case number assigned to your particular case. This will make it easier to obtain a copy the police report after it's completed. Note You Tube give to the police officer so that you have the complete report.
If you have an Android phone, make sure you snap photos of the scene and your injuries. This can be important evidence to support your claim. In addition you should try to find the names and contact details of any witnesses who were present at the accident. This can be a valuable evidence to back your claim, as it is difficult to determine fault without the testimony of the other parties involved in the collision.
An attorney can evaluate your claim and determine the kinds of damages that you are entitled to. This could include current and future medical expenses, rehabilitation costs and lost wages due to missed work, property damages, emotional distress or pain and suffering and emotional distress. A pedestrian accident attorney can maximize your compensation by making sure that all of your losses are properly recorded and properly documented.
Establishing Liability
Your lawyer can assist in determining who is responsible for your injuries and help you create a strong case against the person or parties responsible. They will look over evidence like CCTV footage, eyewitness statements and police reports to collect crucial information that can strengthen your claim. They also work with accident-reconstruction experts who can recreate the scene to determine factors like speed, impact angle and other factors.
While the party responsible for an accident involving pedestrians is usually the driver who hit you, other parties could be liable for your injuries. This could include the government agency responsible for road conditions, if it can be proved that poor lighting or obstructed views contributed to the accident. 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 try to locate the driver who fled the scene. If you've been injured due to drunk driver, it is particularly important to ensure that the driver is accountable for his or her actions.
It's also worth noting that pedestrians could be held accountable in certain states for failing to exercise security measures for themselves. In New York, for example pedestrians must abide by traffic signals and signs and remain alert in areas with a high volume of traffic. If a judge decides that you contributed to the accident in any way, your damages could be reduced by an amount proportional to the amount of blame.
Your NYC pedestrian accident lawyer can help you recover compensation for current and future medical expenses, lost wages due to absences from work, pain and suffering, property damage and other losses you've sustained. They will collaborate with experts in the field to accurately estimate your losses, so that they reflect the accident's full impact on your life. They can also negotiate with insurance companies to ensure that you are paid fairly and do not be a victim of bad-faith tactics. They can even take over conversations with insurance representatives to ensure that you don't have to settle for less than what you deserve.
How to Claim a Claim?
Pedestrian accidents can be difficult and confusing to navigate without the help of an experienced attorney. Whether you should declare an insurance claim or pursue legal action to recover damages for your losses and injuries isn't always clear, and making the wrong choice could have a devastating financial impact. For example, settling with an insurance company might seem like a sensible option after you've been struck by a car, however oftentimes their offers do not cover all your losses.
You should seek immediate medical attention for any injuries you've sustained. It is important to document the severity of your injury as well as the resulting effects, including physical pain, emotional stress and loss of quality of life. It is essential to keep track of all expenses that result from the accident. This includes medical bills and lost income due to absences from work, as well as property damage.
The next step is to submit a claim to the owner of the vehicle or the insurance company of the driver. In no-fault states the personal injury protection coverage of the driver typically forms included in every car insurance policy, will cover the pedestrian's injuries, regardless of who was at fault for the incident. In some cases the pedestrian may be covered by their own auto insurance, depending on what type of coverage they have.
It is important to consult with a New York pedestrian accident lawyer before filing any kind of insurance claim. Insurance companies are skilled in settling claims for less than their value. They also know how they can find loopholes in law that stop you from recouping your full losses.
Shaevitz & Shaevitz, an experienced attorney for pedestrian accidents will assist you in determining the best way to recuperate your losses. We can evaluate any settlement offer from the insurance company and ensure that it is sufficient to cover your damages that include medical expenses as well as lost wages due to working hours missed, pain and suffering, emotional trauma and the costs of rehabilitation. In certain cases, our firm can help you pursue compensation from other parties that could be responsible for your losses. For example the city might be liable for poorly designed crosswalks and sidewalks or a company could be liable for a driver who is on duty.
Recovering Compensation
Being hit by a car is a life-changing and shocking incident. It can result in severe medical expenses and loss of earnings due to the absence of work. There is also the possibility of constant emotional and physical pain. If you are in this position you should consult a lawyer who will assist you in obtaining the maximum amount of compensation you are entitled to. An attorney who has experience dealing with pedestrian accidents is the best choice because they know how to determine the total amount you'll be entitled to and how to handle insurance companies that attempt to reduce or deny your claim.
The right of way for pedestrians is guaranteed in many traffic situations and an experienced NYC pedestrian accident lawyer can gather evidence to demonstrate this in court. They will make use of video footage, police reports, and witness testimony to build an argument that is solid for you. This will give your best chance to recover the amount you're entitled to for your medical bills, lost wage, and other damages resulting from the accident.
Employing a lawyer is the only way to receive the money you need to pay for your losses after being hit by a car as a pedestrian. Your lawyer will also protect you from being taken advantage of of the insurance company of the driver at fault and negotiate an equitable settlement for you.
Based on the severity of your injuries, you could be eligible for the compensation you deserve for your economic and non-economic damage. Economic damages are medical expenses and lost income. Non-economic damages include suffering and pain.
It is important to note that New York is a no-fault insurance state, meaning that your claim for injury will start with the at-fault driver's car insurance company. If your injuries fall within the serious threshold for injuries, you may pursue the driver directly for their negligence.
You should speak to a pedestrian accident lawyer as soon as you can after your collision, because the time limit for filing a claim is extremely short. A qualified and experienced lawyer will guide you through the procedure of filing an injury claim and ensure that you have all the necessary evidence before the deadline expires.