Pedestrian Accidents

If you or someone close to you was recently injured in a pedestrian accident, you might be entitled to compensation for your losses and suffering. The Lake Charles personal injury lawyers at Veron Bice, LLC can help you understand your legal options.

Many Louisiana residents enjoy the financial, environmental, and health benefits of walking rather than driving. State law offers these pedestrians many rights and protections.

Despite these regulations, motor vehicle drivers continue to strike people traveling on foot at an alarming rate. From 2008 to 2017, more than 13 pedestrians per day were killed in fatal traffic accidents in the U.S. Based on yearly average traffic fatality rates, Louisiana is the fourth-most dangerous state in America for pedestrians.

The seasoned legal team at Veron Bice, LLC has represented injury victims throughout Louisiana, including pedestrian accident victims whose claims were resolved withseven-figure settlements. We’ve seen first-hand the destruction that pedestrian traffic accidents leave behind, and we’re committed to pursuing justice for victims.

You don’t have to face the fallout of your pedestrian accident by yourself. Our Lake Charles pedestrian accident lawyers are ready to help. Call us today at 337-310-1600 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation.

Do I Need a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer?

If you were hit by a moving vehicle while walking, you likely sustained serious injuries. It may take time for you to recover physically. Meanwhile, your bills continue to arrive on time, and you still have family members and friends who depend on you.

A pedestrian accident lawyer is invaluable in these circumstances, as they will take over the legal and administrative aspects of your case while you heal and get back to your normal life.

One of the most important ways an attorney can help you is by applying their extensive experience and analyzing any evidence that can support your case. Some of the factors a lawyer will evaluate to determine the value of your claim include:

  • Any federal, state, or local regulations that apply to your circumstances
  • Evidence that suggests the driver’s fault or your lawful behavior
  • The nature, extent, and severity of injuries you sustained
  • Records of your medical treatments or rehabilitation expenses
  • The amount of pain, suffering, or emotional trauma you endured
  • The long-term effects your injuries may have on your quality of life
  • Your chances of a full recovery from your injuries or disability
  • The effects your injuries may have on your spouse or partner
  • Your pay stubs and other financial records, to prove lost income
  • Any potential loss of future income due to disability or missed opportunities

Laws That Apply to Pedestrians in Louisiana

A number of state laws apply specifically to pedestrians and vehicle operators who drive near them. In general, Louisiana foot travelers are expected to:

  • Obey any relevant traffic-control signals as they are walking
  • Avoid suddenly leaving a curb or safe zone to cross the path of a moving vehicle
  • Yield the right-of-way to vehicles if they are not in a designated crosswalk
  • Avoid crossing roadways at points other than crosswalks or intersections
  • Walk along provided sidewalks whenever possible
  • Walk along the left side or shoulder of a highway, if no sidewalk exists
  • Avoid crossing interstate highways, except in emergencies
  • Avoid standing in the road to hail a ride or solicit business from vehicle drivers

The legal obligations of Louisiana vehicle operators with respect to pedestrians include:

  • Exercising “due care” to avoid colliding with pedestrians on the road
  • Issuing warning sounds to pedestrians with a car horn, if needed
  • Taking proper precautions around children or people who seem incapacitated
  • Taking precautions around people with guide dogs, walking sticks, or wheelchairs
  • Yielding the right-of-way to those walking legally in crosswalks or intersections
  • Yielding the right-of-way to pedestrians walking on sidewalks

In addition to these statewide, pedestrian-specific rules, car drivers must also obey general rules of the road and any local ordinances imposed by cities or counties. If a vehicle operator violates any such regulations and consequently strikes a pedestrian, they may be held liable for any resulting injuries or damages.

Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents

People traveling on foot are much slower, and far less protected than those operating bikes, cars, and trucks. They are therefore much more likely than vehicle drivers to sustain catastrophic injuries in a crash. Very few situations exist in which a pedestrian could be considered totally at fault for colliding with a motor vehicle.

