Pedestrian accidents can happen in an instant but can leave you dealing with consequences for months or years. These collisions involving vehicles often lead to severe or fatal injuries. A Sapulpa pedestrian accident lawyer is beneficial to cooperate with if you decide to move forward with a case.
If you have been involved in a pedestrian accident that was not your fault, you need strong legal advocacy on your side. A Sapulpa personal injury lawyer understands how to build the strongest possible case to pursue potential compensation through settlements or personal injury claims. An attorney at BDIW can handle complicated legal processes so you can focus on healing and getting your life back on track.
Commonly Seen Types of Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrian accidents involving vehicles are, unfortunately, common occurrences. These accidents often lead to severe or even fatal injuries for pedestrians because of the size and speed differential. Common accident types include vehicles failing to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians in crosswalks, distracted driving leading to vehicles striking pedestrians, and drunk driving resulting in drivers being unable to properly control their vehicles.
Other frequent pedestrian accident situations involve drivers speeding, especially in areas with high foot traffic. Speeding reduces a driver’s ability to react in time to avoid striking a pedestrian. Other factors like weather and low visibility can also contribute to drivers striking pedestrians they do not see in time.
Pedestrian accidents often occur simply due to negligent driving behavior. Drivers should always be alert to the presence of pedestrians and drive at safe speeds. Failing to do so by disregarding traffic laws and safety precautions leads to tragic and avoidable collisions with pedestrians.
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SPEAK TO AN ATTORNEY TODAYWhat to Do Immediately After Your Accident
If you have been hit by a vehicle while walking, taking quick action can be crucial for obtaining possible compensation. First, seek any needed medical care right away, even if your injuries seem minor at first. Documenting injuries early establishes important evidence. You should also contact the police to file an official report on the crash, which can support your claim later.
Take photos of the accident scene from all angles if you are able to, as this visual evidence of what happened can be very useful. Get contact details and insurance information from the driver who hit you, as this facilitates the claims process. Write down the names and contact information of any witnesses on the scene as well.
Get in touch with an experienced pedestrian accident lawyer in Sapulpa right away. An attorney can handle interactions with insurance companies for you while you focus on recovery. They will also work to build the strongest case possible to help you obtain the full and fair compensation you deserve.
When You Did Not Seek Medical Attention
Even if you did not seek medical care immediately after your pedestrian accident, it is still important to get examined by a doctor. Some injuries, like soft tissue damage or concussions, can take days or weeks to manifest symptoms. An evaluation will document any issues caused by the collision. Make sure to inform your doctor that you were in an accident and give details about what happened.
Do not assume that just because you feel fine at first, you were not injured. The adrenaline after collisions can mask underlying problems that need treatment. Getting thoroughly checked out creates a record of medical evidence directly tying any injuries to the pedestrian crash. This makes it much easier to claim and receive compensation for medical bills, lost wages from missing work, pain and suffering, and other damages.
Seeking timely medical help also shows that you took reasonable actions to care for your health after the accident. It demonstrates you are not just filing a claim to take advantage of the situation. The right lawyer can still help you build a case even if you did not go to the doctor right away, but getting evaluated quickly is always wise.
Types of Possible Damages to Keep in Mind
You may qualify for several categories of damages. Compensatory damages cover actual financial costs you incur because of someone else’s negligence, like medical bills, lost income, and property loss or repairs. You could also receive additional damages for non-economic impacts such as pain and suffering resulting from physical injuries you experience.
Punitive damages may potentially apply as well in rare cases where the driver acted with reckless disregard for safety or gross negligence. These are meant to punish the at-fault party as an example to deter similar behavior endangering pedestrians. An attorney can advise if pursuing punitive damages may be applicable and appropriate for your situation after reviewing the details.
Keep track of all accident-related costs and losses you experience, including less quantifiable factors like emotional distress from injuries. Thorough documentation of how the incident has negatively impacted your life supports the pursuit of both economic and non-economic damages toward fair overall compensation. A pedestrian accident attorney in Sapulpa at BDIW can then potentially seek full recovery on your behalf.
Statute of Limitations
If you want to file a lawsuit seeking damages after a pedestrian accident, it is important to act quickly before statutes of limitations expire. In Oklahoma, you typically have two years after an incident to pursue a personal injury claim in court against the negligent party. Failure to file within this time period usually means you lose your right to recover compensation.
The two-year clock generally starts ticking from the actual date of the collision causing your injuries. However, in some cases, exceptions may apply if injuries were not immediately discovered or the full extent of damages could not be determined right away. It is wise not to unnecessarily delay consulting an attorney after any significant pedestrian accident.
Statutes of limitations can become complex legal issues, especially pertaining to pedestrians hit by vehicles. Having an attorney protects your interests so your case does not get derailed early by a missed deadline. When you have legal representation, you can likely better understand the strategies for negotiating an insurance settlement before considering going to court.
Contact a Sapulpa Pedestrian Accident Attorney
If you have sustained injuries as a pedestrian in an accident because of someone’s negligence, contact an attorney at BDIW to discuss your situation. We handle pedestrian accident cases in the Sapulpa area and understand how to build a strong claim toward possible maximum compensation. Call our office today to schedule a free initial consultation.
