Pedestrian accidents have always been a serious concern ever since automobiles were invented and became mainstream. Victims of pedestrian accidents are often left with severe injuries, even when the car that hits them was traveling at a low speed. Worse yet, pedestrians that attempt to seek compensation for their injuries find themselves at the mercy of insurance companies that routinely deny their claims.
A Richmond, Virginia pedestrian injury attorney can help you obtain the compensation for your injuries that you deserve. At Portner & Shure, P.A., our legal team knows how to fight insurance companies and obtain favorable results in cases that intimidate other law firms. We are proud to offer representation to our English-, Korean-, Vietnamese-, Chinese- (Mandarin and Cantonese), and Spanish-speaking clients!
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Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Richmond
Pedestrian accidents usually occur at busy intersections, unmarked cross streets, and pedestrian pathways. The reason behind most of these dangerous collisions occur is simple: driver negligence. Specifically, automobile drivers who fail to observe their surroundings, obey the speed limit, and comply with traffic signals put pedestrians at an inordinately high risk of being struck.
Virginia Laws Regarding Pedestrian Collision Cases
Automobile drivers are required to drive their vehicles in a safe and reasonable manner and must follow the rules of the road. Virginia law requires pedestrians to walk on the sidewalk if available or on the side of the road if no sidewalk is available. Pedestrians should only cross at a marked crosswalk. Pedestrians are also required to obey traffic control signals and are not permitted to walk into the roadway from a place that they cannot be seen.
Any party who violates the rules of the road, whether they are a driver or a pedestrian, will likely be assigned the majority of liability for a pedestrian accident.
Litigation & Possible Defenses
To win a lawsuit in Virginia, the person filing the lawsuit must prove all elements of their case by a preponderance of the evidence that convinces the judge or jury with at least 51% confidence. With regard to pedestrian claims, the victim must prove that the automobile driver acted negligently and that their negligence resulted in their injuries.
Insurance companies often use the defense doctrine of contributory negligence. This defense will prevent a pedestrian accident victim from recovering anything if it can be proven that their own negligence contributed significantly to the accident, such as crossing without a crosswalk.
Injuries & Possible Compensation for Your Case
The injuries in a pedestrian accident are often severe, including:
- Back injuries
- Broken limbs
- Concussion
- Brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Permanent disfigurement
Victims of pedestrian collisions are often left permanently disabled, even if they receive immediate medical care and continued rehabilitative therapy. The intensity of their care also makes that care quite expensive. They must pursue economic and noneconomic damages through a claim if they want to be fairly compensated for their damages and stand a better chance at regaining financial stability.
25+ Years of Legal Experience at Your Service
If you or a loved one were hurt in a pedestrian accident, you should insist upon the representation of our aggressive Richmond, Virginia pedestrian injury attorneys. We have been handling such cases for more than 30 years, earning a long history of favorable case results along the way. To make your life easier, we offer contingency fee agreements that do not require you to pay us any attorney fees unless we win your case!
