Our Virginia pedestrian accident attorneys can assist pedestrians who are injured after being hit by a car or truck. We fight for the compensation a pedestrian deserves after being injured by a negligent driver.
Pedestrians are no match for the average vehicle. That’s why many collisions between pedestrians and cars result in minor damage to the vehicle – yet have deadly consequences for the pedestrian. Pedestrians are at risk of serious, catastrophic injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, head injuries, broken bones, spinal cord injuries and even wrongful death. Unsurprisingly, when a car strikes a pedestrian, the result is often fatal. On average, 12 people per day are struck and killed by cars.
Virginia Pedestrian Accident Lawyer FAQs
- Common Causes of Virginia Pedestrian Accidents
- Who Pays the Medical Bills for my Pedestrian Accident Injures?
- Getting Compensation after a Virginia Pedestrian Accident
- Time Deadlines for a Virginia Pedestrian Accident Claim
- Contact Virginia Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Richard Serpe
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents
The majority of pedestrian accidents are caused by other drivers. Pedestrians have to be hyper-aware of how they fit into the changing traffic patterns and road conditions. From the safety and protection of their cars and trucks, drivers often fail to notice the presence of pedestrians – or they get impatient waiting for a safe opportunity to pass them. Common causes of crashes include:
- Distracted drivers
- Failure to yield to the right of way
- Pedestrians forced off the road by a car or truck entering their lane of traffic
- Improper passing
- Excessive speed, along with reckless and careless driving
- Drunk driving and driving under the influence of drugs
- Failing to obey traffic laws – running stop signs and red lights, etc.
- Backing up without looking
Who Pays the Medical Bills for My Pedestrian Accident Injuries?
When a pedestrian is hit by a car, medical bills should be the last thing on their mind. After all, surviving – and then undergoing the healing process – is priceless. But as bones mend and wounds heal, inevitably, the bills will start arriving. So who pays?
When you’ve got medical bills piling up, it’s tempting to take the first offer the insurance company presents to you. However, if you accept that settlement offer you’ll be out of luck when long-term injuries and complications should later set in. When you accept a settlement from the insurance company, you’ll be signing a release agreeing that the payment is a “full and final settlement.” Once signed, you’ll never again be allowed to ask for more compensation if your injuries worsen in the future.
An experienced Virginia pedestrian accident lawyer will ensure that you’ve reached maximum medical improvement (when your condition cannot be improved any further), before negotiating with the insurance company. This will ensure that all of your medical bills are included in the settlement, as well as any permanent long-term care that you will need.
How Much is My Virginia Pedestrian Accident Case Worth?
Depending on the specifics of the crash, pedestrians may be entitled to one or more of the following types of compensation:
- Medical costs. When recovering from an accident, it’s easy to rack up thousands of dollars in medical bills – none of which you, as a victim, should pay for. We seek compensation for those bills, as well as physical therapy and any future medical expenses associated with the injury.
- Lost wages. When you’re injured, you’ll likely have to miss work to fully recover. You can sue for the paychecks you missed out on. Pedestrian accidents often put people out of work for months. The loss of future earnings of your injuries can also be included in your settlement.
- Pain and suffering. Even after the physical wounds have healed, the emotional and psychological pain of an accident can last for years. Compensation for this pain and suffering can and may be included in your settlement.
- Punitive damages. Drivers are often punished for their negligence through this kind of damages. Punitive damages serve as a deterrent for the driver from ever acting so negligently again.
- Wrongful death. When a pedestrian is killed in a crash, they often leave behind a family. That family has to shoulder medical bills and funeral costs – and the loss of future income from their main source of income. The emotional loss cannot be undervalued, either. The loss of companionship and affection is irreplaceable. But compensating a family following the wrongful death of a family member in a pedestrian accident is the fair thing to do.
Virginia Pedestrian Accident Time Deadlines
In our state, there are strict deadlines for filing a lawsuit. In many cases, the Commonwealth of Virginia provides a two-year deadline also known as a Statute of Limitations. However, special circumstances apply depending on the age or disability of the person injured. Don’t wait to seek compensation – speak an experienced attorney as soon as possible after the accident. This is vitally important in protecting your rights so that you can receive the maximum settlement for your case. If a deadline is missed, your opportunity to file a claim may be lost forever.
Call Virginia Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Richard Serpe Today
If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you should know your legal rights. Call attorney Richard Serpe now for your free, no obligation case review 877-544-5323. We charge no legal fees unless you receive a settlement and it will cost you no money to get started on your case.
