As a pedestrian, cars on the road must always be cautious about you. Most cars are around 3,000 pounds and travel anywhere between 25-40 miles per hour. Something that heavy going that fast colliding with an unprotected pedestrian can result in death or serious injury.
If a car hits you as a pedestrian, you can recover financial compensation for your damages and injuries. The Mableton pedestrian accident lawyers here at John Foy & Associates can help you get the settlement you deserve.
Should You Get a Lawyer for a Pedestrian Accident?
You may think that you can file and negotiate for your case on your own. The truth is that, while you can do this, you shouldn’t because it puts you at a disadvantage. If you don’t have prior legal experience or any legal knowledge, the insurance companies will use that against you.
They will try to pressure and trick you into settling for less than what your damages are worth. In doing so, you will be left to pay the rest of your damages out of your own pocket. Many pedestrian accident victims end up in this situation.
A lawyer may seem expensive, but in reality, it’s more expensive to try and fight for your claim without one. Retaining a strong attorney can help strengthen the chances of success for your case and get the best amount of compensation possible instead of trying to do it alone.
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How Much does a Pedestrian Lawyer in Mableton Cost?
You don’t have to pay us anything unless we win you compensation. The Mableton pedestrian accident attorneys at John Foy & Associates operate with integrity, honesty, compassion, and dedication. We strive to win every case we take on for our clients.
There are no hidden fees, and we don’t charge anything upfront. The initial consultations and case reviews we provide are always free of charge. There are no risks or obligations when you reach out to us.
What Damages Can You Claim for a Pedestrian Accident?
Pedestrian accidents can cause a host of damages on your end. If we’re able to prove that the motorist behaved negligently, and their negligence caused your injuries, you can collect compensation for 100% of your damages.
Medical Expenses
By far, the most expensive damages you will sustain are going to be the medical expenses. Getting hit by a car almost always results in extensive injuries that can most likely leave you with permanent issues. Your medical expenses will more than likely include more than just treatment.
You may have to pay for physical therapy, additional medical equipment, prescriptions, and more. According to the U.S. government’s healthcare website, the average broken leg bone costs a U.S. citizen on average $7,500 to properly treat. Can you imagine how much it would cost to have extensive surgeries and fix the body’s sensitive areas like your face or eyes?
While heath coverage can protect you from high medical costs, you should pay for nothing if someone else caused your injuries.
Non-Economic Damages
The term non-economic damages is an umbrella term referring to damages that you sustain that don’t traditionally have a fixed monetary value. This means that, depending on the context, severity, and settlement precedence of your accident, the value of these damages can vary:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of consortium
- Wrongful death
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Disfigurement or disability
These damages require a formula to calculate accurately. Our pedestrian accident lawyers in Mableton will make sure that these damages get accounted for and reflected properly in your settlement total.
Lost Wages
After you sustain injuries, you will most likely have to take some time off work. If your injuries are extremely severe, you may be unable to return to work altogether. You can include all your lost wages and earnings in your settlement.
To help prove your lost wages easier, you should try and obtain a written letter from your company or your supervisor confirming all the hours of work you have missed due to your accident.
Understanding Georgia’s Pedestrian Laws
When a pedestrian enters the road, they are at a huge physical disadvantage against vehicles that weigh thousands of pounds. Because of that, Georgia has laws in place to help protect pedestrians. These cover crosswalks and right-of-way so that pedestrians have legal protection from drivers who otherwise would have no reason to stop.
Any time a pedestrian is in a crosswalk, they have the right of way, meaning that any other vehicles have to stop for them. Similarly, if someone is already crossing the road when a vehicle arrives, that person still has the right even if they’re not in a crosswalk. Jaywalking is not a crime in Georgia.
However, if you are approaching a road that has vehicles on it, you do not have the right of way. Follow the old rule of stopping and looking both ways before crossing a street. If you don’t and you’re found partially at fault for your accident, your compensation could be reduced.
What Happens If You Were Partially At Fault for Your Pedestrian Accident?
Georgia personal injury law operates under what is known as “comparative fault” or “contributory negligence.” Under the comparative fault rule (Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 51-12-33), your compensation can be reduced in proportion to the percentage of fault that you had in your accident.
For example, if you stand to receive $10,000, but you exhibited 20% of the negligence in your accident, your compensation will be docked by $2,000. If you have more than 50% of the fault, you don’t get any compensation at all.
The amount of negligence that you’re found to have can be anything from recklessness to breaking pedestrian laws to a general lack of awareness of your surroundings. In order to save money, the other party and their lawyer will try to prove that you were partially at fault for your accident.
Thankfully, a pedestrian accident attorney in Mableton will know what to do to show that you had no fault. By thoroughly investigating your case and collecting convincing evidence, our team will be able to prove that you were the victim and had no contributory negligence.
Statute of Limitations for a Pedestrian Accident in Georgia
In Georgia, you only have two years to file your claim starting from the date of your accident. Don’t delude yourself into believing that you have all the time in the world. The faster that you begin to prepare for your claim, the better your chances are at recovering a good settlement.
The goal is to start your claim and file at the best time. It isn’t to file quickly or wait until the last minute. Our lawyers will ensure that your case is solid first before helping you file. We offer a free case review and can let you know about all your legal options from there.
Get a Head Start on Your Claim Today
Personal injury law can be very confusing. It may seem like you don’t know where to start or how to even begin. Let the Mableton pedestrian accident lawyers at John Foy & Associates guide you through it all and show you the way.
Get your free consultation today. Schedule an appointment with us by calling (404) 400-4000 or filling out our online contact form.
404-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form