Having an accident which impacts on your life is stressful. When you are trying to cover medical costs and need to take time off work to recover, it is important that you know what your financial options are. Personal injury attorneys help people who have been through an accident and now seek recourse from the other person who caused it. Before you meet with a personal injury attorney, there are details you need to gather so the attorney can help you with your case. These posts are all about what accident and personal injury attorneys do, what they need from you, and the different situations where using one is beneficial to your lifestyle.
When you are crossing the street as a pedestrian, you might notice a car and choose to wait until the car passes. However, the motorist might wave to you to inform you that you're free to walk across the street. When this happens, you shouldn't assume that you are always free to go. In some cases, you may end up in an accident when another motorist maneuvers through the intersection and hits you.
Drivers Are Usually Considered at Fault for a Pedestrian Accident
Pedestrians are much more likely to suffer from serious injuries because they do not wear personal protective equipment and they often do not anticipate being injured. Therefore, if you are waved to and allowed to walk across the street if you are struck by a car, the motorist is more likely to be considered guilty. This is especially true when the motorist is speeding or has been drinking.
Pedestrians Have Rules They Must Follow
When walking on a crosswalk, pedestrians have the right-of-way. However, if a pedestrian is crossing under another circumstance, he or she is expected to yield to passing motorists. Failing to do so might make the pedestrian responsible for the accident. This might lead to the pedestrian not receiving full compensation for his or her injuries.
If there is a sidewalk, a pedestrian is expected to use the sidewalk. If a sidewalk is not available, the pedestrian is expected to walk on the shoulder and try to stay as far away from traffic as possible. However, if you fail to follow these rules, it's not always clear if the courts will consider you responsible for the accident.
Motorists are expected to be careful and do their best to avoid hitting pedestrians at all times. Even if the pedestrian is not following the law, some courts might rule that the driver was still being reckless and may still be found at fault.
Gather Evidence to Prove You're Not at Fault
If there is a dispute regarding whether you are responsible for the accident or not, you will need to rely on witnesses. Therefore, it's important to get the contact information of anyone who may have seen the accident. Also, if there were any nearby surveillance cameras, you will want to contact the owner of the security cameras to make sure they provide you with footage that can support your case. Most importantly, you should contact a personal injury attorney who can help you gather any other evidence you need to build your case.
For more information, contact a personal injury attorney near you.
Share8 May 2020
