When a car hits a person traveling on foot, the pedestrian often suffers devastating injuries. If you sustained injuries in a pedestrian accident, you may be facing expensive medical and rehabilitation costs, and you may be unable to work either temporarily or permanently. Fortunately, a skilled Staunton pedestrian accident lawyer could work with you to obtain a financial judgment that could help ease your financial burden.
Contact an experienced personal injury attorney at the Warren Firm as soon as possible to guide you through the legal process and help you seek compensation for damages.
Often, drivers who text or talk on a cellphone, or who are otherwise distracted, cause accidents. Distracted drivers may hit a pedestrian when they do not see that person in time to safely slow down or stop. Other times, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is the cause. Negligent driving in general, such as speeding, failing to look in the rearview mirror before backing up, or failing to yield to pedestrians at a crosswalk, also causes accidents.
A skilled Staunton attorney will review the evidence from the accident to try to determine what caused the driver to hit the pedestrian.
People involved in car to car accidents receive some protection from being inside a car. A car’s seatbelts, airbags, bumpers, and frame all operate to shield a person from the impact of an oncoming collision. Because pedestrians do not have anything to protect them from the impact of a car, they often suffer severe injuries when hit, even if the car is traveling at very low speeds. Some of the injuries that walkers suffer following an accident are:
People involved in pedestrian accidents often endure a lengthy and challenging recuperation process during which they may be unable to work, which could lead to immense debt. A financial judgment against the driver of the car that hit them could be beneficial.
Victims in pedestrian accidents may pursue the recovery of economic and non-economic damages, such as medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering. An experienced attorney could work to maximize the recovery of your damages by demonstrating the severity of your losses.
Injured pedestrians in Virginia need to be aware that Virginia follows a pure contributory negligence standard, which could completely bar their recovery of damages if a court finds that they were partially responsible for the accident that caused their injuries. Although it may seem that a driver who hits a pedestrian would automatically be deemed at fault, that is not always the case.
If a driver can establish that the pedestrian was jaywalking, walking while drunk, or otherwise inappropriately heading into moving traffic, then a court could hold the pedestrian responsible for the accident. It is important to speak with a skilled lawyer who can adequately advise you on how to preserve your rights.
After being hit by a car, you may be facing a painful and lengthy recuperation. Pursuing a claim against the car’s driver can be time-consuming and difficult without proper legal guidance. An experienced Staunton pedestrian accident lawyer at The Warren Firm has the skills necessary to assist you through the challenging claims process. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
