Pedestrian Accident Lawyer in Grand Junction
A pedestrian accident is one of the most terrifying kinds of car accidents. A pedestrian has no protection against a car, leaving them with more serious injuries than the driver. They could sustain life-changing consequences and long-term medical problems.
If a car hit you in Grand Junction, you are likely facing mounting medical bills, and if you can’t work, your income is likely dwindling. Perhaps you’re using the last of your paid time off, or even worse, maybe you have no paid time off and are without income. It’s also possible that your injuries are severe enough that you’ve lost earning potential.
If someone hit you with a motor vehicle while you were a pedestrian, you could be entitled to compensation for your accident-related losses. You need an experienced pedestrian accident lawyer in Grand Junction on your side. Call The Wilhite Law Firm at 970-579-4588 today or contact us online for a free consultation about how we can help you pursue the money you need.
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Grand Junction
When a driver fails to pay attention to the road and acts without the safety of others in mind, victims on foot will suffer the most. Some of the most common reasons for pedestrian accidents include:
- Distracted Driving: Drivers often text, fiddle with the GPS, adjust the radio, or engage in any other activity that takes their hands, eyes, or attention away from the road. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving caused over thirty-five hundred fatalities in 2021 alone.
- Speeding and Reckless Driving: The faster a driver is going, the more severe an impact with any object will be. If that object is a person, any speed can result in catastrophic injuries. Reckless driving of any kind, including running red lights, aggressive lane changes, and speeding, can all be fatal for a pedestrian.
- Failure to Yield at Crosswalks: Colorado law requires drivers to yield at a crosswalk so that pedestrians can safely get to the other side of the road. However, this doesn’t prevent drivers from ignoring the law or not being able to stop in time to avoid an impact.
- Driving Drunk or High: Drugs and alcohol can significantly affect a driver’s ability to make decisions and act on them promptly, such as the decision to hit the brakes in time for a pedestrian to get out of the way.
- Bad Weather Conditions: Weather conditions can contribute to low visibility, slick roads, and harsh driving conditions. However, it’s the driver’s responsibility to adjust their speeds and driving tactics to the situation the weather presents to keep pedestrians and other road users safe.
Because Grand Junction is growing so quickly in population, traffic problems are increasingly common. This includes pedestrian accidents. According to Colorado DOT crash statistics, pedestrian injuries and fatalities continue to rise statewide.
Legal Rights for Pedestrians Hit by a Car
With the rise in these types of accidents, it’s important to know your rights as a pedestrian. Colorado law protects pedestrians from negligent drivers by allowing injured people to hold drivers accountable for their careless actions. Drivers have a duty of care to act reasonably in a way that does not endanger pedestrians or other road users. When that duty is breached, pedestrians have the right to seek compensation.
There are complicated situations, like hit-and-run accidents, where it might seem hard to get justice. However, a knowledgeable pedestrian accident attorney can still protect your rights. If you are the victim of a hit-and-run pedestrian accident, it’s essential to speak to a lawyer as soon as possible so that you can learn all the ways you can seek compensation, even if investigators never identify the driver.
Types of Compensation Available for Pedestrian Accident Victims
If you’ve been in a pedestrian accident, you’re likely left with a financial disaster. The good news is that there is a variety of compensation you can fight for. What you might be entitled to depends on the details of your case. Some of the common types of compensation you may be able to pursue include:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of quality of life
- Disability and disfigurement
- PTSD
- Anxiety and depression
- Repair or replacement of property damaged in the accident, like a laptop or cell phone
A pedestrian injury lawyer can work with medical experts and financial professionals to review your case and the losses you’ve suffered due to the accident. This review will help your lawyer determine how much your case is worth so they know how much to demand from the at-fault party’s insurer. The settlement demand your lawyer makes should cover all your accident-related losses.
Time Limits for Filing a Pedestrian Accident Lawsuit in Colorado
It’s essential to contact a skilled pedestrian accident attorney as soon as you’re physically able to do so after the accident has happened. That’s because Colorado’s statute of limitations allows people who were injured in motor vehicle accidents three years from the accident date to file a lawsuit against the person who harmed them. It’s essential to know that there are exceptions to this law as well. The sooner you file the lawsuit, the better off you are. You could lose your right to pursue compensation if you miss this deadline.
Acting quickly also helps preserve critical evidence. Evidence is key in determining fault, which is essential in the fight for your compensation. Give your lawyer the best chance they can get to collect evidence like security camera footage, eyewitness statements, and police reports by starting your claim or lawsuit right away.
Fatal Pedestrian Accidents and Wrongful Death Claims
The unfortunate truth about pedestrian accidents is that a pedestrian is left so unprotected against a moving vehicle that the crash can turn fatal very quickly. If that has happened to someone you love, a wrongful death pedestrian accident lawsuit might be able to help you recover compensation for your horrible loss. This kind of claim can help you get compensation for:
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Loss of companionship
- Lost income and support
- Emotional suffering
- Loss of services that the deceased would have provided to the family
Losing a loved one is never easy, and it is certainly even harder when you rely on that person for income and support. Even though you may not have been harmed directly in the accident, you might still be eligible for compensation for how you were indirectly hurt.
There are specific rules as to who can file this particular type of lawsuit. The first eligible party is the spouse of the decedent. If there is no spouse, then the children or designated beneficiaries may file the claim. There are other parties that can be eligible to file, but to be sure you qualify, it’s recommended to speak to a Grand Junction pedestrian accident lawyer.
Why Choose a Grand Junction Pedestrian Accident Lawyer at The Wilhite Law Firm?
At The Wilhite Law Firm, our team has handled countless pedestrian injury and wrongful death claims across Colorado. We have a thorough knowledge of the local law and a strong presence in Grand Junction. When you work with us, you’ll get:
- A thorough investigation
- Relentless pursuit of fair compensation
- Support and guidance throughout your claim
We take a comprehensive approach to every case. We will prove liability through evidence like police reports, surveillance footage, medical records, and expert testimony. We’ll build a compelling case and handle all communication with the insurance companies so you don’t have to worry about saying something that could undermine your claim. And if the insurance company refuses to offer you fair compensation, we’ll fight for you in court.
Call 970-579-4588 today or contact us online and schedule your free consultation. We’re ready to fight for you.