Statesboro Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Statesboro Pedestrian Accident Attorney

There are few car accidents that are more frightening than a pedestrian accident. The injuries can often be significant and challenging to manage. These accidents also come with a significant cost of medical bills, lost wages, and psychological costs. Those costs are the responsibility of whoever caused the accident, and a Statesboro pedestrian accident lawyer can help you seek restitution for these costs.

For those who’ve been injured, the team at Merritt & Merritt Law Firm can be a significant help. We have worked to help victims of many accidents, including pedestrian accidents, seek compensation for their injuries for more than 45 years.

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Our experience is something that our clients benefit from, along with our 24-hour service. We attempt to negotiate fair and full compensation for our clients and are prepared to follow through with litigation if that isn’t attainable.

What a Statesboro Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Does?

A Statesboro pedestrian accident lawyer is responsible for helping accident victims get the compensation that they’re owed. This is generally done by acting as our client’s representative and advocate in negotiations or in court through a personal injury claim. However, before either or both of those are undertaken, we need to investigate the circumstances of the accident.

In investigating the accident, we are able to identify who is liable for our client’s injuries. This is usually the driver of the vehicle, but there are times when another party could be at fault for the situation.

For example, the local government fails to maintain roads or traffic lights properly. We also gather evidence that can be helpful in making the case for their fault. This is critical if the case does end up in court.

Before the claim goes to court, there is usually an attempt to negotiate a settlement instead. This has some advantages over going to court, including often being a quicker process. Some settlements can be reached in a matter of weeks, whereas litigation could be many months or possibly years. A settlement also has the advantage of avoiding the inherent risk involved in letting the court decide your claim.

When we negotiate on behalf of our clients, there are a few advantages. One is that it helps the victims of these accidents avoid saying something that could sound like taking some responsibility for the accident. The other side will use that to try to reduce the compensation that they are paying.

Additionally, our involvement makes clear the possibility of going to trial if an agreement cannot be reached. This could encourage a little more serious negotiation. Of course, the most important advantage we offer is the decades of experience we have in these negotiations and all that we’ve learned from that experience.

If we are unable to find a fair agreement for our clients, then following through with litigation may be the only path to seeking the compensation that they deserve. We are always prepared for this option and have no issue with presenting our clients’ strongest case in court. We demonstrate why the defendant should be held liable and why our clients deserve the restitution that they seek.

Fault in a Pedestrian Accident

For someone to be liable for the costs of your injuries in a pedestrian accident, they must be at fault for those injuries. Your lawyer must be able to prove this fault using the evidence that they gathered from their investigation. In a personal injury claim, your lawyer will need to prove three elements regarding their actions or inaction. They are:

• Duty of Care: This means that the defendant was responsible for considering the potential danger that their actions could pose to others. In the case of anything involving motor vehicles, it’s generally understood that there is a duty to be careful and take reasonable precautions because of the inherent danger involved.
• Breach of Duty: When someone fails to meet their duty of care, it’s considered a breach of duty. Pedestrian accidents will usually involve a driver who has failed to follow the rules of the road or otherwise behaved recklessly.
• Cause of Injury: The third element that needs to be shown is that the defendant’s breach was the direct cause of the injuries that the plaintiff suffered. This usually means showing that the breach led to the accident and that the injuries were a direct result of that accident.

The Compensation That You Can Collect in a Pedestrian Accident

The compensation that is awarded in pedestrian accident claims must cover the costs that can be proven to be a direct result of the injuries that you suffered. This proof is usually dependent on documentation of the costs, which is why it is important to keep a good record of the costs that you have incurred.

The restitution is paid out through “damages” and covers costs such as:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Lost future earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• PTSD
• Other psychological and emotional costs

When the Victim of a Pedestrian Accident Dies

Tragically, some pedestrian accidents result in the death of the victim. When this occurs, the surviving family members may be entitled to file a wrongful death claim. These are generally very similar to standard personal liability claims.

However, they cover some additional expenses that are related to the death, such as funeral and burial costs or loss of consortium.

Pedestrian Accident Victims Are Owed Restitution – Merritt & Merritt Law Firm Can Help

If you’ve been in a pedestrian accident, we understand the challenges that you’re facing. The injuries and recovery are often challenging enough, but there is usually added stress from the medical bills, lost wages, and psychological impact of the accident. These costs are the responsibility of whoever caused them, which in this case would be whoever was at fault for the accident.

Getting proper compensation can often require working with a Statesboro pedestrian accident lawyer. At Merritt & Merritt Law Firm, we pride ourselves on a combination of determination to get what our clients deserve with dedicated customer service.

For nearly five decades, we’ve been pursuing fair compensation for our clients through negotiated settlements or litigation. Contact us today for help with seeking restitution for your pedestrian accident.