Why You Need a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Pedestrians hit by cars are at a higher risk for catastrophic injuries. Common injuries include broken or fractured bones and internal organ damage, traumatized brain injuries or spinal cord injury and disfigurement.
A NYC pedestrian accident attorney will assist victims in obtaining compensation to cover future and current rehabilitation costs, medical costs as well as lost wages resulting from absence from work, and other damages.
What to do following a Pedestrian Accident
When you're walking along a street even with crosswalks and sidewalks you're at risk of being struck by the vehicle. If you're walking along the street or running to your car for groceries, pedestrians face the risk of serious injuries and even death in the event of being struck by a car. If you've been hit by a car while you were on walking, you must immediately take action to protect 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.
You should seek medical attention as soon as possible following a pedestrian accident. It is crucial to seek medical attention before making contact with insurance companies. Your adrenaline could mask any symptoms or pain, therefore it's essential to obtain an examination and diagnosis from a physician. Inability to seek treatment may affect your ability to receive compensation for the losses or injuries you sustained.
After you've received medical attention, you should contact the police and file the police with a report. You must get the name of the officer as well as his badge number and the case number assigned. It will be simpler to obtain an exact copy of your police report once it's completed. It's also helpful to record any additional statements you give to the police officer, so you can have a complete, clear picture of what happened.
If you have a smartphone, make sure you take pictures of the scene and the injuries. This could be a crucial piece of evidence to back up your assertions. Finally, try to find the names and contact information of any witnesses present at the scene of the accident. This will be helpful evidence to support your claim, since it is difficult to establish fault without the testimony of the other parties involved in a collision.
An attorney can review your claim and determine the types of damages you're entitled to. This could include future and current medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost wages due to absence from work, property damage emotional distress or pain and suffering and emotional distress. A pedestrian accident lawyer can maximize your compensation by ensuring that all your losses are documented and recorded.
Establishing Liability
Your lawyer can aid you in identifying who is responsible for your injuries and help you build a strong case against the person or parties responsible. They will collect evidence such as eyewitness testimony, CCTV footage and police reports to help strengthen your case. They also work with accident reconstruction experts who can recreate the scene to determine factors such as speed, impact angles, and more.
Other parties may be accountable for your injuries even if the driver who hit the pedestrian was usually at the fault. If it can be proven that poor lighting or an obstruction to vision caused the accident, then you can also sue the government agency responsible for road conditions. Based on the laws of your state, you may be entitled to compensation from the insurance policy of the driver's no-fault.
Your lawyer can also go over any evidence from a hit-and run accident and attempt to trace the driver who fled the scene. This is especially important if you were injured by a drunk driver.
In some states, pedestrians are accountable for failing to take care for their safety. In New York, for example, pedestrians must obey traffic signals and signs and remain vigilant in areas that have high traffic. If a judge determines that you were at fault for the accident, your damages could be reduced in proportion to the extent of your fault.
Your NYC pedestrian accident lawyer will help you obtain compensation for any current or future medical costs, lost wages due to working hours missed as well as suffering and pain as well as property damage and other damages you've incurred. 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 compensated fairly and don't be a victim of bad-faith tactics. They can also handle your interactions with insurance representatives so that you don't have to take a lower offer.
Filing a Claim
Pedestrian accident cases can be complicated and difficult to navigate without an experienced attorney. It is not always obvious which option to pursue an injury claim or file a lawsuit for damages. Making the wrong choice could result in devastating financial consequences. For example the option of settling with an insurance provider may seem like a good option after you've been struck by a vehicle, but oftentimes their offers do not fully cover all of your losses.
The first step is to seek immediate medical attention for any injuries. It is crucial to document the severity of the injury and the effects it has on you, such as physical discomfort, emotional distress and loss of quality. It is important to keep track of all expenses that result from the accident. This includes medical expenses and lost income due to working hours missed, and property damage.
The next step is to file a claim with the owner of the vehicle or the insurer of the driver. In states that are no-fault, the personal injury protection coverage of the driver typically forms part of all car insurance policies will take care of pedestrian's injuries regardless of who was responsible for the incident. In other cases, the pedestrian's own auto insurance could be in place, based on the type of insurance coverage.
It is crucial to consult with a New York pedestrian accident lawyer prior to submitting any insurance claim. Insurance companies are skilled in settling claims that are less than their value. YouTube know how to discover loopholes in the law that stop you from recouping your full loss.
Shaevitz & Shaevitz, an experienced attorney for pedestrian accidents can assist you in determining the best way to recuperate your losses. We will review any settlement that the insurance company offers to ensure that it covers your damages such as medical bills and lost wages due to the absence of work and emotional distress as well as the costs of rehabilitation. In some cases we may also be able to assist in pursuing compensation from other parties that could be liable for your losses, for instance, the city for its poorly designed sidewalks and crosswalks or a company if an driver on duty is able to hit you.
Recovering Compensation
A car accident could be a life-changing event. It can result in severe medical expenses and loss of income from missed work. You may also experience constant emotional and physical pain. You need an attorney who can help you get the maximum amount of compensation. The best choice is an attorney who has expertise in claims for pedestrian accidents. They know how to calculate your full damages and how to communicate effectively with insurance companies.
A NYC pedestrian accident lawyer who is experienced can collect evidence in court to prove that pedestrians have the right of way in many traffic situations. They will use witness testimonies, video footage, and police reports to build an argument that is strong on your behalf. This will give you the best chance of obtaining the compensation you are entitled to for your medical bills as well as lost wages and other damages caused by the accident.
You will only be able to get the compensation you need after being hit by a pedestrian vehicle when you hire an attorney. A lawyer can also safeguard you from being swindled of by the insurance company of the driver at fault company and negotiate a settlement that is fair to you.
Depending on the nature of your injuries, you might be eligible to receive compensation for your economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include the cost of medical expenses and your lost income, while non-economic damages are based on your suffering and pain.
It is important to know that New York is a no-fault insurance state, which means that your injury claim will begin with the driver at fault's insurance company. If your injuries are serious enough to warrant a serious threshold for injuries, you may bring a lawsuit directly against the driver for their negligence.
A pedestrian accident lawyer should be contacted as soon as possible following your collision as the statute of limitation is extremely short. An experienced and qualified attorney will be able to guide you through the process of filing an injury claim and will ensure that you have all the necessary evidence before the deadline expires.