Pedestrian accidents seriously injure thousands of people every year. In many cases, the pedestrians who are hurt in these incidents are entitled to compensation for their accident-related losses. But when? And how do you know if you are entitled to compensation yourself?

People Who are Hurt by the Negligence of Others Can Usually Recover Compensation

If your accident was caused by the negligence of someone else - like the driver who hit you - you would likely be able to get compensation for your damages. Negligence occurs when a person fails to use the degree of care that would ordinarily be used by a person in the same or similar circumstances. Some common examples of driver negligence that can lead to pedestrian accidents include:

• Speeding
• Distracted driving
• Failure to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks
• Drunk or drugged driving
• Ignoring stoplights
• Driving without headlights at night or in bad weather
• Failing to adjust driving to poor weather conditions

These are just a few of the common causes of pedestrian accidents. The best way to find out if you are entitled to compensation for your accident is to talk to an attorney as soon as you can.

Do You Really Need a Lawyer to Handle Your Case?

You may be curious about whether you actually need an attorney to handle your pedestrian accident case - especially if the driver’s insurance company is willing to settle. The fact is that all accident victims should retain a lawyer, even if it is certain that their case is not going to court. Insurance companies want to settle every case for as little as possible, and they are not above taking advantage of unrepresented clients to do so. Some of the things they may do to try and get you to settle for less than your claim is worth include:

• Making a laughably low initial offer to make later offers look good
• Ask if they can dig through your medical records to find anything that could justify calling your injuries part of a pre-existing condition
• Pressuring you to provide a recorded statement during which they ask you confusing questions designed to get you to say something that can hurt your case
• Telling you that you are not entitled to compensation for certain types of losses when you are entitled to compensation for those losses
• Attempting to settle your case before you can talk to a lawyer

Fortunately, when you retain a lawyer, you can rest assured that your rights will be protected throughout the entire claims process.

Call Us Today to Schedule a Free Consultation

If you have been involved in a pedestrian accident, it’s in your best interest to contact a lawyer as soon as you can. At Salam & Associates, we know how to get our clients the compensation they deserve. Our lawyers are licensed in Texas, New Mexico, Michigan, and D.C./ To schedule a free case evaluation with an attorney, call our office today at 866-640-8998 or send us an email at [email protected].