If you have been injured in an accident as a pedestrian, and are dealing with extensive medical bills, you may be wondering what your next steps are. Our Fort Washington pedestrian accident lawyer can discuss your case in detail and help determine if you can recover compensation for your losses.
Our local personal injury attorneys take cases from across Pennsylvania and are here to help when you and your family are in dire need of legal assistance.
It is important for you to know, in Pennsylvania, pedestrians have legal protections (75 Pa. C.S. § 3542). The law gives the general guideline that a pedestrian has the right-of-way in any marked crosswalk or unmarked crossroad at an intersection when traffic signals are not present or are not functional. Along with these rights, pedestrians also have a legal responsibility to exercise care and not leave a safe space (like a curb) and enter a roadway when a vehicle is close enough to create a hazard.
While Pennsylvania operates as a no-fault state for car accidents, pedestrian accidents are handled differently. If you are injured as a pedestrian in Fort Washington and you have car insurance (on a vehicle you were not in during the time of the accident), then your own insurance will likely be the first source of compensation for any medical expenses. Additional expenses, such as pain and suffering or lost wages, are not covered by that insurance and will usually require a claim against the driver’s insurance.
If you do not have car insurance, you may have eligible coverage under a family member’s policy if you live together. Otherwise, all compensation will need to be sought through a claim on the driver’s insurance.
If the fault involves other entities (such as a lawsuit against a municipality for unsafe road conditions), there may be additional claims. Although this might seem confusing, you have nothing to worry about. Our Fort Washington attorney can help sort this out and file the necessary claims to get you the best outcome.
The facts of the pedestrian injury case will be immensely important in determining fault, and uncovering the details will likely require investigation. We are experienced in gathering all available evidence to confirm how the incident happened so that your case enters negotiation or litigation in a strong position.
Once fault is established, we can help demonstrate all the losses you experienced and will continue to experience as a result of this injury. At this stage, it will be important not to overlook costs like lost wages, added transportation costs while healing, physical therapy, and long-term injury impacts.
Since a pedestrian accident may involve multiple insurance companies, we can help keep communication clear and streamlined, preventing headaches on your end. As negotiations take place, we will advise whether or not you should accept any settlement offers. If the insurance companies fail to offer a fair settlement, we can represent you in court and present the case in front of a jury.
Friedman Schuman Layser can look over your accident report, any photos from the accident, your insurance details, and medical records, all of which play an important role in your pursuit of justice. With this information, our Fort Washington pedestrian accident lawyers can determine the best way to secure the money you need in this challenging time.
While there is a two-year statute of limitations on filing a personal injury claim in Pennsylvania, you should file as soon as possible to preserve the evidence and prevent time from running out. Contact us for a consultation and learn why so many people come to our law firm when they need help after a devastating accident.
