Columbia Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
When the driver of a motor vehicle fails to drive reasonably and carefully, they may be legally and financially responsible for the harm an injured pedestrian experiences as a result of the accident. Pedestrians may find legal counsel helpful in asserting their rights and obtaining compensation.
Contacting a Columbia pedestrian accident lawyer soon after an accident involving you or your loved one is the first step toward filing a claim and recovering monetary damages for your injuries and losses. A trusted attorney will work with you to ascertain whether careless driver behavior played any part in your injury accident and what compensation you may be entitled to receive through a lawsuit.
Types and Causes of Pedestrian Injuries in Columbia
Collisions between pedestrians and vehicles can inflict a wide variety of injuries on pedestrians depending on the severity of the accident. Examples of injuries pedestrians may experience include:
- Traumatic brain injuries and head injuries
- Trauma to the spinal cord
- Paralysis
- Injuries necessitating the amputation of arms or legs
- Bruises and lacerations
Despite the variety in the nature of the injuries pedestrians can experience, negligence is often the culprit in many of these incidents. A motorist may cause or contribute to a collision by:
- Speeding through residential zones, dense commercial districts, or any place where pedestrians are likely to be present
- Failing to adjust the vehicle’s speed to account for rain, snow, fog, or other conditions that can make it difficult to see a pedestrian
- Not stopping at stoplights, stop signs, or for crosswalk signals
- Driving a motor vehicle under the impairing influence of a substance, or while distracted by a phone call or text message conversation
When these or other negligent driving behaviors cause or contribute to a pedestrian accident, the injured plaintiff may generally obtain monetary compensation for the injuries, expenses, trauma, and other losses the plaintiff suffers.
Compensable Losses for Plaintiffs
Plaintiffs who file a lawsuit following a pedestrian accident may seek compensation for both economic losses as well as non-economic losses. Medical expenses, lost wages, lost future earnings, and other objectively verifiable damages are examples of economic losses. For many of these losses, there is an invoice, bill, or some other record available that can act to confirm the existence and amount of the injury.
Non-economic harm includes “losses” that are difficult to quantify but nonetheless real. Experiencing physical pain, emotional turmoil, and mental trauma are examples of non-economic harm for which plaintiffs routinely seek compensation. Since there are no objective markers to indicate how much these “losses” are worth, experienced legal help can help plaintiffs seek and obtain a fair amount of compensation.
Call a Columbia Pedestrian Accident Attorney for Assistance
When you or a family member suffer harm while walking due to a careless driver, seek out the assistance of a knowledgeable Columbia pedestrian accident lawyer. If you are eligible to file a claim for compensation, you may have five years from the date of your accident to do so. Your attorney is available to help you in asserting your legal rights.