For every pedestrian on the street, the worry of being party to a pedestrian accident is always a present threat. The problem with most pedestrian accidents is that the vehicle’s driver is more often than not likely to run away.
This situation places the victim of the accident at a very significant disadvantage, especially if they don’t have the requisite expertise or experience in handling such matters. Therefore, if you are in a pedestrian accident, it is always an excellent idea to seek the assistance of a pedestrian accident lawyer.
Lawyers Can Track Down the Defendant
In the event of a hit-and-run accident, your pedestrian car accident lawyer is in a perfect position to track down the driver or vehicle owner. Tracking down the driver of a vehicle is a challenging and time-consuming activity. When drivers run away from the scene of an accident, having a lawyer will be very important for you as it will allow the lawyer to handle the matter for you and track down the vehicle’s driver. The lawyer will then institute proceedings on your behalf to enable you to obtain justice from the courts.
Lawyers Can Help You Establish Fault
In many pedestrian accident cases, the plaintiff must establish that the other party’s at fault before obtaining any orders from the court. Establishing fault is a very technical and detailed legal venture. As such, you must have a lawyer willing to handle the matter for you.
Having a lawyer will be very instrumental since the lawyer has the requisite skills and experience to prove that the defendant is responsible for the accident to allow you to obtain the orders from the court. Therefore, it is advisable to have a lawyer with some experience handling such matters.
Determination of Damages
After determining that the other party is at fault, the next step is to establish how much you will be paid to restore you to your position before the accident. This is a legal process referred to as the quantification of damages. Lawyers have experience handling such matters and know what damages the plaintiff in pedestrian accident cases can claim.
Damages could include the amount of money spent in the hospital, any psychological trauma you experienced, lost wages, and property damage. The lawyer is responsible for advising you on whether this applies to you and if you could also claim any other kind of compensation.
Dealing with Court Procedures
Court procedures are a very significant element of the judicial process. These procedures allow for consistency in court proceedings and access to justice. However, procedures are often very intricate and demanding. As such, one would require a lawyer with experience in civil matters in the jurisdiction of the accident to ensure that the defendants do not get away with causing the accident simply because of technical procedural issues. Lawyers will handle matters such as the filing of the case, the introduction of evidence, and other detailed procedural elements that the case may demand.
Dealing with Insurance Companies
After the occurrence of the accident, the driver of the vehicle may be liable for the action. However, if the driver is insured, it becomes the insurance company’s responsibility to offer the victim compensation for the accident. However, since insurance companies are in business, they are motivated to spend the least money to pay the victims. Insurance companies are likely to refuse to honor the claims. As such, you will need a lawyer to deal with the insurance company to ensure they pay the compensation you deserve.
Negotiations
Not all pedestrian accident cases proceed to trial. The plaintiff and the defendant may opt to settle the matter out of court through negotiations or other alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. In such instances, you will need a lawyer to negotiate on your behalf to recoup the most from the negotiations. In negotiations, the parties are not protected by judges. Therefore, it is very likely for the defendant’s side to get away with paying very little in terms of the settlement. Getting a lawyer will ensure that you get the settlement that you deserve.
Avoiding Costs
Litigating personal injury cases and other civil matters is very costly. One would need to pay for different things, including court fees and additional costs of litigation. Litigation can be very challenging, especially if the accident victim is still undergoing treatment. Getting a lawyer will help avoid these costs since most pedestrian accident lawyers work on contingency. Working on contingency means that the lawyer will only be paid when they win and that they will recoup their payment from the settlement won.
Conclusion
The aftermath of an accident is ordinarily a very trying and strenuous time. However, you do not have to shoulder the burden of the challenges of the accident alone. You can always seek a lawyer’s services to avoid dealing with the issues alone. Having a lawyer handle your pedestrian accident case is a wise decision. The lawyer will take away the stressful aspects of the negotiations or litigation, as it is their responsibility to advance your interests. Having a lawyer gives you peace of mind to focus on recuperating and recovering from the stressful and traumatic experience you may have had during a pedestrian accident.
