Nearly 250,000 people reside in the city of Arlington, and the wealth of shops, restaurants, and local bars make the area a popular evening and weekend destination for many in the D.C. metro area. Many of these local favorites are accessible by the extensive network of sidewalks. Neighborhoods like Ballston and Clarendon see tens of thousands of pedestrians every day. Unfortunately, these neighborhoods also see tens of thousands of vehicles, and being injured as a pedestrian has become a more frequent occurrence. Portner & Shure, P.A. has experience helping clients involved in serious pedestrian accidents, and we help clients combat insurance companies who may try to blame the victim for their injuries. Our Arlington attorneys will fight to get your medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses paid while you get better. In fact, just last year, our Arlington attorneys obtained one of the largest awards in Arlington County, over $2 million. This pedestrian accident award was one of the top awards recovered during the entire year out of all accident cases.
If you’ve been involved in a pedestrian accident, you can schedule a free consultation to review the details of your case with our personal injury attorneys in Arlington, Virginia. Call (410) 995-1515 or contact us online.
Common Issues with Pedestrian Accidents
The phrase “the pedestrian has the right of way” is a bit of a misnomer, and many legal defenses are available to drivers who hit pedestrians. The rights of drivers and pedestrians are “equal and reciprocal,” meaning both parties owe a duty of care to one another. The circumstances of the accident will determine how much duty is owed and by whom, and it’s important to have an experienced pedestrian accident attorney to help navigate your case. Contributory negligence also threatens the success of pedestrian claims. This doctrine states that where a pedestrian does anything negligent on their own, like walking during a don’t-walk sign or failing to use a crosswalk, no recovery can be obtained. Assuming the risk as a pedestrian can also bar your claim. If a pedestrian is engaging in unnecessarily risky behavior, like walking on a highway, the pedestrian may not be able to make a personal injury claim.
Finally, there is the last clear chance doctrine, which finds pedestrians who had enough time on their own to avoid the accident, and failed to get to safety, are precluded from making a claim. A qualified attorney can make all the difference with all these ways for negligent parties to avoid compensating you for your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. Our Arlington attorneys are experienced in handling these kinds of cases and will work as hard as possible to get you back to normal.
Does Portner & Shure, P.A. have Multilingual Staff?
At Portner & Shure, P.A., we use interpreters and have bi-lingual paralegals who speak Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), Korean, and Spanish to work on your pedestrian accident claim. Our multi-lingual pedestrian injury team has the skills and expertise necessary to meet your unique needs and obtain the financial compensation you deserve, whether you speak Chinese, Korean, or Spanish.
Why Hire Portner & Shure, P.A.?
Handling a pedestrian accident claim on your own is a difficult and time-consuming task. After an accident, you should focus on your recovery and allow our top-rated staff to handle your pedestrian injury case. Hiring an Arlington pedestrian accident lawyer will decrease your stress and likely result in a better financial outcome for you and your family. For over 30 years, the attorneys at Portner & Shure, P.A. have successfully fought for those injured in pedestrian injury claims in Arlington, Virginia. Our attorneys regularly appear in Northern Virginia Courts and have a legacy of success and obtaining the top awards. Portner & Shure does not receive a fee unless the victim obtains a settlement or judgment in court.
