Pedestrians & Negligent Drivers

Some of the most disturbing stories about car wrecks involve pedestrians. Pedestrians oftentimes find themselves injured when trying to cross streets, walking along the sidewalks or at other times when they have no reason to suspect that they should be in any unreasonable amount of danger. Negligent drivers can be held responsible for injuring pedestrians in court and the pedestrians who were injured will sometimes stand to gain compensation by filing a lawsuit.  

There are certain rules that all of us are supposed to have learned before we got our driver's licenses. One of the most consistent is that pedestrians have the right of way. If you're crossing an intersection and somebody slams into you, it's a good idea to speak with an attorney. An attorney can determine whether or not negligence played a role in the accident. If the driver was negligent, taking them to court may result in your receiving a jury award that can help you pay for your injuries, your pain and suffering and your medical expenses.  

Check the headlines on any given day and there's usually a story about somebody who was injured in an intersection or alongside a road as a pedestrian. One of the most common types of injuries involves drivers who, because they're in a rush and not paying attention to anything else on the road, end up hitting somebody who was crossing in front of them. When this happens, the driver may face criminal charges, as well. These will be separate from any civil lawsuit you bring against them. Your attorney will explain all this to you when you sit down with them and will help you to understand with the process will involve going forward.  

Filing a lawsuit is not an undertaking that you want to consider lightly. Going to court can be stressful and, if you don't pick the right attorney, the whole thing may be a waste of time. Make certain you pick an attorney that has a lot of expertise in negligence and car wreck claims. They'll be the ones most likely to be able to help you determine how much you should seek in compensation and how much you're likely to receive.   Ask your attorney about working on contingency, under such an arrangement, they don't get paid unless they win your claim, and that may make it far more viable for you to take advantage of their services and go to court to seek compensation.