Did you get severely injured while walking and have concerns? Check out these 4 things to learn about your pedestrian claim, then call us.
1) Common Mistakes To Avoid
If you’ve been seriously injured in a pedestrian accident, you need quickly hire the right attorney to handle your case. By not doing so, you could find yourself losing certain legal rights you might have had. Pedestrian accidents require immediate investigation into possible negligent parties, such as a negligent driver that injured the pedestrian, a designer of a roadway, or even a negligent manufacturer of the automobile that contributed some negligence. Don’t take any chances by not hiring an attorney who has experience with pedestrian accidents.
2) Injury Claim
One defining characteristic of pedestrian accident cases is that the injuries are much more serious than in an automobile crash case. Also, the fault and liability of the negligent party is typically more complicated in an auto vs. pedestrian crash rather than a two-car collision. These cases must be taken very seriously. Like any personal injury case, you mustn’t wait too long to file a claim. Make sure to be aware of the statute of limitations for your injury claim. Also, you don’t want to make any admissions or recorded statements to an insurance adjuster. Anything you say could be used against you later on in the case.
3) Speaking To Insurance Adjuster
One defining characteristic of pedestrian cases is that the injuries to the pedestrian are normally very serious, or sometimes even fatal. When you have major issues where you need to be able to provide for yourself and your family, perhaps the rest of your life, you don’t want to take any chances by giving a recorded statement. Fault is often under dispute in pedestrian cases. If there are issues as to whether you, as the pedestrian, may have been at fault, you may implicate yourself unintentionally in a recorded statement.
It’s very easy to make a statement which may minimize your injuries, when the reality is that you may have very serious long-term impairment. You don’t know it yet if you’re giving that recorded statement early in the case. When you give that statement, you’re making an admission to the insurance carrier, which they can then use later against you to try to attack your credibility with respect to fault or injuries.
4) Partial Fault
Sometimes the fault of the parties for a pedestrian accident is in dispute. As a contrast, in two-car collisions, there are rules of the road that drivers are expected to go by. There may not be such clear-cut rules in a situation involving a pedestrian accident.
Some of the rules of the road do apply to pedestrian-versus-auto accidents. In some cases, the insurance carriers and their insureds will try to argue that the pedestrian was at fault in some way. They could allege that you weren’t in a crosswalk, as an example, or weren’t otherwise exercising due care. You need to understand that if you’ve got a serious injury case, the insurance carrier will do anything to reduce their own exposure and limit your damages down the line.
Even if you have been at fault partially in an accident, this does not mean that you cannot recover on your case, especially if the injuries are serious. Don’t think that you’re barred from bringing a claim because you had some responsibility. Consult with us today to discuss how we can navigate this scenario.
Were you or a loved one seriously injured by a vehicle while walking in Georgia and have questions about these 4 things to learn about your pedestrian claim?
Contact the experienced Georgia pedestrian accident attorneys at Princenthal, May & Wilson, LLC, today for a free consultation and case evaluation.
Let our experience and dedication work for you.
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