Skilled Atlanta Pedestrian Accident Attorney
Dressie Law Firm: Your Trusted Legal Compass in the Wake of Pedestrian Accidents.
Our Atlanta pedestrian accident attorney can provide expert legal help and support if you’ve been injured in a walking accident. Learn more here.
The Dressie Law Firm: Atlanta Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported about 8,000 fatal pedestrian accidents in traffic crashes in the United States in 2021. There were also 104,000 victims treated in emergency departments for non-fatal injuries in 2020.
Accidents involving pedestrians result in serious injuries such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and fractures, causing significant financial losses and emotional distress. Additionally, victims and their families are saddled with high medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Filing a claim for personal injury often involves dealing with insurance companies. Therefore, if you suffer a pedestrian injury, it is critical that you hire skilled Atlanta pedestrian accident lawyers with experience dealing with insurance companies.
If you need assistance filing a pedestrian accident claim, talk to an attorney at the Dressie Law Firm today. Learn more about Georgia pedestrian accidents and how we can help.
How to File an Atlanta Pedestrian Accident Claim
Here are the main steps for filing an Atlanta pedestrian accident claim:
Step 1: Seek medical attention. Go to the hospital or see a doctor as soon as possible. This will also help create a report of your injuries and their connection to the accident.
Step 2: Report the accident. You should call the police and report the accident immediately. Get a copy of the police report or the report number for your claim.
Step 3: Take photos or videos of the scene to help with your case, and record your injuries and the vehicle that hit you. Take down the driver’s name, contact information, and insurance information. Ensure you keep copies of your hospital bills and receipts and records of the income you lost due to the accident.
Step 4: Contact an Atlanta pedestrian accident lawyer. Considering everything at stake, it is essential that you contact a lawyer before filing your claim or speaking with your insurer.
Step 5: File your claim. After the accident, contact the driver’s insurance company as soon as possible, but ensure that your attorney is involved in this process. Before signing any documents with the insurance company, consult your lawyer if you have already filed your claim.
Step 6: After you file a claim, the insurance company reviews it. They then decide whether to accept, deny, or counteroffer it.
Different Types of Atlanta Pedestrian Accidents
Here are some of the most common types of pedestrian accidents in Atlanta:
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Crosswalk accidents
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Back-over accidents
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Hit-and-run accidents
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Intersection accidents
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Sidewalk accidents
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Driveway accidents
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Failure-to-yield accidents
Damages Available in Pedestrian Accident Claims
If you’ve been injured in a pedestrian accident, various damages are available for your claims. These include:
- Medical expenses, including past and future medical costs related to the accident.
- Lost wages: This covers any income you lose while recovering from your injuries.
- Pain and suffering: This includes physical, emotional, and mental pain and suffering you experience as a result of the accident.
- Loss of quality of life: If your injuries have significantly affected your daily activities or hobbies, you may be entitled to this compensation.
- Punitive damages: These are awarded in cases where the defendant’s actions were reckless or malicious.
Common Pedestrian Accident Injuries
There are several common injuries that pedestrians suffer, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones and fractures, and soft tissue injuries. Due to the significant force of the impact, these injuries can result in long-term disabilities or even death.
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
They affect the brain and its functions. Traumatic brain injuries can cause:
- Comas
- Paralysis
- Memory loss
- Cognitive impairment
- Death
Spinal Cord Injuries (SCIs)
They affect the spinal cord and its ability to carry signals between your brain and the rest of the body. These injuries can cause partial or complete:
- Loss of sensation
- Movement
- Function in the affected areas
Broken Bones
These injuries involve the breaking or cracking of one or more bones. They can cause pain, swelling, bruising, bleeding, deformity, or loss of mobility.
Soft Tissue Injuries
These injuries affect the muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, blood vessels, or skin. They can cause inflammation, bleeding, bruising, tearing, or scarring in the affected areas.
