In the United States over 300,000 accidents each year involve pedestrians. If you are injured as a pedestrian in an accident, your injuries could be extremely severe. The human body is no match for a moving vehicle in a collision. It is critical that you seek immediate medical attention as well as immediate legal advice on how best to proceed if you are injured in a pedestrian accident.

What causes pedestrian accidents?
Most pedestrian accidents are caused by driver negligence. Drivers can be easily distracted by many things, including children in the car, eating or drinking while driving, cell phone conversations, texting, or focusing on GPS while lost. Once distracted, drivers can miss stop signs or red lights, fail to yield to a pedestrian or ignore speed limits in critical areas, like school zones.

Depending on circumstances, even if you were somewhat liable in causing a pedestrian accident that you were injured in, you may still have a case against the driver who injured you. Experienced attorneys can work on your behalf to determine the appropriate amount of negligence to assign to each party.

Are injuries from pedestrian accidents serious?
Serious injuries are common as a result of a pedestrian accident. In any collision between a pedestrian and a vehicle, the pedestrian is at an extreme disadvantage. Broken bones, paraplegia, quadriplegia, a broken neck or back, internal injuries, or brain damage are all possibilities. If you receive an injury that changes your life drastically and permanently, how will you live? What amount of compensation would be enough? No amount of money can make up for the accident, but you should still seek to be fully compensate for your injuries and other damages.

Should you settle with an insurance company?
If you are a pedestrian who was injured in an accident, you may be approached by an insurance company eagerly offering to settle with you quickly for a “fair” amount. It’s best not to settle in this way, especially before consulting an accident attorney with experience in pedestrian accidents. Insurance adjustors, as nice as they might seem, are working to settle your case with for the least amount of money they can get away with. You need to know what all your options are, including the full extent of your injuries, before you decide what is the right amount to settle for.

Financial Compensation
Financial considerations are part of the business of representing an injured client. Many factors go into securing financial compensation, including lost wages, pain and suffering, past medical bills, future medical bills, and loss of earning capacity in the future.

Pedestrian Accidents: Dos and Don’ts
There are a few things you should keep in mind immediately after an accident. Do not make any statements on record, and do not sign anything at the time of the accident. If an insurance adjuster contacts you, do not speak to them. Finally, do not delay getting medical attention, even if it seems you are uninjured.

Do collect as much information as possible, especially on the day of the accident. Get the names and contact information of witnesses. Get insurance information about others involved in the accident. Do get pictures anyone has taken. If possible, get a copy of the police report. All of those things will help your attorney fight for your rights and secure compensation.

Post-Settlement Issues
Other factors often intervene in cases of pedestrian accidents. Many people carrying automobile insurance only purchase coverage at the minimum required by law, and in Florida, that amount is $0.00 for bodily injury coverage. Unfortunately, the coverage limit of an insurance policy can cap how much the injured pedestrian can ultimately collect. This is bad news, especially since serious injuries can frequently cost more than $100,000 to treat. The attorneys at Thompson Legal can advise you on what the likelihood is of collecting on a potential judgment.

Thompson Legal, P.A., is home to some experienced and successful personal injury attorneys who understand how best to represent injured pedestrians. We will be happy to discuss your case with you and will work to make an appointment that suits your schedule. Call us today for more information and a free consultation!