Pedestrian Injury Lawyer
Were you hit by a vehicle in Ohio? If so, you may be owed compensation from the driver. A pedestrian accident can cause serious, life-altering injuries. You should not be left to struggle with these injuries alone when someone else is to blame. Instead, turn to a pedestrian injury lawyer from Amourgis & Associates, Attorneys at Law for help holding the negligent driver accountable for their behavior.
Our firm fights for regular people hurt in accidents that were someone else’s fault. You have enough to worry about when you are focused on treating your injuries and getting back to work and regular life. Let us handle the rest. We can meet with you anywhere and anytime to review your legal options and answer your questions. Then, our attorneys can start building an effective legal claim to recover the compensation you need and deserve.
Reach out to Amourgis & Associates, Attorneys at Law to talk to a pedestrian injury lawyer from our firm. Let us help you better understand your legal options for seeking financial recovery during a free initial consultation.
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents
Even when pedestrians are walking safely, negligent drivers can strike. However, they aren’t the only ones contributing to pedestrian accidents. Frequent causes of accidents involving pedestrians include:
- Speeding
- Reckless driving, such as swerving through traffic or passing a stopped vehicle
- Distracted driving, especially texting while driving
- Drowsy driving
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Running red lights and stop signs
- Not yielding to pedestrians in crosswalks or intersections
- Turning without checking mirrors or ensuring the nearby crosswalk is clear
- Inadequate vehicle maintenance
- Defective tires or brakes
- Unsafe or defective intersection or crosswalk design, including broken traffic or pedestrian signals
Common Injuries Suffered in Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrians often suffer serious injuries in accidents with motor vehicles since they lack any form of protection. Some of the most common injuries that victims of pedestrian accidents suffer include:
- Road rash
- Burns
- Crush injuries
- Dislocated joints
- Ligament, tendon, or muscle injuries
- Broken bones
- Herniated disc injuries
- Whiplash
- Nerve damage
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Head and facial injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Traumatic amputation
What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident in Ohio
After being hurt in a pedestrian accident in Ohio, you need to act quickly to protect your legal rights and put yourself in a better position to pursue a compensation claim. You can set up a strong case by:
- Gathering evidence from the scene of the crash, including taking photos and video, collecting the driver’s information, and talking to eyewitnesses
- Seeing a doctor as soon as possible to document the injuries you sustained in the accident
- Following through on your provider’s treatment plan and instructions
- Notifying your auto insurer of the accident
- Keeping your bills, invoices, and receipts of expenses you incurred due to your injuries
- Saving copies of your income statements if you need to take time off work or become disabled
- Starting a journal to record your recovery, including the pain, impairment, and disruptions to daily life that you experience
- Consulting with a pedestrian accident lawyer from Amourgis & Associates, Attorneys at Law to learn more about your legal options
What If the Driver Flees the Scene of the Accident?
Drivers must stop at or immediately return to the scene of a motor vehicle accident. A driver who does not stop and help a pedestrian they have hit may be charged with the criminal offense of a hit-and-run. Police will gather information and evidence to locate the driver, such as eyewitness statements and surveillance or traffic camera footage. You can pursue compensation from the at-fault driver if law enforcement eventually tracks them down.
However, you may still have options for seeking compensation for your expenses and losses even if the driver who hit you cannot be found. You can turn to your auto insurance provider if you hold a car insurance policy with certain coverages. For example, if you have optional MedPay coverage, you can file a claim to recover compensation for medical expenses you incur to treat your injuries.
You can also pursue financial recovery for all your losses from a hit-and-run pedestrian accident if you have uninsured motorist coverage in your auto insurance policy. An unidentified hit-and-run driver is treated like an uninsured motorist. This allows you to file a claim with your insurer to recover the compensation you would be entitled to claim from the at-fault driver.
Compensation Available for Pedestrian Accident Injuries
Through a pedestrian accident claim, you could pursue compensation from the driver who hit you for losses such as the following:
- Medical and rehabilitation expenses, including hospital bills, prescriptions, doctor’s appointments, and physical or occupational therapy
- Lost income if you take time off work to recover from your injuries
- Lost future earning potential and employment benefits if you become permanently disabled from your job or other gainful work
- Physical pain and anguish
- Emotional distress or trauma caused by injuries, medical treatment, permanent disability, and scarring or disfigurement
- Repair or replacement expenses for damaged personal property
Talk to Our Experienced Pedestrian Accident Attorneys in Ohio Today
There’s no time to waste in pursuing a claim for financial compensation from the negligent driver who hit you. Contact Amourgis & Associates, Attorneys at Law today for a free, no-obligation consultation. We will explain how our skilled pedestrian accident attorneys can help you demand accountability and justice for the injuries you suffered. Our firm has office locations across Ohio to serve clients throughout the state. And because we work on contingency, you’ll only owe us a fee for our services if we successfully obtain compensation on your behalf.
