Five of the most common pedestrian accident injuries include broken bones, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), internal bleeding, spinal cord injuries, and soft-tissue injuries. Because pedestrians have little to no protection from any vehicle that strikes them, victims face a high likelihood of suffering serious injuries.
Injuries cost money, and they also cause physical discomfort, distress, and other types of pain and suffering. An Atlanta pedestrian accident lawyer can help you seek compensation to cover medical costs, lost income, property expenses, pain and suffering, and all other damages resulting from the accident.
Why Pedestrian Accidents Pose a High Risk of Serious Injury
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains that thousands of pedestrians die annually when motor vehicles strike them. Collisions involving pedestrians have a higher-than-average risk of causing serious injury or death because:
- Pedestrians are typically not prepared for an accident and therefore may be unable to evade a direct strike or mitigate injury in other ways.
- Pedestrians do not typically walk around wearing helmets or any other protective gear, meaning they have no significant protection from the force of an oncoming vehicle.
- Motorists who cause pedestrian accidents are often distracted, speeding, impaired, or engaged in other high-risk behaviors that can cause severe accidents (as well as injury and death).
The fragility of the human body and the lack of protection pedestrians have primarily explain why pedestrian accidents tend to be so harmful.
For a free legal consultation, call 404-214-2001
Damages You May Suffer Because of a Pedestrian Collision
Whether you break one or more bones, suffer a TBI, or experience other injuries when a motor vehicle hits you, there is no doubt you will endure harm as a result of the accident. While the nature and severity of your injuries are important (and factors your Atlanta personal injury lawyer will evaluate), many pedestrian accident victims face:
Medical Costs
Your first step after any traffic accident must be to seek medical care. You may need to undergo emergency services, and medical professionals may also recommend:
- Imaging services (like X-rays and CT scans), which can diagnose injuries from broken bones to brain contusions
- One or more surgeries
- Medications, which may relieve pain, reduce the likelihood of infected wounds, and serve other purposes
- Spending one or more nights in the hospital
- Physical therapy
- A range of other medical services and devices
If you have life-threatening or disabling injuries, you can expect stress-inducing medical bills. One of your pedestrian accident attorney’s many duties will be to fight for financial compensation that covers all medical expenses related to your pedestrian accident.
If any of your injuries reach the catastrophic injury threshold, your Atlanta catastrophic injury attorney will seek compensation for all damages related to your accident and injuries.
Pain and Suffering
Being hit by a motor vehicle is a terrifying experience that can cause lasting trauma. Some types of pain and suffering you may face after your pedestrian accident include:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Physical pain, including any chronic conditions related to the accident
- Inability to sleep normally
- Lost quality of life
- Anxiety
- Depression
Every pedestrian accident victim has a unique experience, and each responds differently (including emotionally and psychologically) to such a traumatic event. Your attorney from our legal team will refer you to a mental health professional who can evaluate your pain and suffering and arrange any necessary treatment.
Costs for Mental Health Services
If you elect to take medication, receive therapy, or seek any other mental health services to alleviate your pain and suffering, your attorney will calculate your treatment costs and include them in your personal injury claim.
The Cost of Replacing Damaged Property
The impact of a motor vehicle can break pedestrians’ phones, tear their clothing, and cause other types of property damage. Your attorney will consider such property-related expenses in their settlement demands.
Lost Income and Other Professional Damages
Survivors of pedestrian collisions often need time away from their job, and this absence can be permanent in some cases. Work interruptions related to your accident may cause:
- Lost income
- Loss of earning capacity (which happens when you resume work but earn less than you did before the accident)
- Lost chances to earn overtime pay, bonuses, and other performance-related compensation
- Loss of progress toward your professional goals (which may include lost opportunities to earn promotions and new jobs)
Our attorneys are comprehensive in their view of clients’ damages. Your case will reflect the economic and non-economic harm that a motor vehicle driver (or another at-fault party) has caused you.
If you have lost a loved one from fatal injuries they suffered during a collision with a motor vehicle, an Atlanta wrongful death attorney can help you seek wrongful death damages, such as funeral and burial costs, loss of household services, loss of companionship, and more.
Hiring a Lawyer Should Be a Priority After a Pedestrian Accident—Here’s Why
Pedestrian accident lawyers move with urgency, and for good reason. Some of the time-sensitive aspects of your case will include:
- Securing evidence that proves who is at fault for the accident
- Reporting all of your pedestrian injuries (and documentation of those injuries) to the liable party’s insurance company
- Ensuring the insurance company moves your claim forward rapidly
- Filing any personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit you decide to pursue
Your lawyer’s responsibilities will encompass your entire case. Securing fair compensation for the cost of your pedestrian accident may require your attorney to:
- Interview witnesses, obtain video footage of your accident, and secure all other evidence related to the collision
- Secure medical records, obtain a professional’s evaluation of your pain and suffering, get documentation of professional damages, and acquire all other documentation of your accident-related damages
- Negotiate for a fair settlement with the responsible party’s insurance provider
- File a personal injury lawsuit, if insurance companies do not offer the money you deserve
- Represent you at trial, if necessary
Our pedestrian accident lawyers are skilled and experienced. We also employ paralegals, hire experts, and leverage our personal injury law firm’s financial resources in our clients’ favor.
Click to contact our personal injury lawyers today
Call Kaine Law Today for a Free Consultation About Hiring a Pedestrian Accident Attorney
Attorney Evan Kaine and the Kaine Law team will prioritize your pedestrian accident case. We are highly rated by both clients and our legal peers, and our case results indicate the high-caliber representation you will receive from our firm.
Call Kaine Law today for your free, no-obligation consultation about hiring a pedestrian accident attorney from our team.
Call or text 404-214-2001 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
