Traffic accidents involving pedestrians are a common occurrence in the United States. In fact, a pedestrian is killed every 1.6 hours, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Luckily, victims have a legal right to sue the responsible parties for compensation. However, the legal process must be completed before the injured victim gets money wired to their bank account. And for any permanent or serious injury, a qualified personal injury attorney is likely needed to see you through the often complex compensation process.
When deciding whether to file a claim or not, you must, first of all, review the specific aspects of your case. You must know which parties you are filing a case against, and whether you can face them on your own. For example, it would be very easy for you to seek compensation on your own against the liable party if the injuries suffered are minor. But if you are dealing with insurance companies, it is recommended to equally match their expertise by hiring a Conroe pedestrian accident lawyer.
You should consider hiring an attorney to work on your case in any of the following situations:
While some accidents do not need much evaluation to determine liability, there are those where the fault is always contested. Even when it’s clear that the other party is to blame, there is no guarantee that they will admit liability. On top of that, there are cases where you may have contributed to your injuries, making it difficult to entirely blame the other party for the harm suffered. But even so, you can still recover compensation. Having a skilled attorney helps start that process, allowing you to sue the right party after the pedestrian accident.
If the accident resulted in severe injuries, leaving you physically incapacitated, it may be difficult for you to focus on the work at hand. Worse still, the psychological trauma that follows an accident can be emotionally draining, making you lose the objectivity that your injury case needs to progress.
Again, time is always of the essence in any personal injury lawsuit. The Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code 16.003 gives you a maximum of two years to file your claim. If you spend most of your time focusing on seeking treatment for your injuries, this statute of limitations may lapse. To avoid this, it is advisable to retain a qualified crosswalk injury lawyer as soon as possible.
State laws concerning wrongful death action are more complicated, especially for the average person to adhere to. The emotional trauma that follows the grieving process is often too much for any individual to focus on their case. Furthermore, the Texas Statutes Section 71.001 explains the specifics of a wrongful death action, and in court you will need evidence to secure compensation for the loss of your loved one. Maneuvering through some of these requirements might prove to be a daunting task without the input of an aggressive and compassionate pedestrian accident attorney.
If you are knocked down by a motorist, bicyclist, or any other road user, the few steps you take immediately after the accident are critical to protecting your legal rights. The most important thing you should do is seek immediate medical attention. If you feel something does not feel right, it’s important to get a professional medical evaluation as soon as possible. Some injuries are not felt immediately and may take days to manifest. If you are injured, see a medical professional for a proper injury diagnosis.
Secondly, make sure that you collect as much information as possible. If you are not able to, have someone who you trust do this for you. Collecting information such as the contact information of parties involved, eyewitness accounts, time and location of the accident is very important more so if you wish to file a personal injury claim for compensation. If you have your cell phone with you, it would also be a good idea to capture the scene, the parties involved, as well as any visible injuries.
Finally, notify your insurance company about the accident if you are insured. Doing so allows them to start the compensation process. An insurance adjuster for the negligent party may request you to fill some forms or answer questions to their satisfaction. Unfortunately, some of these questions are phrased in a way to be used to later downplay your compensation claims. Additionally, it’s important to know that any information you give can be used against you in court to deny you the compensation you are legally entitled to. Before proceeding with the negligent party’s insurance company, it’s advisable to contact an attorney experienced in pedestrian injury claims.
Be sure to retain a seasoned Conroe pedestrian accident lawyer. He or she understands the compensation process well, as well as the tactics used by insurance companies to deny injured victims their rightful compensation. The attorneys at our firm are known for their compassionate and aggressive legal representation for pedestrian accident victims. Get in touch with us today to learn more about your legal rights and how we can help you secure the compensation you deserve.
