Why You Need a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
pedestrians who are hit by vehicles are at greater chance of suffering catastrophic injuries. Common injuries include broken or fractured bones, internal organ damage, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord trauma, and disfigurement.
A NYC pedestrian accident lawyer can assist victims to recover compensation to cover future and present rehabilitation costs, medical costs, lost wages due to absence from work, and other damages.
What to Do After an Pedestrian Accident
Even with sidewalks and crosswalks walking on the 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 a shopping spree pedestrians may suffer serious injuries or even death if struck by the vehicle. If you've been hit by a vehicle while on walking, you must take immediate action to protect your legal rights and financial interests. A New York pedestrian accident attorney can help you navigate through the complex process of filing for personal injury claims.
You should also seek medical treatment as soon as you can after a pedestrian crash. This should be done prior to discussing the incident with any insurance company. It's important to get an appointment with a doctor and undergo a medical examination. Your adrenaline can conceal any symptoms or pain. The delay in seeking treatment could affect your ability to receive compensation for your injuries or losses.
After seeking medical treatment After receiving medical treatment, you must contact the police to report of the incident. Make sure you get the name of the officer, badge number as well as the case number assigned to your case. This will make it easier to obtain a copy of the police report when it's done. It's also helpful to write down any additional statements you give to the police officer so you have a clear and complete image of what transpired.
If you own an Android phone, make sure you take pictures of the scene as well as the injuries. This could be crucial evidence to back your claim. Finally, try to find the names and contact numbers of any witnesses at the scene of the accident. This will also serve as evidence to back your case, since it can be difficult to establish the liability without the testimony of other parties involved in the collision.
An attorney will evaluate your claim and determine the types of damages you are entitled to. These can include future and current medical costs, rehabilitative expenses and lost wages due to absence from work, property damage, emotional distress as well as pain and suffering and emotional distress. A lawyer for pedestrian accidents will maximize your compensation by making sure that all your losses are accurately documented and accounted for.
Establishing Liability
Your lawyer can assist you in determining who is accountable for your injuries, and assist you in constructing a strong case against the person or parties responsible. They will examine evidence like CCTV footage, eyewitness statements and police reports to discover crucial information that can strengthen your claim. 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 could be responsible for your injuries even if the person who hit the pedestrian was typically at fault. If it can be proved that poor lighting or obstructed vision contributed to the accident, then you can also bring a lawsuit against the government agency responsible for road conditions. You could be entitled, depending on the laws in your state, to a compensation under the no-fault policy of the driver.
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. This is particularly important if you were injured by an intoxicated driver.
In some states, pedestrians are liable for not exercising security measures. In New York, for example pedestrians must follow traffic signals and signs and be vigilant in areas with a high volume of traffic. If a judge decides that you were responsible for your accident in any way, your damages could be reduced by a percentage proportional to the degree of responsibility.
Your NYC pedestrian accident attorney can assist you in obtaining compensation to cover any medical costs you may have incurred in the future, as well as lost wages due to missing work days, and the pain and suffering. They can also assist you in recovering compensation if you have suffered property damage or other damages. They will collaborate with experts in the field to accurately estimate your losses so that they reflect your accident's full impact on your life. They are also able to negotiate with insurance companies to ensure you are paid the right amount and don't fall victim to unfair tactics. They can even take over interactions with insurance companies to ensure that you aren't forced to settle for less than you deserve.
How to File a Claim
Pedestrian accident cases can be confusing and difficult to navigate without an experienced attorney. The decision of whether to 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 choosing to settle with an insurance company might seem like a good option after being struck by a vehicle, but typically, their plans do not fully cover all of your losses.
Your first step should be to seek medical attention immediately for any injuries. It is essential to record the extent of your injury and the resulting effects, including physical pain, emotional stress and loss of quality of life. It is important to keep track of all costs related to the accident. This includes medical bills as well as lost income due to working hours missed, and property damage.
You'll then have to submit a claim to the owner of the vehicle or insurer of the driver. In states that are no-fault, the personal injury protection of the driver is typically a part of every car insurance policy, will cover the pedestrian's injuries, regardless of who is at fault for the accident. In other cases, the pedestrian's own auto insurance might apply, depending on the type of car insurance coverage.
It is crucial 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 to discover loopholes in the law that hinder you from recouping your full losses.
Shaevitz & Shaevitz, an experienced pedestrian accident attorney can assist you in determining the best way to recover your losses. You Tube will review any settlement that the insurance company offers to ensure that it covers your damages including medical bills and lost wages due to the absence of work and emotional distress as well as the costs of rehabilitation. In certain cases our firm can help you pursue compensation from other parties that might be accountable for your losses. For instance, the city could be held accountable for shoddy sidewalks and crosswalks or a business could be liable for the driver on duty.
Recovering Compensation
Being struck by a vehicle is a devastating and life-altering incident. It can leave you with significant medical bills and a loss of income from missed work. It could also cause ongoing pain and emotional distress. If you are in this position you require an attorney who can assist you in obtaining the maximum amount of compensation. An attorney who has experience dealing with pedestrian accidents is the best option because they are able to determine the total amount of damages you should be entitled to and how to handle insurance companies that attempt to limit or deny your claim.
A NYC pedestrian accident attorney who is experienced can collect evidence in court to demonstrate that pedestrians have the right to use the right of way in many traffic situations. They will make use of videos along with police reports and witness testimony to construct an evidence-based case for you. This will give you the best chance of obtaining the amount you deserve to pay for medical expenses as well as lost wages and other damages that result from the accident.
Hiring a lawyer is the only way to get the compensation you need to cover your losses after being struck by a car as a pedestrian. Your lawyer will also shield you from being taken advantage of by the at-fault driver's insurance company and negotiate a settlement that is fair to you.
Depending on the extent of your injuries you could be eligible for the compensation you deserve for your economic and non-economic damage. Economic damages include the cost of your medical expenses and your loss of income, while non-economic damages cover your pain and suffering.
New York is an insurance no-fault state. This means that any claim for injury must be submitted to the car insurance company of the driver at fault. If your injuries fall within the serious threshold for injury, you can bring a lawsuit directly against the driver for negligence.
A pedestrian accident lawyer must be contacted as soon as you can after your collision since the statute of limitation is extremely brief. A knowledgeable and knowledgeable lawyer will be able to assist you in the process and make sure you have all of the necessary evidence before the deadline runs out.