Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

If you were hit by a car while walking or bicycling, then you should make a call to a pedestrian accident lawyer.

Doctors recommend that we walk more frequently to prevent obesity and other ailments; and for some people, walking or cycling is their only means of getting around.  You shouldn’t have to take your life into your own hands if you decide to go for a walk, run or bike ride.  But sometimes that’s exactly what pedestrians do.  Did you know that a pedestrian setting out on a walk is one-and-a-half times more likely to die on such a walk than a passenger in a car?

This stark fact is astonishing!  But it’s the world we live in.  If you are someone who headed outside to walk the dog or crossed the street while shopping and were hit by a car, you may be entitled to financial compensation.  An experienced pedestrian accident lawyer can file a claim on your behalf.  For a free initial consultation about your case, contact us at (251) 444-7000.  Our pedestrian accident lawyers can answer all your questions and guide you through the legal process.

Why Do I Need a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer?

In Foley, Alabama, and elsewhere, there are dozens of lawyers to choose from who can file a claim.  But choosing the right lawyer is so important!  Attorneys specialize in different kinds of law – property, contracts, estate planning.  You want to make sure you choose an attorney who specializes in pedestrian injury law.  At Caldwell Wenzel & Asthana, we have years of successful legal experience representing clients just like you.  Our pedestrian injury lawyers are compassionate and skilled at building cases against negligent drivers.  You can trust our skill and experience.

How Much Does a Pedestrian Accident Attorney Cost?

One thing you will never have to worry about is paying any money up front to us.  We can file your claim free of charge.  At Caldwell Wenzel & Asthana, we have our “no fee guarantee,” which means we don’t get paid until you get paid.  Any fee we receive comes out of the financial settlement or jury award you receive from your lawsuit.  If for some reason the case is not successful, then we waive our fees and you owe nothing.  What have you got to lose?

We Can Help

If you have been hit by a car and injured while crossing the street or walking on the sidewalk, contact a Foley, Alabama, pedestrian accident attorney today at (251) 444-7000.  You don’t have to suffer alone.  We are here for you.  While you take care of yourself and recover from your injuries, we will handle the legal side of things to secure the financial compensation you deserve.

What To Do After a Pedestrian Accident

If you’ve been injured or a member of your family was injured or killed in a pedestrian accident caused by a negligent driver or property owner in Alabama, you are entitled to make a claim for monetary compensation for both your economic and non-economic losses.

To protect your right to recover for your injuries:

• Call the police immediately and make a report.
• Remain at the scene of the accident until help arrives.
• Record the names and contact information for any witnesses and, if possible, have someone take photos of the scene.
• Do not discuss your physical condition with anyone.
• Get prompt medical attention and avoid interaction with any insurance company representative.
• Hire a pedestrian accident attorney to represent you.

The driver of the vehicle that hit you or the owner of the premises where you tripped and fell will often try to place the blame for the accident on you.  Or they may claim that your injury was not caused by the accident but by something else. Your experienced pedestrian accident attorney will investigate the facts of your case and, when necessary, engage the services of expert witnesses, including accident reconstructionists and medical professionals, to testify on your behalf.

Statistics About Pedestrian Accidents

In 2016, 5,987 pedestrians were killed in the U.S. after being struck by motor vehicles.  On average, a pedestrian was killed every 1.5 hours in vehicle crashes nationwide.

Pedestrian deaths in 2016 were up 9% over the number of pedestrian fatalities (5,495) in 2015, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).  In 2016, 16% of all traffic fatalities were pedestrians.

Evening rush hour is the most deadly time for pedestrians.  In 2016, 26% of pedestrian fatalities occurred between 6 p.m. and 8:59 p.m. when commuters were in a hurry to get home from work.

Perhaps counterintuitively, the vast majority of pedestrian fatalities did not occur at intersections or crosswalks.  Roughly 18% of pedestrian deaths in 2016 happened at intersections, while 72% of these deaths occurred at non-intersections – the walkers and bikers were hit by the roadside, on sidewalks or when passing in and out of traffic.

More than 3 times as many pedestrians were killed in the dark (75%) compared to pedestrian deaths during daylight hours (22%).  Alcohol use was reportedly involved (by driver or pedestrian) in 48% of pedestrian vehicular deaths in 2016.

Driver Negligence Causes Pedestrian Injuries & Deaths

Many of these pedestrian fatalities and injuries could be prevented and would not have happened if not for improper, negligent, or careless driver behaviors. The privilege of driving comes with a duty of care to others. When a driver fails to exercise reasonable care, that driver is said to be negligent.

