When a motor vehicle strikes a pedestrian, injuries to the pedestrian can be severe. Unfortunately, these incidents are not uncommon in Louisiana. A 2019 Pedestrian Injuries and Fatalities report states that 114 pedestrians died after accidents on Louisiana roadways. Nearly 1,400 other pedestrians were injured after a collision with a motor vehicle.
Victims of pedestrian accidents have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit against the driver to try to receive compensation for their injuries. If you were injured by a vehicle or your loved one died after being hit by a car in Baton Rouge, you may be entitled to a legal settlement for your losses.
What To Do After A Pedestrian Accident In Baton Rouge
After a pedestrian accident, it’s immediately important to make sure you’re alright. Go to the hospital if you’re injured, and see a doctor as soon as you can even if you don’t think you’ve been seriously hurt. After getting treatment, you should take these steps:
- Get the driver’s information, if possible.
- Gather any evidence you can, including taking pictures and talking to witnesses who might have seen what happened.
- File an accident report. If police arrive at the scene, they will most likely make a report. If not, you can file one at your local police station.
- Get in touch with a personal injury lawyer in Baton Rouge.
When you hire a pedestrian accident lawyer from our firm, we will get to work immediately to make sure you’re compensated for the negligent driver’s actions.
For a free legal consultation with a Pedestrian Accident lawyer serving Baton Rouge, call 800-537-8185
Potential Compensation For A Pedestrian Victim
You may have serious injuries following your pedestrian accident in Baton Rouge. It is not uncommon to require hospitalization, ongoing treatment, or to miss work after such a traumatic event. If the other driver is responsible for your injuries, a court may rule in your favor in a personal injury case.
You could be eligible for a variety of awards related to the incident. While every case is different, direct medical costs are typically eligible for compensation. Beyond that, think about anything the accident caused that may be affecting your quality of life. You may be able to receive compensation for the following:
- Lost wages
- A loss of future income
- An inability to work in the profession of your choice
- Estimated future medical costs
- Any disability you now have
- Any disfigurement or scarring you now have
- Mental anguish
- Loss of ability to participate in activities you have enjoyed previously
- Pain and suffering from your injuries
Items other than those listed here may be eligible for compensation awards. A Louisiana legal representative will be able to assess your situation to see what financial compensation you may be eligible for.
Wrongful Death In A Pedestrian Accident
Unfortunately, some accidents between pedestrians and vehicles result in the pedestrian’s death. If your family member was killed as a pedestrian in an accident with a vehicle, you may be able to file a wrongful death action in Louisiana on their behalf and recover compensation for:
- Funeral and burial costs
- Cost of medical treatment before your loved one passed
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Income that the deceased loved one provided before the accident
When you choose representation from our firm in your family’s wrongful death case, we handle all casework and communication so your family can grieve. You can rely on a Baton Rouge pedestrian accident lawyer to handle case-related matters while focusing on your family.
Click to contact our Baton Rouge Personal Injury Attorneys today
Is Getting A Lawyer For An Accident Worth It?
If you’re ever injured in an accident, it is worth contacting a personal injury attorney. Insurance companies and at-fault parties will try to twist your words and give you less compensation than you deserve.
An accident lawyer in Louisiana will know how to handle your case. Our attorneys have years of experience. We know how to show that you were not liable so you can get the settlement you need to move on from your accident.
Liability In A Pedestrian Accident Case
In a personal liability case that arises from a vehicle-pedestrian accident, the law typically requires the victim to prove that the driver behaved negligently. There are a variety of ways that drivers act negligently on the road. These include:
- Reckless driving: Breaking traffic laws, such as speeding, not giving pedestrians right-of-way in crosswalks, not yielding to pedestrians in an intersection, not signaling, and more.
- Intoxicated driving: Driving under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs, or prescription drugs that impair their ability to drive safely
- Drowsy driving: Driving when they’re too tired to focus on the road
- Distracted driving: Anything that takes the driver’s eyes or focus off the road or their hands off the wheel, including cell phone use, eating while driving, performing personal grooming, or handling unsecured pets
These are not the only negligent behaviors a driver can engage in that would make them liable for an accident. In any of these instances, the court will need to see evidence of the driver’s negligence to assign them liability.
Evidence In A Pedestrian Accident Case
Various evidence can be produced to prove that a driver’s negligence caused an accident. Some of it comes from the scene of the accident, and some of it can be secured later. Common evidence in a pedestrian-vehicle accident includes:
- Police reports
- Photos or video from the scene of the accident
- Witness testimony
- Medical records
- Statements from the parties involved
- Testimony from accident reconstruction experts
Team Up With Morris Bart Injury and Accident Lawyers for Your Case
Do not expect that the driver’s insurance company will automatically treat you fairly because of their driver’s fault. Even if the insurance adjuster acts friendly, you may be offered an amount that does not fully compensate you for the changes to your life caused by the accident.
When you team up with the Baton Rouge pedestrian accident lawyers at Morris Bart, we will communicate with the insurance companies. If the insurer is unwilling to come to a fair settlement in your case, we are ready to defend your rights in court.
Questions?Call 800-537-8185
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
