Have you suffered injuries from a pedestrian accident? Contact a skilled pedestrian accident lawyer at Mama Justice today.
Each year, thousands of Mississippi residents are left to deal with the life-changing physical and emotional trauma that comes after being involved in a pedestrian accident. The financial burden from medical bills only adds to the hardships that pedestrian accident victims have to endure after a crash.
If you’ve been struck by a motor vehicle, it’s essential to know that you may be entitled to financial compensation. Our team of Greenville pedestrian accident lawyers at Mama Justice has years of experience representing accident victims, and we may be able to help you, too. Contact our pedestrian accident lawyers today to learn more.
What Is a Pedestrian Accident, and What Do I Do If I’ve Been In One?
A pedestrian accident is a type of crash where a person or several people on foot are struck by a motor vehicle, such as a car, truck, or bus. Pedestrian crashes usually take place on a sidewalk or in a parking lot. In many ways, pedestrians are the most vulnerable party using the road, and these accidents frequently leave the victim severely injured or even dead.
It may be hard to remember all the proper steps to take following a pedestrian accident, and that’s normal. However, it’s essential to become familiar if you pursue legal action later. Here’s a list of what steps to take if you’ve been involved in a pedestrian accident:
- Get to safety. After a pedestrian accident, the most crucial step is finding safety. This may mean distance from the road or sidewalk where the crash occurred. Next, look yourself over for injuries–both major and minor. Since adrenaline is likely high, take extra care to search for more minor injuries that may not be immediately apparent. If necessary, call 911 and seek medical attention at a hospital.
- Contact law enforcement. No matter how minor the accident, it’s crucial to contact the police as soon as possible if you were struck by a vehicle as a pedestrian. This way, a police report can be created, which may serve as a valuable piece of evidence to determine fault and figure out the facts later on.
- Exchange information. Once you’ve contacted law enforcement, and if you are in a condition to do so, try to exchange information with the driver who hit you. This includes information about their insurance company and personal details such as legal name, phone number, email address, type of car, and license plate number.
- Gather and preserve evidence. While at the scene, try to gather evidence that may help you later. Examples include photos and videos of the car accident scene, the crash location, and any injuries you may have sustained. Additionally, in the hours and days following the pedestrian accident, keep track of evidence like medical bills, witness statements, and police reports.
- Explore legal options. Once you have recovered from your injuries, seeking legal guidance on your pedestrian accident case will be beneficial. Legal processes can be challenging to understand, so having an experienced Greenville pedestrian or car accident lawyer on your side will be an essential tool moving forward.
If you’ve been the victim of a pedestrian accident, the legal team at Mama Justice can help you identify the at-fault driver and seek the compensation you deserve. Our personal injury lawyers have decades of experience representing those injured in pedestrian collisions, and we may be able to help you.
What Are Common Injuries That Come From Pedestrian Accidents?
All pedestrian crashes can potentially cause severe injuries and even death in the worst-case scenario. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 65 pedestrians were killed in Mississippi in 2019, making our state the 12th deadliest in the country for pedestrians.
For the thousands of others who survive pedestrian collisions, daily life frequently becomes much more difficult due to debilitating injuries. Here’s a list of common injuries that come after pedestrian crashes in Mississippi:
- Head injuries and brain injuries
- Broken bones or torn ligaments
- Neck, arm, and leg injuries
- Severe road rash
- Spinal cord damage
- Lacerations, cuts, and burns
- Broken ribs
- Internal bleeding, bruising, or organ damage
- Soft tissue injuries
In addition to this list of physical injuries, being involved in a car or pedestrian accident also can leave lasting psychological impacts that negatively impact one’s mental health. Examples include post-traumatic stress disorder, phobias related to being near roads, depression, and anxiety.
No one should have to face the aftermath of a pedestrian accident alone. At Mama Justice, our personal injury lawyers pride ourselves on treating each client like family while fighting on their behalf to recover the total and fair compensation that you deserve. Call our law firm today for a free consultation and to learn more about your legal options.
What Causes Pedestrian Accidents In Greenville?
Pedestrian wrecks are often caused by negligent drivers, meaning an operator that fails to drive safely and acts without care for others on and near the road. Pedestrian accidents are frequently caused by the same factors as car accidents, although because a pedestrian is much smaller, drivers may be less likely to see them if they fail to drive with caution. Below is a list of some common causes of car accidents with pedestrians in Mississippi:
- Distracted driving. Distracted driving, such as driving while making a call or sending a text, decreases attentiveness and increases the likelihood of striking a pedestrian or causing a car accident.
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Driving while drunk or on drugs creates a massive risk for everyone on and near the road, especially pedestrians who may not be able to move out of the way as quickly as a car. In Mississippi, impaired driving made up 18% of traffic fatalities in 2016.
- Speeding. Thousands of Americans frequently break the speed limit and don’t consider it a hazard. Sadly, it only takes one speeding mistake to lead to a severe pedestrian accident.
- Falling asleep or drowsy driving. For working Americans, sleep or taking adequate rest before driving is often not prioritized. Unfortunately, like drinking and driving, driving while tired is irresponsible and leads to deadly auto accidents every year.
