Aurora Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Have you sustained injuries in a collision with a motor vehicle while walking? You may have the right to pursue compensation for your injuries and losses from a negligent driver or other liable parties. While you focus on your physical and emotional recovery after suffering devastating injuries, let an Aurora pedestrian accident lawyer from The Wilhite Law Firm fight for the justice you deserve.

Our firm has stood up for the rights of injured accident victims for over 40 years, providing top-notch client service and aggressive legal advocacy. Our attorneys and support staff handle cases like yours every day. We stand up to insurance companies and negligent parties to secure the financial resources our clients need to heal and get their lives back on track. As dedicated Colorado pedestrian accident attorneys, we emphasize open communication, tailored legal strategies, and thorough handling of the claims process to ensure our clients receive the justice and compensation they deserve.

After you’ve suffered injuries in a pedestrian accident, turn to The Wilhite Law Firm. Let us pursue the accountability and justice you need from the driver who hit you. Contact our skilled personal injury attorneys for a free initial case evaluation to discuss your legal options.

What Are the Most Frequent Injuries in Aurora Pedestrian Accidents?

Because pedestrians don’t have any protection in a collision with a motor vehicle, they are particularly vulnerable to serious injuries. The most common pedestrian accident injuries are:

• Lacerations
• Abrasions and road rash
• Burns
• Broken bones
• Dislocated joints
• Ligament sprains and tears
• Muscle and tendon strain and tears
• Whiplash
• Nerve damage
• Herniated spinal discs
• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
• Internal organ injuries and bleeding
• Facial and head injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Amputation or limb loss

An Aurora pedestrian accident attorney can help you understand how your injury plays a role in your potential claim.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents?

Many pedestrian accidents occur due to the negligence or recklessness of a motorist. Most pedestrian accidents are caused by factors such as speeding, distracted driving, and failure to yield the right-of-way. Some of the most frequent driver errors causing pedestrian accidents in Aurora include:

• Speeding
• Reckless driving, such as excessive speeding, street racing, or swerving around slow or stopped traffic
• Turning without signaling or checking mirrors
• Failing to yield the right-of-way at intersections and crosswalks
• Running red lights and stop signs
• Disregarding yield signs or pedestrian crossing warning lights
• Distracted driving, especially using a cell phone while driving
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Drowsy driving
• Backing up without looking behind
• Inadequate vehicle maintenance, especially brake and tire maintenance

Adherence to traffic laws can prevent many of these accidents by ensuring both drivers and pedestrians follow safety regulations and avoid risky behaviors.

Other factors that may contribute to pedestrian accidents include:

• Poor road conditions, including standing water, snow, or black ice
• Bad weather, such as heavy fog or rain
• Low lighting
• Unsafe road or intersection design, including visual obstructions, lack of signs or traffic control devices, or malfunctioning pedestrian and traffic signals

These factors complicate pedestrian accident cases, making it crucial for victims to seek experienced legal representation to recover damages and secure fair compensation.

Who Is Liable for a Pedestrian Accident?

Depending on the circumstances in your case, our Aurora pedestrian accident attorneys can help determine liability and provide legal representation. Parties who may have liability for the injuries you suffered in a pedestrian accident include:

• The driver who hit you
• The owner of the vehicle that hit you, if they negligently let the driver use the vehicle
• The driver’s employer, if the accident occurred during the driver’s employment
• A state or local government or public agency, if a government-owned vehicle struck you

Can the Pedestrian Ever Be At Fault for the Accident?

In certain circumstances, a pedestrian might share fault for causing an accident with a motor vehicle. A pedestrian may have partial responsibility for an accident if they were walking with headphones on or looking at their cell phone, distracting them from their surroundings or making it harder for them to hear approaching traffic.

Pedestrians can also share responsibility for crossing an intersection when they have a “Do not walk” signal. Violating traffic laws, such as crossing the street outside of an intersection or marked crosswalk, can affect liability and result in shared fault if a driver does not have enough time to stop. Contact an Aurora pedestrian accident attorney today if you think you have partial responsibility for the accident.

What Are Colorado’s Pedestrian Laws?

Critical state laws governing pedestrian traffic in Colorado include:

• Pedestrians must obey all traffic and pedestrian control signals, including “Walk” and “Do not walk” signals.
• Drivers must yield the right-of-way by stopping or slowing down for a pedestrian crossing the roadway in a crosswalk. However, pedestrians may not suddenly step into the road in front of a vehicle close enough to be a hazard.
• Drivers may not overtake vehicles stopped for pedestrians.
• Pedestrians crossing outside of a marked crosswalk or unmarked intersection crosswalk must yield the right-of-way to vehicles.
• Pedestrians traveling along roads without sidewalks must stay on the shoulder as far as possible from the edge of the road. If the road does not have a shoulder, pedestrians must walk as close as possible to the outside edge of the road on the left. They should face traffic coming from the opposite direction.
• Drivers must exercise due care to avoid hitting a pedestrian and honking their horns when needed to warn someone.

