Pedestrian Accident Attorneys in Mobile, AL
Everyone in Mobile, Alabama is a pedestrian at some point, especially with all that there is to do and see on South Water St and North Water Street. But the dangers involved with being in proximity to traffic can be significant. According to the Governors Highway Safety Association report, Alabama ranks in the top 10 most dangerous states in the nation for pedestrian deaths.
If you’ve been injured or lost a loved one in a pedestrian accident in the Mobile area and a driver’s negligence was to blame, you should understand your legal options. We urge you to contact the experienced personal injury attorneys at Burns, Cunningham & Mackey, P.C., to schedule a free consultation.
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents
In the State of Alabama, drivers are required to yield the right-of-way when pedestrians are in a designated crosswalk. Pedestrians are required to yield the right-of-way to bicycles and vehicles when crossing at unmarked crosswalks at an intersection or outside of a marked crosswalk. Despite these laws being in place, accidents, injuries, and deaths still occur on Alabama’s roads with alarming frequency. Some of the most common cases we handle relative to pedestrian accidents involve:
- Distracted Driving. Most pedestrian accidents caused by motorist negligence are due to distracted driving. Drivers might be texting, changing a radio station, eating, or just otherwise not watching the road.
- Drugs/Alcohol: A motorist who is under the influence of alcohol or drugs has a greater chance of being involved in an accident with a pedestrian.
- Speeding or Reckless Driving. When drivers are operating their vehicles recklessly, they can’t react in time to avoid hitting pedestrians. Some pedestrian accidents are also secondary after an accident with another motor vehicle.
- Driver Fatigue. Motorists that are not fully rested are also driving impaired and are more prone to committing errors when behind the wheel.
Pedestrian Accidents Can Lead to Severe Injuries
Unfortunately, a pedestrian doesn’t have the benefit of a seatbelt, airbag, and thousands of pounds of steel to protect them when tragedy strikes. Catastrophic injuries and even death are much more common in pedestrian accidents. The types of injuries a person might suffer include:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Broken bones and fractures
- Lacerations
- Nerve damage
Victims of pedestrian accidents may be entitled to different forms of compensation, including payment of medical care, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Families who have lost a loved one in one of these accidents can make a claim for compensation through a wrongful death action.
Why Do I Need a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer?
Some pedestrian accident victims are confident that they’ll be able to obtain fair compensation on their own. Insurance companies encourage this attitude.
In some cases, an insurer will send you a quick settlement offer, which is almost guaranteed to be much lower than your personal injury case is worth. In others, they will deny your claim and hope that you accept the decision and disappear.
All interactions with an insurer are risky because the representatives of these companies typically record the calls, and many accident victims make statements that could undermine their case. One of the reasons you need a pedestrian accident lawyer is to avoid these pitfalls and handle negotiations with the insurance company on your behalf.
An insurer will also take steps to push some of the blame into your corner, even if another party was entirely at fault for your harm. This is because Alabama operates under the doctrine of contributory negligence, which means that you will be barred from recovery if you are found to be even 1% at fault in the accident.
Only five states in the nation use contributory negligence, and it does not create an even playing field. For this reason alone, we urge you to avoid speaking with insurance company representatives and secure sound legal representation as soon as possible.
Hit and Run Pedestrian Accidents
You might be worried about compensation if you were the victim of a hit and run driver or someone that was uninsured. This should not stop you from contacting us about your case.
Our experienced accident attorneys are known for finding creative ways to recover damages for our clients. We will conduct an independent investigation of your accident, and advise you of the different avenues available to obtain compensation for your losses.
What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident
Pedestrian crashes can be terrifying and life-altering events. If you’ve been involved in one of these accidents, the first thing you should do is seek immediate medical attention. This is for your health and wellbeing as well as to create documentation of your injuries.
It’s also important that you collect as much documentation as possible about the crash and the scene to use as evidence. In other words, take photos of the scene, write down your recollection of the accident, and gather information about the driver and any witnesses.
Speak with a Qualified Mobile Pedestrian Accident Attorney
In a pedestrian accident case, it’s not always a clear-cut decision as to who is at fault between the various parties involved. This fact alone makes it critical that you have an experienced accident attorney on your side from the start that will argue your case.
At Burns, Cunningham & Mackey, P.C., our Mobile personal injury attorneys are experienced litigators that will fight for your rights when you’ve been injured in an accident. Our goal is to take this burden off of your shoulders and secure the maximum compensation you need and deserve while you concentrate on getting well.
Contact our office today at (251) 260-3815 to schedule your free initial consultation.
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