College Park Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

A pedestrian accident is typically one that involves a motor vehicle and a pedestrian. When a person contacts an attorney about a pedestrian accident in College Park they should expect to discuss exactly how the incident occurred. Equal consideration will be given to the actions of the pedestrian and to the driver of the motor vehicle. It is important for a thorough investigation to be done to show how the accident occurred so that the injured pedestrian does not have a false sense of hope or entitlement to recovery. Each case is evaluated strenuously and a College Park pedestrian accident lawyer should alert potential clients of any issues that may come into play in their case.

Reasons to File a Pedestrian Accident Claim

A pedestrian is much more likely to be injured in a collision with a motor vehicle than the occupant of a motor vehicle. A person who is an occupant of a motor vehicle has the protection of the motor vehicle as well as the internal safety mechanisms such as an airbag and seatbelts. A pedestrian has no such protection and when a pedestrian is struck by a motor vehicle, the pedestrian often sustains very serious bodily injuries. A pedestrian injured in College Park should seek a pedestrian accident attorney so that they can rely on the attorney to investigate and pursue the claim to the fullest extent possible.

Unique Aspects of Injuries

Pedestrian accidents are different than standard motor vehicle accidents because a pedestrian does not have the safety or protection of a motor vehicle. When a person is struck by a motor vehicle, often times they sustain injuries from the initial trauma of the vehicle hitting their body and also sustain injuries from being knocked down by the motor vehicle accident. In certain instances, a person’s injuries are much more serious from striking the pavement than being struck by the actual motor vehicle. It is important for someone to hire a College Park pedestrian accident lawyer that can evaluate not only how the accident occurred, but the nature and extent of their injuries.

Because a pedestrian involved in an accident with a vehicle does not have any protection from the metal of a car, they may suffer severe injuries, including broken bones, that take a long time to heal. As such, recovering damages is incredibly important in these instances.

Obtaining Damages

Anyone involved in a motor vehicle accident is going to have some difficulties immediately after the accident. The injuries may prevent them from returning to work, which in turn will cause the injured person to lose wages, which could have a significant effect on their household. Pedestrians are often severely injured when struck by a motor vehicle accident and therefore, the severity of their injuries can compound the difficulties that they may face immediately after the accident. For example, a pedestrian may be out of work for a much longer period of time than someone else involved in a motor vehicle accident, which can compound the financial impact on their household. Due to the significance of being struck as a pedestrian, it is important for any injured pedestrian to contact an experienced College Park pedestrian accident lawyer to assist them with their claim so that the injured pedestrian can receive the full compensation owed to them.

Basic Traffic Laws and Liability for Pedestrians

Liability is a term that is used to describe who is at fault for the accident. In pedestrian cases, it is important for everyone involved to remember that the pedestrian does not always have the right of way. A pedestrian is required to follow the rules of the road that govern pedestrians. If a pedestrian is found to have violated the rules of the road, for example crossing outside of the crosswalk or crossing in the street against the traffic signal, that can be used as evidence of contributory negligence, which could ultimately bar the injured pedestrian’s claim.