Brentwood Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Being hit by a car while you are out walking might leave you with extremely painful injuries, and the treatments might be very expensive and long-lasting. You can sue the driver who hit you for fair compensation for your injuries.
Parking lots, sidewalks, and crosswalks are all potential accident zones for pedestrians. After an accident, you should immediately call for help, speak to the police, and get medical attention. You should also contact a lawyer to help navigate the insurance process while preparing a lawsuit. A lawsuit might help you recover the full extent of your damages, including economic and non-economic losses you experienced as a direct result of the crash. If you prefer, we can help you negotiate a settlement rather than pursue a full trial so that you can get compensation a bit faster. Your attorney can help you with numerous aspects of your case and stand by your side from the beginning to the end.
If you were struck by a vehicle and suffered injuries and losses, our Brentwood pedestrian accident lawyers can help you sue for damages. For a free case evaluation, call The Carrion Law Firm at (718) 841-0083.
Ways in Which Pedestrian Accidents Can Happen in Brentwood
Certain locations are a bit riskier for pedestrians because of their proximity to moving vehicles. For example, parking lots are common locations for pedestrian accidents. Many people often walk to and from their cars while more cars enter and exit the parking lot. All it takes is one driver to lose focus or drive recklessly for a bad accident to happen in a parking lot.
Even though vehicles are usually not permitted on sidewalks, their adjacency to the road makes them a hotspot for pedestrian crashes. In many accident cases on sidewalks, drivers do not intentionally drive on the sidewalk. Instead, they often lose control of their vehicles and crash into the sidewalk and any pedestrians unlucky enough to be in the way. In some of these cases, alcohol is a significant contributing factor and might lead to criminal DWI charges for the driver.
Crosswalks are inherently dangerous because they are used to cross lanes of busy traffic. If a driver fails to brake for a light or stop sign, they might crash into a pedestrian trying to cross the street. Speed and distracted driving are common factors in crosswalk accidents. Our Brentwood pedestrian accident attorneys can assist you in determining how your crash happened and which driver should be held liable.
Steps to Take After a Brentwood Pedestrian Accident
Immediately after your accident, you or someone nearby should call 911 and have the police and emergency medical responders dispatched to the scene. In many accident cases, the parties involved are legally required to call the police and report the accident; failing to do so could result in penalties. Additionally, it is important to speak with the police before or after getting medical care so that they can draft a crash report we can use later in your case.
Next, you can start looking into filing an insurance claim. New York is a no-fault insurance state, and drivers must carry personal injury protection (PIP) insurance that covers them regardless of who caused the accident. In many cases, injured pedestrians are covered by the driver’s insurance.
It is important to note that, according to I.S.C. Law § 5104(a), an accident victim covered by PIP insurance cannot file a lawsuit for their damages unless they can prove they experienced a “serious injury.” Serious injuries are legally defined under I.S.C. Law § 5102(d) and include the following:
- Significant disfigurement or scarring
- Bodily dismemberment
- Permanent limitation or loss of a bodily system, function, organ, or member
- Death
- Broken Bones
- Loss of a fetus
- A medically determined, non-permanent injury that interferes with your ability to perform many of your normal daily tasks for at least 90 days out of the 180 days immediately following the accident.
The insurance process and legal procedures surrounding a lawsuit are often very complicated. Our Brentwood pedestrian accident lawyers are here to help you protect your legal rights and interests and get you the compensation you deserve.
Figuring Out Recoverable Damages in Brentwood Pedestrian Accident Cases
Damages in pedestrian accidents are often rather considerable because injuries tend to be severe. Economic damages include the financial expenses directly related to the crash. Medical bills, including reasonably anticipated future medical bills, should be carefully reviewed and added to your total damages. On top of that, our Brentwood pedestrian accident lawyers can factor in any income you lose because you cannot return to work.
Non-economic damages account for subjective personal experiences. Emotional suffering, physical pain, humiliation, damages to your reputation, and more may be considered when evaluating non-economic damages. Since these damages are experienced differently by different plaintiffs, their value is also subjective and based on how your daily life has been impacted.
A settlement could help you get at least some compensation faster than if we had a full trial. In a settlement, the defendant agrees to cover some but possibly not all of your damages, and you agree to drop the lawsuit. How much of your damages the defendant agrees to pay for is up for negotiation. The more evidence we have supporting your claims, the more leverage we have in settlement talks.
What Your Attorney Can Do to Help Your Brentwood Pedestrian Accident Lawsuit
One important service from your attorney is help with finding evidence. Evidence is the beating heart of your case; without it, you have a slim chance of getting any compensation. Our Brentwood pedestrian accident lawyers have experience finding evidence and can help you find what you need to prove your claims in a court of law.
Your lawyer can also help you assess and calculate damages. This is important information because it directly impacts how much compensation you might get from your lawsuit. Your potential compensation might be diminished if your calculations are incorrect or if certain damages are overlooked or forgotten.
An attorney should also help you file the initial complaint. While filing a complaint is as easy as dropping off paperwork at the courthouse, preparing these legal documents takes time and effort. We need details about the accident, people involved, damages, evidence, and more. If the complaint is insufficient, the court might reject the case altogether.
Call Our Brentwood Pedestrian Accident Lawyers for Assistance
Pedestrians struck by moving vehicles might have serious injuries and high costs to contend with. Our Brentwood pedestrian accident attorneys have the experiences and skills to help you navigate a lawsuit. For a free case review, call The Carrion Law Firm at (718) 841-0083.