Decatur Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

If you have been injured in a pedestrian accident in Decatur by no fault of your own, you deserve compensation for your injuries. Contact the Decatur pedestrian accident attorneys at Mama Justice today for a free consultation.

A pedestrian’s life can be changed forever after being hit by a car or truck. Along with learning to cope with crippling emotional trauma and serious physical injuries, you will almost certainly be expected to pay exorbitant medical bills even though you are unable to work. Additionally, the stress caused by the accident will be compounded by aggressive insurance adjusters that will do anything in their power to deny you the fair compensation you deserve for your injuries.

Alabama is different from almost every other state in that, in most cases, it gives the right of way to automobiles rather than pedestrians. This makes it essential for you to work with an experienced Decatur pedestrian accident attorney who understands the law and can effectively oppose the insurance company’s claims that you were at fault.

Here at Mama Justice – MW Law Firm, our dedicated personal injury lawyers have an impressive track record of successfully seeking compensation for pedestrian accident victims following their accidents. Our skilled personal injury attorneys will launch an independent investigation into your accident to determine who was truly at fault and build a strong pedestrian accident case for you.

Call our Decatur pedestrian accident lawyer today at (833) 626-2587 or complete our online form and schedule your free consultation.

Pedestrian Accident Statistics

Despite some bold nationwide efforts to make communities safer for pedestrians, the fatality rates remain high. In 2018, the number of pedestrians killed in car accidents rose by almost 4% for a total of 6,283 deaths. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, this is the highest pedestrian fatality rate the United States has seen since 1990.

In Alabama, pedestrian fatalities rose by 60% between 2008 and 2019. The counties with the highest percentages of fatal pedestrian accidents in the state were Mobile, Jefferson, and Montgomery. Pedestrian deaths tend to happen more frequently at night due to poor visibility, but anytime you are near a road, you are at risk of being hit by a car.

How Will You Prove Liability in My Alabama Pedestrian Accident?

Immediately after your accident, the driver who struck you will probably seem concerned about your well-being. Eventually, however, the finger-pointing is going to begin, and the driver might even try to say that it was your own fault. Of course, their insurance company has a financial motive to support its policyholder and shift the fault onto you.

At Mama Justice – MW Law Firm, our Decatur personal injury attorneys know what is at risk in your battle with the insurance provider. We will get to work right away by gathering evidence to prove who was really at fault, such as:

• Testimony from anyone in the area, including you, the driver, other drivers, and bystanders
• Footage from any security camera that might have recorded the accident
• Damage to the vehicle, such as a cracked windshield or a broken headlight, can help establish the driver’s speed during the impact
• The location of, and damage to, any personal property, like a purse or shoes, which can also define the vehicle’s speed
• Physical evidence at the scene, like victim drag marks, skid marks (or the lack thereof), visibility issues, whether traffic control devices were present and working, and whether there was a crosswalk in the area
• The driver’s phone records, which can prove it was being used at the time of the crash, showing that the driver was distracted
• Debit and card records, which could reveal the purchase of food or a drink just before the collision and provide proof of distraction, or recently purchased alcohol, which could be proof of drunk driving
• The driver’s social media accounts, where the driver may have posted something incriminating

We will also review your medical records in order to determine the full extent of your injuries and medical expenses. We will analyze all expenditures and losses currently arising from your accident and those you should anticipate in the future, including the pain, suffering, and inconvenience you have endured.

Our Decatur pedestrian accident lawyers will aggressively negotiate for the settlement you deserve. If the other side refuses to comply, we will take your case in front of a jury. If you were recently injured in a pedestrian crash and have already been given a settlement offer, contact our law firm as soon as possible for a free review of your case.

What Are My Rights as a Pedestrian in Alabama?

Alabama law defines a pedestrian as a person who is walking, standing, running, or jogging on or alongside a highway or public roadway. They are required to obey most of the same rules of the road as a driver. For example:

• Pedestrians are required to follow traffic signals, such as stoplights and crossing signals, and to cross inside a crosswalk when one is available.
• If crossing signals or a crosswalk are available at one or both ends of a block, pedestrians must use them. Crossing the street in any other way is considered jaywalking.
• Crossing an intersection transversely unless directed by a police officer or a signal is against the law.
• Where there is no crosswalk or crossing signals present, pedestrians must yield to traffic. They do not have the right of way.
• When a pedestrian is walking alongside a roadway, they are required to stay on the sidewalk if one is present.
• If only a shoulder is available, the law says that pedestrians have to stay as far away from the roadside as is practical.
• If a pedestrian has no choice but to walk on the roadway, they have to walk facing traffic and stay as close to the outside as possible. Pedestrians in this situation also must yield to traffic.