These are only a few common injuries pedestrians can get from being hit by a car. These accidents depend on the vehicle’s:
- Speed
- Size
- Angle
- Location and direction of the impact
- Age and health of the pedestrian
Cases an Atlanta Pedestrian Accident Attorney Covers
Some pedestrian accident cases that Atlanta pedestrian accident attorneys cover include:
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Crosswalk accidents: This is when a car hits a pedestrian when they are crossing a street at a marked or unmarked crosswalk.
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Back-over accidents occur when a pedestrian is hit by a car backing up in a parking lot, driveway, or alley.
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Hit-and-run accidents happen when a pedestrian is hit by a car that flees the scene without stopping.
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Intersection accidents happen when a pedestrian is hit by a car making a turn or running a red light or stop sign at an intersection.
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Sidewalk accidents occur when a pedestrian is hit by a car that jumps the curb, crashes into a building or object, or drives on the sidewalk.
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Driveway accidents: A pedestrian is hit by a car pulling out of their garage or driveway. A lawyer can help you demonstrate the negligence of the motor vehicle driver.
Your lawyer can investigate your case, review surveillance footage, and examine eyewitnesses to establish the at-fault driver’s liability.
How Much Do Accident Lawyers Charge in Georgia?
Accident lawyers in Georgia typically charge their fees on a contingency basis, meaning they receive a portion of the settlement or award from the case. This fee structure benefits clients because it doesn’t require any upfront payment. Instead, the lawyer’s fee is contingent upon winning the case. The percentage taken as a contingency fee varies among different law firms and cases, but it generally ranges between:
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33.3% to 40% of the settlement amount, depending on the case’s timeline and the lawyer’s quality of services.
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33.33% pre-suit and 40% if the case goes into litigation. This means that if a claim is settled before going to court, the fee will be lower (33.33%) than if it requires court litigation (40%).
It’s important to remember that these percentages are typical and can vary depending on the specific circumstances of the case and the agreement with your personal injury lawyer. Discussing fees and payment structures with your attorney before signing any documents is essential.
How the Dressie Pedestrian Accident Attorneys Can Help
Our skilled and dedicated Atlanta, GA, lawyers can help you with every aspect of your case. Here’s how an attorney can help with your personal injury case:
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Legal advice and guidance: With our extensive experience, our attorneys will explain the laws and regulations that apply to your case. These include the statute of limitations, the comparative negligence rule, and the types and amounts of damages you can recover. We are also always ready to answer questions about your personal injury lawsuit.
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Investigation and evidence collection: Our team can assist you in gathering and preserving evidence supporting your claim. Then, we will evaluate your case and guide you on the best course of action. The evidence we can help you collect includes the following:
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Police reports
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Medical records
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Witness statements
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Video footage
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Photos
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Negotiation and settlement: In addition to assisting you with negotiations with the negligent driver’s insurance company, we can protect you from tricks used by the insurance company to reduce your claim.
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Litigation and representation: Our team can help prepare and file the paperwork and evidence to initiate your lawsuit. We’ll stay on top of things and ensure that the discovery process, motions, and responses are handled correctly. In addition, we can handle any appeals or post-trial motions.
The Dressie Law Firm prides itself on offering client-centered services. Feel free to contact us for more information.
Reach Out to the Dressie Law Firm Today
Georgia pedestrian accidents cause severe injuries and fatalities to innocent victims. You are entitled to fair compensation when you or a loved one are injured in a pedestrian accident resulting from someone else’s negligence.
Nevertheless, you are likely to encounter challenges in proving liability and dealing with insurance companies. The best way to deal with them is to hire Atlanta personal injury lawyers who know Georgia personal injury law.
Dressie Law Firm has helped countless injured pedestrians in Atlanta get fair compensation for their losses.
We understand the stress and confusion that can come with a pedestrian accident. You can rely on us to guide you through the legal process and fight tirelessly for the compensation you deserve.
Contact us today and let a seasoned pedestrian accident attorney handle your case.