Every seven minutes, a pedestrian is involved in an accident where they can suffer broken bones, spinal cord injury, or head injuries from the incident. This means that over 70,000 Americans are injured each year and 4,000 of those die every year due to these incidents. Pedestrians need to stay vigilant at all times so that their safety isn't compromised due to careless mistakes made by negligent drivers. A skilled Denver pedestrian accident lawyer can help protect your rights and get you the compensation that you deserve.
If you've been involved in a pedestrian car accident, the DCAL is here to help. Our knowledgeable team of experienced lawyers will work tirelessly to secure fair compensation for your injuries and those sustained by loved ones. Call us today at 720-770-5454 or use the contact form for a free consultation from one of our experienced attorneys!
What Causes Pedestrian Accidents?
Reckless driving can be devastating for pedestrians, especially when the common causes of pedestrian accidents are taken into account. 9 out of 10 pedestrian accidents are caused by drivers who don't pay attention to the road. The most common things that cause pedestrian accidents are:
- Drivers not looking both ways before turning,
- Distracted drivers who fail to yield when they come across pedestrians in crosswalks,
- Distracted driving like cell phone use,
- Speeding,
- And driving under the influence of alcohol.
In Denver, one-third of pedestrian accidents during the night. One in six pedestrian accidents involves a hit-and-run driver who leaves the scene without stopping to provide aid or identify themselves. Pedestrian accidents occur in urban areas significantly more than they do on country roads, but fatal ones also happen in these areas. Higher speed limits and winding roads with limited visibility create an environment with a higher chance for a pedestrian-car accident to take place.
What Should I Do If A Car Hits Me When I’m Walking?
After being hit by a car while walking, the most crucial step you can take is to contact an experienced Denver pedestrian accident attorney. At DCAL we offer free case evaluations and will work with every client on their unique needs. After a pedestrian-car collision in Colorado, here are the steps that you should take:
- Report the Accident: The first step is to call first responders and have the Denver Police Department file a report. You should collect your copy of the accident report from the office or order your own copy through Denver State Police. This document will provide information about who was at fault and how much insurance coverage you have for injuries sustained during an accident.
- Collect Evidence: When you are involved in a car accident, it is imperative that you document the event as soon as possible. Gather evidence from the scene of your accident to help prove who was at fault and what damages were caused. If possible, take photos of any injuries sustained at the time of the collision as well as pictures from around where the accident occurred. Get contact information from witnesses and the driver, their insurance policy information, and license plate number, and save all of your medical records.
- Get Medical Attention: It is vital that you get medical care as soon as possible. Waiting long to see a doctor will only delay your recovery and make it more difficult for them to diagnose what's wrong with you. Some injuries, like a traumatic brain or soft-tissue injury, require immediate treatment by an experienced specialist in order for the best chance of full recovery.
- Contact an Attorney: You’ve been in a car accident and now you have to deal with the aftermath. While you focus on your recovery journey, your Denver auto accident attorney from DCAL can help track down the at-fault party’s insurance company for potential claims that may be worth pursuing while helping protect yourself against any offers of settlement or statements given without legal counsel present.
How Can a Denver Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Help?
Pedestrian accidents are a complex process to navigate because you will have insurers and legal teams that want to make lowball settlements. However, with the help of a pedestrian accident attorney in Colorado with extensive experience, you can ensure you get fair treatment throughout the entire process. A legal team for pedestrian accidents can help with:
- Collecting all the evidence from the scene
- Make sure your injuries are evaluated by a trusted medical professional,
- Calculating your total economic losses, including lost wages, medical bills, etc.
- Calculating non-economic damages based on personal loss of enjoyment or consortium, or pain and suffering.
- Negotiating with the involved parties so you can reach a fair settlement agreement, if this fails they will represent you in court.
What Compensation is Available in Pedestrian Injury and Fatality Claims?