Alabama’s unforgiving pedestrian laws can make proving legal liability extremely difficult. If you plan to fight the insurance carrier alone as an injured pedestrian trying to recover financial compensation in Decatur, you have a formidable task ahead of you. The driver and the insurance provider will have ample opportunity to deny liability and point the finger at you.

Let our experienced Decatur pedestrian accident lawyer evaluate your case in a free legal consultation. Our legal team has spent decades protecting the rights of injured pedestrians throughout Alabama, and we are ready to do the same for you.

Can a Pedestrian Be Liable for a Pedestrian Accident?

Yes, it is possible for a pedestrian to be either partially or wholly liable for an accident. Although the state’s driving laws call for vehicles to yield to pedestrians in many situations, this doesn’t mean they are automatically at fault for any accident that takes place. Like drivers, pedestrians have a duty of care to obey laws that have been put in place to ensure their safety. Some of Alabama’s most commonly broken traffic laws involve pedestrians who:

• Crossed against a traffic signal
• Crossed the street outside a crosswalk
• Walked in a place where pedestrian access is clearly forbidden

There are multiple factors that need to be considered when determining fault for a pedestrian accident. If you were recently struck by a driver while you were on foot, reach out to our Decatur pedestrian accident attorneys today to find out what we can do for you.

Obtaining Compensation for Your Damages

Typically, pedestrians injured in an Alabama car accident are eligible to seek compensation for all or some combination of multiple damages, including:

Our pedestrian accident lawyer at Mama Justice has extensive experience handling pedestrian accident cases for victims in Decatur and across the entire state who have been harmed by negligent drivers. Contact our personal injury attorneys today to schedule a free initial consultation to get started on your case. We can help you seek compensation for all the damages you face so you are better positioned throughout the recovery process. Schedule a consultation with our pedestrian accident lawyer today to get started.

Common Causes of Decatur Pedestrian Accidents

Despite numerous statewide safety campaigns, many drivers are still negligent in the operation of their vehicles. In doing so, they put innocent lives in danger. The most common forms of driver negligence that result in serious pedestrian injuries or death include:

In Alabama and throughout the United States, more and more pedestrian accidents are being caused by distraction, either on the part of the driver, the pedestrian, or both. In fact, recent studies have shown that distracted driving is the leading cause of both pedestrian and motor vehicle accidents.

Some additional causes of pedestrian accidents are:

• Driving too fast for current road conditions, such as fog or rain
• Drugged driving
• Failing to yield, especially when making a lefthand turn
• Failing to look properly before entering the roadway from a parking lot or private driveway

If the driver who struck you received a citation and was later convicted, that is strong evidence that can be used in your claim. Unfortunately, it doesn’t guarantee that you will be awarded the full amount of financial compensation. Contrariwise, even if the defendant is exonerated, your personal injury claim is not doomed to fail.

The key to seeing a favorable outcome to your pedestrian accident claim is letting an experienced personal injury lawyer evaluate your claim and advise you on what to do next. Schedule a free case review with our pedestrian accident lawyer at your earliest convenience to get started.

What to Do If You’re Involved in a Pedestrian Accident

If you have been hit by a motor vehicle while traveling on foot or by bicycle, take the following steps after the crash:

• Get Medical Help: If you are badly injured, seek immediate medical care by calling 911. If you think you managed to escape unharmed, you should still see a doctor as soon as possible. There are many injuries, such as whiplash and brain damage, that do not display symptoms until several hours or even days after an accident. Getting a prompt medical diagnosis can not only save your life but it will also prevent the insurance company from saying you sustained your injuries after the accident.
• Document the Scene: Use your phone to take photos or videos of the accident scene. Document as much as possible about what happened.
• Notify Law Enforcement: This will generate a police crash report. This will describe who was involved and how the accident happened. Make sure you get a copy since the information it contains will help your case.
• Keep Your Mouth Shut: Don’t discuss fault, admit fault, or even apologize. If the driver’s insurance provider contacts you, do not speak to them. They are looking for something to use against you so they can discredit your claim.
• Report To Your Insurance Company: Inform your insurer of the accident, but do not sign anything or agree to anything until you speak to one of our attorneys.
• Speak With An Experienced Lawyer: Call the Decatur law offices of MW Law – Mama Justice and schedule your free case evaluation as soon as possible. A reputable attorney will meet with you and give you advice without forcing you to sign with them or demanding any payment. Based on their suggestions and advice, you can decide what is best for you and what you are going to do next.

Our skilled and knowledgeable pedestrian accident attorney at Mama Justice can help to evaluate your case and determine the best approach toward helping your get justice. Schedule a free consultation with our team today to get started.