- Poor weather conditions. Greenville has its fair share of severe weather yearly, such as torrential rainstorms. This can lead to unsafe driving conditions, where drivers may not be able to see pedestrians or the sidewalk.
- Young or inexperienced drivers. Teenagers are most likely to get in a car accident nationwide, generally due to their inexperience and tolerance for risky behavior.
If you’ve been hit by a car while on foot, it’s crucial to contact a Greenville car accident lawyer. At Mama Justice, we will review your case and provide guidance throughout the legal process. Our law firm has a proven track record of recovering financial losses for pedestrian accident victims, and our accident lawyers may be able to help you as well. Contact car crash law firm today to learn more.
What Could I Recover Compensation For in a Pedestrian Accident Case?
Following a pedestrian accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation from the at-fault party, typically the driver of the vehicle that struck you. In legal terms, this is referred to as “recovering damages.” Less frequently, damages may also be recovered in pedestrian crashes from, for example, government entities, vehicle manufacturers, or any other party that might have contributed to the crash. Types of damages you might be able to recover include:
Economic Damages:
As it sounds, economic damages refer to the direct financial expenses you face resulting from a pedestrian accident. Monetary damages are typically able to be calculated more concretely, based on bills and estimates. Examples of economic damages that our law firm helps clients recover include:
- Medical care
- Attorney’s fees
- Lost wages
- Property damage
Non-Economic Damages:
Non-economic damages refer to damages you experienced that aren’t necessarily easy to calculate in monetary terms but are still related to your condition after the accident. Examples of non-economic damages include:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment
- Inability to do activities
- Reputation or emotional damage
Determining what damages and how much compensation you may be entitled to following a car accident is not easy and typically requires legal assistance. The legal team at Mama Justice will take the time to look your case over carefully and ensure that you recover the total amount of damages owed.
Pedestrian Accident Statistics
Being involved in a pedestrian accident can be an isolating experience, whether you are severely wounded at the hospital or bogged down with bills afterward. It’s important to remember that you aren’t alone. Each year thousands of people throughout the United States are impacted by pedestrian wrecks. Here’s a list of facts and statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:
- There were 6,205 pedestrians killed in Traffic Accidents in the United States in 2019.
- An estimated 76,000 people were injured in pedestrian accidents that year, a roughly one percent increase from 2018.
- That translates to a pedestrian killed every 85 minutes and injured every 7 minutes in traffic accidents.
- Of the pedestrians who were killed, 90% involved only a single vehicle, and 20% were hit-and-run pedestrian crashes.
- Overall, car accidents with pedestrians comprised 17% of all traffic-related deaths and 3% of all traffic-related injuries.
- In Mississippi, the 65 killed in pedestrian accidents accounted for 10.1% of the state’s traffic fatalities. This means Mississippi’s pedestrian fatality rate is 2.18 out of 100,000 people, higher than the national average of 1.89 per 100,000 people.
While these figures play an important role in demonstrating the large-scale severity of car accidents with pedestrians each year, at Mama Justice, we know that each case is unique. If you’ve been impacted by a pedestrian accident, resulting in serious bodily injury or wrongful death, in Greenville, don’t wait–contact Mama Justice today to speak with our team of pedestrian accident lawyers.
Tips For Pedestrian Accident Settlement Negotiations
After a pedestrian accident, the at-fault party and their insurance company may offer a settlement or a one-time amount of money designed to avoid going to trial. However, the amount that the at-fault party offers should be negotiated to represent better the damages you sustained from the car accident. If you are considering a settlement, here is a list of tips to follow to ensure the best results:
- Don’t accept the first offer. When entering negotiations, you should rarely accept the first settlement offer. Be prepared to counter once or several times, and always expect negotiations to take time. It’s essential to be patient so that you get a fair settlement amount that covers all damages.
- Have the evidence ready. While you might think you don’t need proof since you won’t be going to trial, having a solid reservoir of photos, videos, and official documents related to the car accident is essential before beginning negotiations. These materials will ensure that you can prove to the other party the amount you are requesting is fair and proportional to the injuries you sustained.
- Be professional but persistent. If you’re negotiating a settlement amount, it’s essential to treat the other party politely and in a respectful manner. Although there is likely negative sentiment following the accident, remaining professional can go a long way in getting the amount you want. That being said, staying persistent and willing to go to trial if you do not get a fair offer is also important.
Car accidents, pedestrian accidents, and personal injury claims are three practice areas that we specialize in at Mama Justice. If you suffered a significant bodily injury or you have been affected by the wrongful death of a loved one, our lawyers will fight for you in demand compensation from the insurance company. Contact our Greenville car accident lawyer today for a free case review and to learn more.
Why Mama Justice Is The Right Choice For You
Our founding attorney, Missy Wigginton, alongside our strong team of lawyers and investigators, has what it takes to fight on behalf of pedestrian and car accident victims and seek compensation to help them move forward. Our proven track record includes:
- Treating every client that our law firm represents like family
- More than $10.3 million in settlement results for 2021
- Over 40 years of combined legal experience
Don’t want to get started on your claim. Take the first step and contact Mama Justice today to see how our Greenville car accident lawyer can help you. Call (888) 484-1476 for a free consultation.