Why You Need a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Pedestrians hit by vehicles are at greater risk of suffering severe injuries. Broken bones or fractures organ damage, traumatizing injuries or spinal cord trauma, and disfigurement are all typical injuries.
A experienced NYC pedestrian accident lawyer can assist victims to recover compensation for their current and future medical expenses, rehabilitation expenses, loss of income due to missed work, and other damages.
What to do following a Pedestrian Accident
Even with crosswalks and sidewalks walking along a road can put you at risk of being struck by a vehicle. If you're walking across the street or jogging back to your car after shopping pedestrians may suffer serious injuries or even death if struck by the vehicle. 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 help you navigate the complex procedure of filing an injury claim.
You should seek medical assistance as soon as is possible following a pedestrian accident. This should be done prior to discussing the incident with any insurance company. It is essential to obtain the diagnosis of a physician and a medical examination. Your adrenaline could cover up any signs or discomfort. Delays in seeking treatment can affect your ability to receive compensation for the losses or injuries you sustained.
After you have sought medical attention, contact the police and submit an official report. Make sure you get the name of the officer and badge number as well as the case number assigned to your case. This will make it easier to obtain a copy the police report once it's completed. It's also helpful to write down any additional information you provide to the police officer, so you have a clear, complete image of what transpired.
If you have a smartphone, make sure you take pictures of the scene and the injuries. This can be vital evidence to back up your claims. Last but not least you should try to get the names and contact information of any witnesses who were present at the accident. This can be a valuable evidence to back your claim, since it is difficult to determine fault without the testimony of other parties involved in a collision.
An attorney can review your claim and determine the types of damages that you are entitled to. These could include future and present medical expenses, rehabilitative costs, lost wages due to missed work and emotional distress, property damage as well as suffering and pain. A pedestrian accident attorney will be able to maximize your compensation by ensuring that all of your losses are properly recorded and properly documented.
Establishing Liability
Your lawyer can help you determine who is accountable for your injuries and build an effective defense against the party responsible or parties. They will review evidence such as CCTV footage, eyewitness testimony and police reports to collect crucial information that can strengthen your case. They also work with accident reconstruction experts who recreate the scene to determine the factors that affect speed, impact angle and more.
Other parties may be liable for your injuries even if the driver who struck the pedestrian was typically at fault. If it is proven that poor lighting or an obstruction to vision was a factor in the accident, you may also sue the government agency responsible for road conditions. You may be entitled, depending on the laws in your state to compensation under the no fault policy of the driver.
Your lawyer can also go over any evidence from a hit and run accident, and then try to trace the driver who fled the scene. This is particularly important if you were injured by an intoxicated driver.
In certain states, pedestrians are accountable for failing to take security measures. In New York for example, pedestrians are required to follow traffic signals and signs and remain alert in areas where there is a lot of traffic. If a judge decides that you were responsible for the accident, your damages could be reduced according to the extent of your fault.
Your NYC pedestrian accident attorney can help you recover compensation to cover any medical costs you may have incurred including future ones, lost wages due to missed workdays and suffering and pain. They can also assist you in obtaining compensation if you have suffered property damage or other damage. They will work with top experts in the field to evaluate your losses in order to reflect the full impact of your accident on your life. They can also negotiate with insurance companies to ensure you are paid the right amount and aren't a victim of bad-faith tactics. They can also manage your interactions with insurance agents so that you don't have to take a lower offer.
How to File a Claim
Pedestrian accidents can be complicated and difficult to navigate without the assistance of an experienced attorney. It's not always clear whether to file an injury claim or sue for damages. Making the wrong choice could result in devastating financial consequences. If you're injured by a vehicle for instance it might seem like the best option to settle the matter with your insurance provider, but their plans may not cover all of your damages.
Your first step should be to seek immediate medical attention for any injuries. It is important to document the severity of your injury and the consequences that result, such as physical pain, emotional stress and loss of quality of life. It is important to keep track of all expenses incurred due to the accident. This includes medical bills as well as lost income due to missed workdays, and property damage.
The next step is to submit a claim to the owner of the vehicle or insurer of the driver. In states that have no-fault law, the personal injury protection policy of the driver, which is part of the majority of insurance policies for cars will take care of pedestrians' injuries, regardless of the person at fault for an accident. In some instances the pedestrian could be covered by their own auto insurance depending on what type of coverage they have.
You Tube is crucial to consult with a New York pedestrian accident lawyer before filing any kind of insurance claim. Insurance companies are adept at settling claims below their value. They also know how to discover loopholes in the law that prevent you from recovering your full loss.
Shaevitz & Shaevitz, an experienced pedestrian accident lawyer, can help you determine the best method to recover your losses. We will review any settlement offer made by the insurance company and make sure that it's sufficient to compensate you for your damages which include medical bills, lost wages from absences from work as well as emotional distress, and the cost of rehabilitation. In some instances we may also be able to assist with pursuing compensation from other parties that could be responsible for your losses, for instance, the city for its poorly designed sidewalks and crosswalks or a business if an driver on duty hits you.
Recovering Compensation
A car crash can be a life-changing event. It can result in significant medical bills and a loss of earnings due to the absence of work. It can also cause you to suffer from ongoing pain and emotional distress. You need an attorney who can help you get the most compensation. The best choice is an attorney who has expertise in claims for pedestrian accidents. They are able to calculate your full damages and can deal effectively with insurance companies.
Pedestrians have the right of way in many traffic situations and an experienced NYC pedestrian accident lawyer can collect evidence to show this in court. They will make use of video footage along with police reports and witness testimony to build a solid case for you. This will give you the best chance of recovering the amount you're entitled to for medical bills as well as lost wages and other damages resulting from the accident.
You will only be able to get the compensation you need after being struck as a pedestrian by a vehicle if you hire an attorney. Your lawyer will also shield you from being taken advantage of by the insurance company of the driver at fault company and negotiate an amount that is fair to you.
Based on the nature of your injuries, you may be eligible for compensation for both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages can include medical expenses and lost income. Non-economic damages include suffering and pain.
New York is an insurance no-fault state. This means that any injury claim must be filed with the insurance company for cars of the driver who is at fault. If your injuries are severe, you can sue directly the driver for negligence.
A pedestrian accident lawyer must be contacted as soon as possible following your collision since the statute of limitation is extremely brief. An experienced and qualified lawyer can guide you through the procedure of filing an injury claim and make sure you have all the required evidence before the deadline expires.