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America is a driving society. Outside major urban areas, there are relatively few people traveling on foot near U.S. roads and highways. For this reason, most American drivers pay much more attention to other vehicles around them than they do to pedestrians nearby. The average motorist’s inattention to those traveling on foot, on roller skates, by skateboard, or by scooter can result in a pedestrian accident.Recovering Damages From the at-Fault Trucker
If you’re a pedestrian injured in an accident caused by a negligent truck driver, you’re entitled to file insurance claims for your damages, which include all medical expenses, lost income, psychological injury, and physical pain and suffering. If you’re not offered fair compensation by the insurer(s) involved, you may file a personal injury suit and fight for a reasonable award in court.
Using a Personal Injury Attorney
Because of the seriousness of the injuries typically suffered by a pedestrian victim of a truck crash, your claim is likely to be a very expensive one. That means the liable party’s insurance company could dispute your claim or make you a quick, low offer before you know what your total medical expenses will be. If you accept such an offer, you may never ask for more money, no matter how serious your injuries are or how high your hospital bills go. Insurance companies often carefully evaluate claims, and having legal representation can help ensure your claim is properly presented and supported.
How a Personal Injury Attorney Can Help
While you’re focused on recovering from your injuries, your lawyer can take steps to investigate the accident, gather evidence, and advocate for you throughout the claims process. This can include:
- Investigating your accident with the help of a reconstructionist to prove liability
- Consulting with doctors to organize your medical evidence and evaluate your claim
- Interviewing eyewitnesses
- Viewing video footage of the crash from nearby cameras
- Obtaining vital data from the truck’s black box recorder and dashboard camera before that data is erased
- Identifying multiple defendants such as the trucker, the trucking company, a manufacturer, a negligent repair service, or loading dock personnel
- Determining those defendants’ respective percentages of fault and demanding fair compensation from each
- Negotiating reasonable settlements from all defendants
- Filing multiple lawsuits and fighting for you in court if fair compensation is not offered
If you’re physically able after your accident, you should call 911, report the crash to the police, take photos of the truck and the scene, exchange information with the truck driver, get contact information from witnesses, seek medical care right away, and contact a truck crash lawyer. Do not give any statements to insurance adjusters, and do not apologize or admit any fault to anyone.
