Just When Your Thought It Was Safe To Walk
Posted: Monday, July 05, 2010
by Solomon Neuhardt
Neuhardt Law
According to official figures, approximately, 5,000 individuals face early death as a result of pedestrian accidents; while over 60,000 people are injured. Driver’s negligence is the most common reason for the high rates of pedestrian accidents.
Here are some of the other common reasons that lead to pedestrian accidents :
Running a stoplight or disregarding traffic control instructions.
Careless driving, such as not paying attention to the road, talking on the phone or listening to music while driving.
Failing to observe pedestrian rights by not stopping at crosswalks or driving on pathways.
Such accidents often lead to severe injuries to the pedestrians. Children and the elderly are the most probable victims of pedestrian accidents. Injuries occur due to the force of the collision with a moving vehicle or when the victim hits other objects due to the impact of the collision.
However, there are cases when a pedestrian accident occurs at a place where there are no pathways. In such a situation, the accident may have been caused by the negligence of the driver or the pedestrian or both. Also, pedestrian accidents can result from bad weather conditions, poor roads or the fault of other motorists.
How to File a Liability Claim in Pedestrian Accident
If an individual meets with an accident that is entirely due to the fault of the driver, he can claim for just compensation. However, filing a personal injury compensation claim for pedestrian accident is a complicated task. For one thing, you have to prove the negligence of the driver. The case becomes even more complicated if the motorist is uninsured or runs away after hitting the victim. The best choice in such a situation is to enlist the services of an experienced pedestrian accident lawyer.
Ideally, an accident victim should follow these steps to simplify claim-filing procedure:
Try to collect all the evidence you can from the site immediately after the accident.
File a police complaint against the motorist. Ask for a copy of the report.
Undergo a comprehensive medical checkup to diagnose the injuries. Preserve the medical reports for future reference.
File a liability claim against the motorist as well as his insurance company.
Seeking the advice of an expert pedestrian accident attorney will not only simplify the legal process of filing a claim, the lawyer will also help you negotiate with the defending party. Hiring an expert lawyer becomes even more crucial if the victim has no major evidence related to the accident.
About Solomon Neuhardt:
Solomon Neuhardt is the owner and lead attorney at Neuhardt Law Firm, a member of the American Bar Association, the American Association for Justice, and represents individuals and families in personal injury cases, including accidents, medical malpractice, defective products, dog bites, and insurance disputes.
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