If you have been involved in an accident with a negligent motorist, it is important to know that there are several damages for which the insurance company pays on behalf of the at-fault driver. Under Colorado law you may be eligible for:
- Medical Bills: You may be eligible for all past and future medical costs related to your injuries, including the cost of an ambulance, surgery, doctors' bills from hospitals or clinics as well as any other necessary procedures. You might also receive compensation if you incurred significant physical therapy fees in order to regain mobility before returning back to work.
- Lost Income: If your injuries prevent you from going back to the job that you did before, lost income is not something that cannot be recovered. You can recover past and future earnings if these are prevented by accident-related disabilities.
- Disabilities: Disabilities can be a huge financial burden for most people. You may additionally be entitled to compensation if you lose the ability to take part in activities that you enjoyed before an accident.
- Pain and Suffering: Physical injuries can cause immense amounts of physical, mental, and emotional anguish that often go unspoken. The last thing you want to do is have your quality of life compromised because something like this happened without giving fair compensation.
- Wrongful Death: The Colorado law allows for the family of the deceased to receive compensation if they pass away from injuries sustained in an accident. This includes funeral expenses and loss of financial support, as well as emotional distress. Our wrongful death attorneys can help you through this process.
How Long Do I Have To File a Lawsuit After a Pedestrian Accident?
You have a limited time to file an injury claim following your accident and you cannot afford for this deadline to pass. In Colorado, there are usually only three years from when an injury occurred or death was reported before it's too late. As soon as you are ready to pursue compensation see a personal injury attorney so they can help with this process.
Colorado Pedestrian Laws
It is the responsibility of pedestrians to take precautionary measures in order to remain safe, and abiding by all pedestrian laws can be essential for doing so. Pedestrians are at risk when traveling on a roadway due to their vulnerability as they walk. Crossing both intersections and streets responsibly could save a life - keep these traffic laws in mind:
- Intersections With Traffic Signs: At a marked intersection with working traffic control signals, pedestrians must yield the right-of-way. When applicable, they follow flashing lights that say "Walk" or "Don't Walk."
- Intersections Without Traffic Signals: You have the right-of-way when crossing a street at an unmarked intersection. However, you cannot step into oncoming traffic that is close enough to be hazardous even if there is no stop sign or four-way stop motor vehicle blocking your path.
- Crosswalks: Crosswalks are a key component of the pedestrian infrastructure in our community. Pedestrians always have the right-of-way at marked crosswalks, but must yield when using an overhead crossing or tunnel.
Many drivers do not obey pedestrian laws, and their habits are dangerous. For example, they cut off pedestrians at crosswalks or run red lights when turning without yielding to them. This is a big problem since these types of violations can lead to deadly collisions with the pedestrians themselves! Even if you have the right-of-way as a pedestrian in order for safe crossing at intersections before drivers make turns; always look both ways first because many others don't abide by that rule and follow safety procedures either way - especially considering how frequently this sort of violation occurs.
Are Pedestrian Accidents Always the Driver's Fault?
It's the driver’s responsibility to stop people crossing streets and be careful when pedestrians are nearby. But pedestrians have some responsibilities too like using crosswalks and waiting at busy intersections or they may find themselves partly liable in an accident. Colorado law recognizes contributory negligence meaning how much compensation an injured party will get depends on how responsibly or recklessly someone behaved during their incident.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Attorneys Today
If you have been injured or lost someone close to you due to a negligent driver, then you may be able to take legal action. You can use these funds as compensation for medical expenses, loss of wages due to injury recovery time/loss of earning potential, pain and suffering from the incident, or grief resulting in death.
Here at DCAL, we understand that accidents and injuries can be devastating in more than one way. If you are living in the aftermath of a pedestrian accident or have suffered injury from an auto collision because someone else wasn’t paying attention to driving safely, our experienced Denver personal injury lawyers are here for you. We will fight tooth and nail on your behalf so fair compensation is granted as well as any physical rehabilitation needed to recover fully after suffering such trauma. Contact our personal injury law firm today to schedule a free consultation, call 720-770-5454!