Proven New Jersey Pedestrian Accident Attorneys
Aggressive Representation for Personal Injury Victims
It may surprise you to learn that car-pedestrian accidents are more commonplace than you think. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 75,000 people were hurt in 2018 in car-pedestrian collisions. Unfortunately, when you collide with thousands of pounds of metal, even if it’s moving at a relatively slow speed, the consequences can be devastating.
If you’ve been hurt as a pedestrian because of the carelessness of a motorist, you want an experienced and proven lawyer to help you get the compensation you need and deserve. The Lee Law Firm can help. Call us at 973-295-5847 or send us an email to set up a free initial consultation.
How Do I Get Compensation for a Pedestrian Accident Injury?
The best way to get full and fair compensation after being hit by a car is to hire an experienced personal injury lawyer. You can turn to your insurance company, but they have a vested interest in paying you as little as possible (it’s how they maximize their profits). An attorney, on the other hand, will typically be paid a percentage of your recovery, so there’s an incentive to get as much as possible for you.
In most instances, to get the monetary compensation you need, you’ll have to file a personal injury lawsuit. If liability is clear, there’s a good chance that your attorney will be able to negotiate a settlement that meets your needs.
The Different Types of Pedestrian Accidents
As a general rule, pedestrian accidents result from carelessness or negligence by a driver:
- A motorist may back out of a parking lot, parking space or driveway without looking for pedestrians
- A motorist may turn a corner into a crosswalk without first looking to see if there’s anyone there
- A driver’s view may be obstructed by a bus or large vehicle
- A driver may move through the crosswalk too soon—The pedestrian may enter the crosswalk with the “Walk” sign, but fail to get across in time, putting him or her at risk when a motorist looks only at the traffic light
The Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents
There are a number of factors that lead to automobile-pedestrian collisions:
- Motorists fail to obey traffic laws—A driver may fail to stop at a red light or stop sign, make an illegal turn or fail to yield to the right of way of pedestrians in a crosswalk
- Motorists may lose control after an accident—A pedestrian may be injured as a bystander when there’s a motor vehicle accident
- A driver may be distracted—A motorist may be paying attention to a mobile device, to the car radio, to other passengers or to some other roadside distraction
- A driver may be under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- A driver may fail to take weather conditions into account—There may be poor visibility or wet/icy roads
Things You Should Do after a Pedestrian Accident
If you have been involved as a pedestrian in a collision with a motor vehicle, your first concern should be your health. The most important thing to remember—this isn’t the time to be brave. Chances are your injuries are severe, so accept that you’ve been injured. Don’t try to shake it off and walk away. If you can’t easily get up and move around under your own power, stay right where you are until emergency medical personnel arrive. They’ll be able to conduct an immediate assessment and determine whether you need to go immediately to the hospital.
Even if you can walk away from the accident, you should immediately seek medical attention, either at an emergency room, an urgent care facility or with your primary care physician. You want to have a thorough examination and have medical professionals carefully document all your injuries. Be sure to tell them about anything that seems out of the ordinary. Don’t focus on the obvious injures—cuts or bruises—and neglect to mention the stiffness in your neck or back.
If possible, gather information from all parties to the accident, as well as any witnesses. If your injuries prevent you from doing that, ask someone else to get contact information, so that your attorney can interview them at a later date. Use your phone to take pictures of anything relevant to the accident—your injuries, any damage to vehicles, the weather conditions, skid marks on the road or roadway defects.
As soon as possible, find an experienced personal injury attorney to represent you. Your lawyer will become your liaison with insurers, helping you get all the benefits to which you are entitled. Your attorney can also help you take the right steps to preserve critical evidence and put together the strongest case for full financial recovery.
Schedule Your Free Consultation with a New Jersey Pedestrian Accident Attorney Today
You have a right to full and fair compensation when you have been injured as a pedestrian in a motor vehicle accident. At the Lee Law Firm, we can help. We offer a free initial consultation in all pedestrian accident injury claims and will come to your home or the hospital to meet with you, if necessary. To set up an appointment, contact us by e-mail or call our offices at 973-295-5847. Evening and weekend meetings can be arranged, if necessary. Nosotros Hablamos Español!
We represent injured pedestrians in a contingent fee basis. We won’t charge any legal fees unless we recover monetary damages for you.