It is important to consult a pedestrian injury attorney in Aurora to understand and navigate these laws, as they can assess the strength of a case, determine liability, and guide victims through the legal process.

Does Aurora Have Any Additional Pedestrian Laws?

Aurora has adopted municipal ordinances that specifically regulate pedestrian activities in the city, including:

• People may not block or congregate on a public sidewalk where a pedestrian has to step off the sidewalk to walk on an adjacent property or public street.
• Pedestrians may not travel on a controlled access highway.
• A pedestrian crossing a roadway may not walk on or across a landscaped median.

Violations of these laws can lead to pedestrian accident lawsuits, making it crucial to have legal representation to navigate the complexities and meet the necessary deadlines for filing.

Are There Steps to Take to Improve Pedestrian Safety?

The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) provides helpful tips for both pedestrians and drivers to improve road safety and reduce the risk of pedestrian-vehicle collisions. Essential steps for drivers include:

• Remember to look for pedestrians at all times.
• Use extra caution when driving in low-visibility conditions.
• Check your surroundings and slowly proceed with caution after the light turns green.
• Prepare to stop if needed when turning at an intersection or passing a crosswalk, but never stop in the crosswalk.
• Obey the speed limit, especially when driving through school zones, residential neighborhoods, or commercial areas with heavy pedestrian traffic.
• Always look behind you when backing up, especially when reversing out of a parking space or driveway.
• Never drive while distracted or under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Implementing these safety measures can significantly reduce the number of pedestrian accident victims, who often suffer not only physical injuries but also emotional and mental distress due to reckless or negligent driving.

Tips for Pedestrians

Critical tips for pedestrians to follow include:

• Avoid distractions from cell phones or headphones.
• Obey all signs and traffic control devices.
• Walk on the sidewalk where available.
• Try to cross the street at intersections or marked crosswalks. Remember to yield to approaching vehicular traffic if you must cross outside an intersection or crosswalk.
• Avoid walking while impaired by alcohol or drugs.
• Try to wear light-colored clothing and stay under streetlights.

What Compensation Can I Recover for My Pedestrian Accident Injuries?

In a pedestrian accident case, you may have the right to recover compensation for losses you’ve incurred due to your injuries, including for your:

• Medical treatment and rehabilitation expenses
• Costs of long-term care assistance and support for permanent disabilities
• Loss of wages from missed work or reduced earning capacity on temporary part-time or light-duty work
• Loss of future income or earning potential and job benefits if you’ve become permanently disabled from working
• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional trauma and distress
• Lost quality of life because of physical disabilities, scarring, or disfigurement that interferes with daily life or activities you previously enjoyed

Having legal representation when pursuing a personal injury claim is crucial to ensure you receive maximum compensation and navigate the complexities of the claims process effectively.

What If I Am Partly to Blame for My Injuries?

Just because the driver who hit you tries to shift some of the blame for the pedestrian accident onto you does not mean you cannot pursue compensation against the driver. Under Colorado’s comparative negligence law, your partial responsibility for a pedestrian accident will not bar your right to pursue a legal claim against a driver who hit you so long as your share of fault is less than 50 percent.

However, any share of responsibility you bear for the accident may reduce your compensation. For example, when you have incurred $100,000 in losses from a pedestrian accident you bear 25 percent responsibility for, the court will reduce your compensation by $25,000 to reflect your share of fault for the accident and your injuries.

Experienced pedestrian accident attorneys in Aurora can help navigate the complexities of partial blame, evaluating various factors to provide a comprehensive assessment of your case value.

Is There a Statute of Limitations in Colorado for a Pedestrian Accident Lawsuit?

Under Colorado’s statute of limitations, you usually have three years to file a pedestrian accident lawsuit against the driver who hit you and any other potentially liable parties. Because the statute of limitations imposes a deadline on filing a pedestrian accident lawsuit, you should speak with a pedestrian accident lawyer in Aurora from The Wilhite Law Firm as soon as possible. In cases involving a fatal pedestrian accident, timely filing is crucial to secure compensation for the emotional and financial impact on the victims’ families. The trial court can dismiss an untimely filed lawsuit, so you should start preparing your legal case soon to ensure you can file your lawsuit on time.

Why Hire Our Pedestrian Accident Lawyers?

At The Wilhite Law Firm, our personal injury attorneys in Aurora are dedicated to advocating for victims of pedestrian accidents in Aurora and throughout Colorado. With a proven track record of recovering millions of dollars for our clients, we are committed to delivering exceptional client service and legal excellence. Our attorneys are experienced, knowledgeable, and passionate about justice, working tirelessly to secure the financial support you need.

Contact an Aurora Pedestrian Accident Attorney

When you’ve suffered injuries in a pedestrian accident due to a driver’s negligence, you deserve to seek financial recovery and justice for your injuries and losses. Contact The Wilhite Law Firm today for a free, no-obligation consultation. You can speak with an Aurora pedestrian accident lawyer about how our firm can help you pursue your legal options. Our team of attorneys can advocate for your rights and interests to get the compensation you deserve.