If you are a pedestrian involved in an accident with a vehicle, there is a good chance there are going to be some personal injuries that require immediate and possibly long-term care. In order to make sure the offending driver pays for all of your present and future medical needs, you may want to get in touch with a pedestrian accident attorney. In many states and in many communities pedestrians have the right of way at most intersections and even those who cross in the middle of the block without crosswalks, the blame may be attributed to the driver of the vehicle.
However, many drivers will insist that the pedestrian played a major role in the accident and their insurance company may agree, attempting to deny the injured walker compensation for their injuries. A reputable pedestrian accident attorney can help investigate the accident and make the offending driver pay for any injuries they caused. One of the largest contributors to pedestrian accidents are the laws enacted in many states allowing drivers to make a right turn on red, after they stop and the lane in clear for them to turn.
At intersections with traffic signals, the laws usually allow the pedestrians to cross when the light is green for traffic flowing in the same direction as the pedestrian. One of the issues for pedestrians, is the walk signal, if available, typically does not allow enough time to complete the crossing, although the light is still green in their direction. These last few moments are to allow the pedestrian to complete the crossing before the light turns red.
Crossing against the light may prove challenging, as well as illegal and in some instances may result in no charges being filed against the driver. Additionally, if the pedestrian is found responsible for being hit by a vehicle, any damage to the vehicle will be the responsibility of the pedestrian.
Those that are hit by a car are advised to contact a pedestrian accident attorney to insure they are not held responsible for damages that they did not cause. The attorney can also help insure the offending driver is held responsible to the extent they are blamed following an official police report. When pedestrians step off the sidewalk in the middle of the block and into the path of an approaching vehicle, they are usually taking their life, as well as the responsibility for their medical bills, into their own hands.
However, when crossing at a marked intersection and the pedestrian has the right of way, any vehicle turning onto that roadway is required to yield to any pedestrians in the affected crosswalk. Failure to do so can result in a failure to yield citation along with the responsibility of paying for any injuries resulting in an accident with a pedestrian.
To insure the victim is adequately compensated for injuries, they should contact a personal injury law firm, who will be able to advise them on whether or not they can claim restitution for any charges incurred as a result of their collision with a vehicle.
