Do I Need a Pedestrian Accident Attorney?
Hire a pedestrian accident attorney if you suffer injuries while walking.
Rely on an attorney because of:
- The complicated nature of lawsuits and claims: Insurance claims are common after pedestrian accidents but are nevertheless complex. Lawsuits grow more complicated than claims. Having an experienced pedestrian accident attorney handle these processes may be in your interest.
- The time and energy requirements of a claim or lawsuit: It may be easy to underestimate how much time and energy a claim or lawsuit requires but don't. You may quickly become overwhelmed. Even worse, you may not get the compensation you deserve because you lack the time or energy to handle your claim correctly.
- Confusing laws and rules: Each claim or lawsuit occurs within a larger legal landscape. A law firm should understand the laws and regulations governing claims and lawsuits. For those not versed in the law, statutes and fine print can be very confusing.
- Your physical, emotional, and psychological well-being: Pedestrian accidents can cause severe injuries. Whenever injuries happen, the victim’s focus should be on their physical, psychological, and emotional health. You may neglect your recovery if you try to handle a pedestrian accident lawsuit.
You may also place value on a law firm’s resources. From legal experience to in-house investigators and paralegals, a pedestrian accident attorney may have resources you do not.
Pedestrian Accident Attorneys Make Their Services Affordable to All
You’ll find that many pedestrian accident attorneys offer a contingency fee structure. This structure often benefits the client, who does not have to pay for any attorney out of their own pocket.
A
lawyer only receives a contingency fee if they handle your case successfully.
As the client in a contingency fee arrangement, you:
- Will face no financial pressure: The firm that offers you a contingency handles all the upfront costs for your case. You might have to pay these costs alone without an attorney to lead your case.
- Won’t have to pay for ineffective representation: When a law firm charges a flat rate or charges by the hour, they generally receive their fee regardless of the case's outcome. In contingency fee structures, the attorney only gets a fee if they win the case. This means you'll only have to pay for genuinely effective legal representation if your attorney doesn't win, you'll owe them nothing.
- Know that your law firm shares your goal: Since your law firm will only receive a fee if they win your case, you’ll know that your lawyer is motivated to secure compensation for you. Because your attorney won’t receive an hourly rate, they are motivated to complete your case efficiently and successfully.
Though these are general facts about contingency fees, you should ask every firm you interview about their fee structure. You'll want to clearly understand your lawyer's fee arrangement and potential future obligations before hiring them.
What Does a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Do?
Your
pedestrian accident lawyer should handle every step in your lawsuit or insurance claim. Every case is different, but your lawyer should be ready to:
Gather Evidence and Interview Witnesses
Your lawyer will lay the groundwork for your case. This generally means gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, getting the police report for your accident, and obtaining other vital information.
Document Your Damages
Damages in pedestrian accident cases may include:
- Medical expenses
- Damage to your personal property
- Lost wages
- Lost earning ability
- Lost bonuses and benefits
- Pain and suffering
- Treatment for pain and suffering
Your attorney will create a record of your damages. They may use medical bills, images of your injuries, past earning statements, and other documentation to prove those damages. Your law firm of choice will also calculate the monetary cost of your damages.
Create a Legal Strategy
An attorney will determine how to seek compensation for you. Among other choices, they may help you decide whether to file an insurance claim or file a lawsuit.
Negotiate a Settlement
Pedestrian accident cases can settle before going to court. Your attorney may meet with representatives of liable parties to negotiate a settlement. They may run any offers by you, discussing the strengths and weaknesses of an offer. You will ultimately decide whether to accept or decline a settlement offer.
Take Your Case to Trial
Though a trial is not always necessary in pedestrian accident cases, it can be. Your attorney should be willing to go to trial, especially if you never receive a
fair settlement offer.
What Criteria Should You Use When Choosing a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer?
You may use your instincts to pick a lawyer. There are also objective criteria you can use in selecting an attorney.
You may consider:
- Whether the law firm handled pedestrian accident cases regularly
- How many victories the law firm has secured for clients
- The value of settlements and judgments the firm has secured for its clients
- How long the law firm has been practicing personal injury law in your area
- The law firm’s fee structure
- Client testimonials for the law firm (both positive and negative)
Take full advantage of free consultations, which most
personal injury firms offer. You can use these consultations to ask the firm important questions, including which attorney will handle your case. Discuss each law firm's culture, chemistry, and client service during your consultations.
Call an Injury Law Firm Today About Your Pedestrian Accident Case
Statistics show that pedestrian accidents are often fatal. If you lose a loved one in a pedestrian accident, an attorney can pursue a wrongful death claim if you meet the requirements. A lawyer can also help if you've suffered non-fatal injuries and experienced medical bills and other losses.
Call your law firm of choice today to discuss your case. Don't wait, as you may face a time limit for filing your lawsuit.
