Pedestrian accidents frequently result in severe injuries. When pedestrians get struck by cars or other vehicles, they typically have very little protection against the impact. Recovering from the injuries sustained in a pedestrian accident can be a long and expensive process. Without compensation from the liable party, medical treatment can be hard to afford.
At 1Law, we are aware of the challenges faced by pedestrian accident victims. We have helped countless people recover the compensation they need after an accident. The pedestrian accident lawyers at our Orem office are available to help you today. Get started with a free consultation by giving us a call, using our legal chat tool, or filling out our online contact form.
The first thing that needs to be determined before you can file a pedestrian accident claim is who is responsible for your damages. In some cases determining fault can be simple and straightforward. However, more often than not, this is a complicated process, and proving liability on your own can be quite challenging.
Fortunately, an experienced pedestrian accident attorney will know everything they need to look for to determine who is liable for your damages. Once liability is assigned, your lawyer can help you build your compensation case.
Many people are tempted to avoid hiring an attorney and instead represent themselves in their pursuit of compensation after a pedestrian accident. However, this is typically inadvisable. Victims who attempt to represent themselves generally end up with far less money when the dust has settled than those who hire experienced legal counsel.
Even after paying your lawyer’s fee, you are still likely to end up with far more money. It is important to remember that even lawyers tend to hire other lawyers when dealing with their own legal issues.
Hiring a lawyer can also give you the time you need to focus on healing. Stress tends to slow the healing process, and there are few things more stressful than fighting a legal battle. By letting a lawyer represent you, you can relax and focus your attention on your well-being. Your lawyer can take on your legal battles and help get you the compensation you need.
When planning to file a pedestrian accident lawsuit, it is critical that you pay attention to the statute of limitations. In Utah, pedestrian accident victims typically have four years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. However, special circumstances could apply to your case, which would alter the amount of time you have to file.
Failure to file before the statute of limitations runs out will likely mean you are barred from recovering compensation for your damages. In order to protect your right to compensation and ensure that all deadlines are met, you should hire a pedestrian accident attorney as soon as possible after you suffer an injury.
After suffering injuries in a pedestrian accident, you will likely be eligible to recover several different types of damages. The specific damages you can recover will depend on the details of your case. However, you will likely be able to claim multiple losses in the categories of both economic and non-economic damages.
Common economic damages include:
Common non-economic damages include:
In a small percentage of pedestrian accident cases, you may also be able to recover punitive damages. Unlike the damages listed above, punitive damages are not focused on the losses of an accident victim. Instead, punitive damages are awarded to punish the at-fault party for their actions.
The court will only award punitive damages in cases where the actions of the liable party were criminally negligent or carried out with willful disregard for public safety.
Many lawyers receive significant amounts of money from their clients even if they are unable to achieve any positive results. However, this is not the case when it comes to pedestrian accident lawyers and other types of personal injury attorneys. Rather than getting paid for every minute they spend working on your case, these lawyers only collect a fee if they get you money.
When you hire a pedestrian accident attorney, you will agree to pay them a specified percentage of the money you recover from the liable party at the end of your case. If you don’t recover compensation, your lawyer doesn’t get paid. On the other hand, the more money you receive, the higher the payday for your legal counsel.
With this system, you can rest assured that your attorney will do everything they can to ensure you recover as much money as possible for your damages. Additionally, it ensures that every accident victim can afford to hire experienced legal representation since you will never have to pay your lawyer directly.
At the Orem 1Law office, our team of pedestrian accident attorneys knows how challenging it can be to get back on your feet after suffering a serious injury. We are dedicated to ensuring that our clients recover the compensation they need to put their lives back together.
Use our legal chat tool, fill out our online contact form, or give us a call to schedule a free case evaluation today. A member of our team will review your case and advise you of your legal options moving forward.