Pedestrian accidents in Lawrenceville can occur at any time, causing serious injuries along with possible long-term medical conditions. Some accidents even cause pedestrians to die from their injuries every year.
Injury victims and their families can find solace in the fact that they can potentially reclaim their financial losses and other damages by filing a personal injury case with the help of a qualified Lawrenceville pedestrian accident lawyer. If successful, you can recover the costs of medical treatment, your lost wages, and any property damage. In many cases, you can also receive compensation for the pain and suffering and other losses you have experienced.
At Andersen, Tate & Carr, we care deeply about our clients and their ability to recover after a devastating pedestrian accident in Lawrenceville. We vigorously research every case to find evidence of your injury, its cost, and the direct fault of other parties. Our clients benefit from strategies that give them high chances of recovering the maximum amount of available damages.
Schedule a free appointment with one of our pedestrian accident lawyers in Lawrenceville today to learn more about your options and your best strategies for pursuing compensation. To schedule your free, no-obligation consultation now, call (770) 237-9860 or contact us online.
Common Reasons for Pedestrian Accidents in Lawrenceville
Lawrenceville’s downtown area is noted for its walkability and classic charms, but pedestrians are not always protected from motor vehicles throughout the city. Pedestrian accidents happen all too often, many times as the result of a careless action by a driver.
According to statistics for Gwinnett County, where Lawrenceville is located, there were 68 motor vehicle accident-related pedestrian deaths in the county from 2013 to 2017. 2017 saw the highest number of all: 20, a 53% increase from the year before.
Some pedestrian accidents were the results of mistakes the pedestrian made. The pedestrian may have been crossing the street illegally outside of a designated crosswalk or intersection (jaywalking). They may also have been inebriated, causing them to misjudge when it was safe to cross in front of traffic.
However, many pedestrian injuries and deaths can be attributed to negligent acts committed by drivers. Common driver-related causes of pedestrian accidents include:
- Failing to survey surroundings
- Speeding
- Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Driving while fatigued
- Failure to abide by right of way laws
- Failure to stop at a designated crosswalk
- Aggressive driving
- Distracted driving
- Driving too fast for conditions
When a driver is determined to have been at fault and to have caused the accident, there is a high chance that the case can be filed through the driver’s third-party liability insurance. Many of these cases can be resolved by negotiating with the appropriate third-party liability insurance carrier, but your Lawrenceville pedestrian accident attorney will be willing to take your case to court if he or she thinks that is the only way you can pursue fair compensation for your injuries.
Damages Available in a Lawrenceville Pedestrian Accident
Every accident case is different, but most will involve filing for damages in one or all of the following categories:
- Medical bills, past and future
- Income lost from missed work
- Property damage
- Out-of-pocket expenses, including prescriptions, medical devices, etc.
- Pain and suffering
- Compensation for permanent disability or disfigurement
Accurately assessing the full extent of your damages can often require the help of an experienced pedestrian accident attorney in Lawrenceville. He or she will be able to review your case and compare it to other, similar cases in terms of your resulting medical diagnosis, expected healing time, and other complicating factors.
Your attorney can also obtain sworn statements from medical and economic experts attesting to the extent of your injuries, whether all treatments were “necessary,” how much you can expect to pay for long-term rehabilitation, how much income you have lost total while missing work, and a number of other factors.
Dealing with Insurers After Your Pedestrian Accident
The first step for most pedestrian accident cases is to file a claim. Your claim should account for all available damages, including both past and future losses.
Unfortunately, insurers have a strong motivation to reduce the value of your claim or deny it altogether. They frequently use tactics like obtaining a recorded statement that can be used to misrepresent your claim, such as pointing out inconsistencies in how much pain you reported immediately following the accident compared to weeks later. They may also request full access to your complete medical history, which may then be used to say that some of your injuries were the result of prior medical conditions, for example.
Most common of all, the insurer may simply offer up a low initial settlement and suggest that the injury victim must “take it or leave it” without any room for dispute.
Injury victims and claimants have rights, and that includes the right to limit the amount of information you provide to insurers. They can also appoint a Lawrenceville pedestrian accident attorney to represent them and negotiate with insurers on their behalf. Your attorney can advise you as to the best strategies to take given your situation, and they can also prevent common mistakes that can lessen the value of a claim.
Work with an Experienced Pedestrian Accident Lawyer in Lawrenceville
Having an experienced attorney can make all the difference in your Lawrenceville pedestrian accident case. Having worked on cases similar to yours in the past provides insights on how to best approach your case, the best evidence to provide, and the types of legal justifications that often succeed in court. Well-versed pedestrian accident lawyers are also aware of the processes insurers use to weigh the strengths of a claim, allowing your lawyer to present the most convincing case possible to increase the chances of obtaining a fair settlement offer.
Most injured pedestrians are never aware of the full value of their case unless they speak with a Lawrenceville pedestrian accident attorney.
You can schedule your free, no-obligation case evaluation now when you call the law offices of Anderson, Tate & Carr at (770) 237-9860 or contact us online.