Some of the most commonly-recorded causes of pedestrian traffic injuries and fatalities are:

  • Negligent driving, such as failing to yield to crosswalks or come to a full stop
  • Failure to look out for non-vehicles, including pedestrians and cyclists
  • Distracted driving, such as driving while operating a handheld device
  • Driving under the influence of alcohol, illicit drugs, or certain legal drugs
  • Reckless driving, such as speeding or lane weaving
  • Inexperienced, underage, or unlicensed driving
  • Dangerous road conditions, including a lack of designated pedestrian paths

Injuries Caused by Pedestrian Accidents

The lawyers of Veron Bice, LLC have represented many pedestrian accident victims throughout Louisiana who have sustained a variety of devastating injuries. Some of the injuries we see most frequently in pedestrian traffic injury cases include:

  • Head trauma, including traumatic brain injury (TBI)
  • Abdominal injuries like fractured ribs or organ rupture
  • Pelvic injuries, which are common when struck by the hood of a car
  • Spinal injuries, which can result in paralysis, if severe
  • Soft-tissue injuries like sprains or muscle tears
  • Broken bones, which are especially common in pedestrian accidents
  • Serious bruising, lacerations, or amputations
  • Lasting emotional trauma or post-traumatic stress
  • Permanent disability or wrongful death

How Veron Bice, LLC Can Help You

At Veron Bice, LLC, each of our senior attorneys received law degrees from state universities and continued to practice law right here in the Sportsman’s Paradise. Our firm’s collective knowledge represents a deep understanding of state laws and the Louisiana legal system, and our lawyers are relentless in applying that understanding to the benefit of our neighborhood clients. We pride ourselves on the numerous industry awards and honors we’ve received based on our history of successful cases.

If you’re considering legal representation for your pedestrian accident injury claim, Veron Bice, LLC is ready to earn your trust. We offer free initial consultations to anyone interested in our services, so you can hear a detailed review of your case before you make any decisions.

The best way to determine how to proceed with your claim is to speak with an experienced lawyer about your options. Let us help you understand the options available to you so that you can recover and move on with your life.

Pedestrian Accident FAQs

Some of the most common questions Veron Bice, LLC receives from pedestrian accident victims have been answered below:

How much time do I have to file a pedestrian accident injury lawsuit?

If you were injured in a pedestrian accident in Louisiana, state law requires that you file any resulting personal injury lawsuits within one year. This year-long time limit begins on the date of your accident, which means your deadline can come very quickly.

One of the best ways to prepare for the possibility of a lawsuit and meet this legal deadline is to engage the services of an experienced pedestrian accident attorney as soon as possible.

How much compensation am I eligible to receive?

Pedestrian accidents involving motor vehicles can be particularly damaging, often resulting in costly medical and rehabilitation expenses. The resulting claim for a pedestrian accident can subsequently be very large, sometimes reaching six or seven figures. While it’s impossible to say exactly how much your claim is worth without a thorough review of your accident and injuries, there are two common types of damages that victims pursue in accident claims.

The first is economic damages, or costs to a victim that can be calculated in real dollar amounts. Examples of economic damages include medical bills, related treatment expenses, property damage, and lost income due to missed time at work. The second type is non-economic damages, which are intangible personal costs suffered by victims as a result of their injuries. Examples of non-economic damages include things like pain and suffering or reductions in quality of life.

What if I was partially at fault for my accident?

If you were jaywalking or otherwise violating a vehicle’s right-of-way when your accident occurred, you may be wondering if you can still recover compensation for your resulting injuries. In Louisiana, state law outlines what is known as a comparative negligence system. Under this system, each party involved in an accident can be assigned a percentage of fault if their actions contributed toward causing an accident.

If personal injury damages or other forms of compensation are awarded in a personal injury lawsuit, the total amount received by the injured party can be reduced by their percentage of fault. The bottom line is: if you were partially responsible for your own accident, you can still receive compensation, but the amount you are given may be reduced according to your portion of the blame.

Contact Us Today

To schedule a free case review, call us at 337-310-1600, start a live chat session on our site, or fill out this contact form so we can get back to you. No matter how big or small your case, Veron Bice, LLC is here to help.

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Lake Charles, Louisiana

337-310-1601

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