Some common examples of driver negligence include:

• Drunk driving
• Speeding
• Distracted driving
• Disregarding traffic signs and signals
• Failure to yield
• Failure to signal a turn or lane change
• Unsafe turns.

These are among the major causes of pedestrian injuries and wrongful death that can be attributed to driver negligence.  There are many, many other ways that a driver can be careless and at fault.

A Lawyer for a Pedestrian Hit By a Car

Our team of pedestrian accident attorneys at Caldwell Wenzel & Asthana in Foley, Alabama, have assisted many accident victims in obtaining just compensation. Call us today at (251) 444-7000 to schedule a free consultation to learn what legal options are available to you.

We offer a “no-fee guarantee,” which means you pay us nothing up front.  If you win your case, our fees are paid out of the financial settlement or jury award.  If the case is not successful, then we waive our fees and you pay nothing.

How Serious Does My Injury Have to Be?

We believe that all injuries are serious.  Whether you sustained multiple broken bones and are laid up in a hospital bed or whether you were able to stand and walk after the accident, in either case a careless driver caused you pain and injury because of his or her own negligence.  You are facing medical bills, missed earnings and a life that has been turned upside down.  Even if no bones were broken, you may have sustained a head wound, concussion or spinal injury.  ALWAYS get checked out by a doctor after any pedestrian injury or slip and fall.  Sometimes it’s the things we can’t see, like internal injuries, that turn out to be the most dangerous.

Will I Have to Testify in Court?

The reality is that most of these types of cases are settled long before they reach the courtroom.  Oftentimes, insurance companies and others do not want to spend the time and money to go to trial, so they offer a financial settlement to save time.  This means you likely will not have to testify in court.  Ultimately, though, you are the injured party and you are in charge of the decisions.  Our pedestrian accident lawyers will guide and advise you, and we will also listen closely to your wants and needs.

So don’t worry or be filled with trepidation.  You will ultimately have the final say-so about whether or not you take the stand or testify.  We will cross that bridge when we come to it.

How Much Financial Compensation Can I Receive?

Individual cases vary widely in facts, injuries and complexity, so there is no one easy formula to determine financial compensation in Foley, Alabama.  However, if injuries are serious and if the driver showed blatant and gross disregard for the safety of others (especially if the driver is a repeat offender), then financial compensation for victims can run into hundreds of thousands of dollars or more.  For a more precise analysis of the financial compensation you might receive in your case, contact our pedestrian accident attorneys at (251) 444-7000.

Key Factors in Determining Compensation

As a quick review, here are key factors to consider when estimating a potential financial settlement:

• The severity of your injuries
• The impact of your injuries on your daily life and routine
• The amount of time you have missed at work
• The nature and extent of your medical treatment
• The impact your injuries will have on your ability to earn a living in the future
• Your chances for a full recovery (if you suffer permanent or long-term injuries, dollar value goes up very fast)
• Lost opportunities attributable to your injuries.

What Happens to the Driver If Convicted?

Negligent or intoxicated driving that causes injury to pedestrians is a serious crime.  In the worst cases, drivers can be charged with homicide if a pedestrian is killed and the driver is clearly at fault.  If convicted, negligent drivers in pedestrian accidents typically face jail time and expensive fines.  In fatal cases, especially if the driver is a repeat offender, he or she can be sentenced to years in prison. Criminal charges are filed by the authorities and are prosecuted in criminal court.

No one walking their child to school on a sidewalk or getting some exercise with a leisurely bike ride should ever have to worry about being injured or killed.  They should feel safe, protected and able to relax.  This is what we all expect in a civilized society.  However, through the selfishness and negligence of some drivers, many pedestrians every year are hit by cars, trucks and SUVs.  It’s unacceptable, and any pedestrian injury victim deserves financial compensation through the civil court system.

Call for a Free Consultation

Sustaining an injury through no fault of your own is always a distressing experience.  Most people believe they are safe when they step outside their door and take a walk to the park, grocery store or a neighbor’s house.  The negligence or intoxication of vehicle drivers can shatter this picture of simplicity and relaxation for a pedestrian unfortunate enough to cross their path.  If you have been injured by a vehicle while walking or riding a bike, contact the pedestrian accident attorneys at our firm at (251) 444-7000. We will work hard to get you the financial compensation you deserve.