Webster Groves Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Webster Groves Pedestrian Accident Attorney

Pedestrian accidents can occur on roadways, in parking lots, and at intersections. While a vehicle may have only superficial damage, a pedestrian can suffer catastrophic or fatal injuries, even at low speeds. When the driver is at fault, pedestrians or their families can hold the driver’s insurer liable. A Webster Groves pedestrian accident lawyer can help injured individuals through this difficult time and aid in pursuing compensation.

Pursuing financial recovery after a pedestrian accident can be complex and even harder when you are navigating physical recovery. Working with a skilled attorney is essential in securing the ideal outcome in your case. At The Cagle Law Firm, we have decades of personal injury law experience, including pursuing compensation in the aftermath of a car-pedestrian accident.

Our team understands the significant personal and financial impact injuries have on your life, and we want to recover the most compensation that is possible. We review your incident to determine if you have the grounds for a case and hold the insurance carrier of the at-fault party liable for medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering. Our goal is to help you get the financial compensation you must have to get back to your life.

How Can You Recover Compensation After a Pedestrian Accident?

How you can recover compensation after a pedestrian accident may depend on whether another party was to blame for the accident. If a driver was to blame, you can pursue compensation in an auto insurance case. The experience of an attorney is essential after a pedestrian accident to determine who was to blame for the crash and who can be held liable for your injuries.

The amount of compensation you can recover may depend on how serious your injuries are. Often, pedestrians are severely injured when they are hit by vehicles, even at low speeds. More severe injuries will have costly medical treatment, may prevent you from working for longer, and can cause you more substantial pain and suffering. These are all potential costs that compensation could recover.

Unfortunately, the more serious your injuries, the harder it is to get a fair settlement from an insurance carrier. Insurers do not want to pay out fair cases; they want to limit their own liability and costs after an accident. An insurer may try to diminish your case’s value or deny it, no matter how serious your injuries. An attorney can protect your rights, fight for the financial recovery that you are owed, and take the case to court if a fair settlement can’t be reached.

What Is the Deadline to Pursue Financial Compensation for an Injury?

In Missouri, you typically have five years from the date of the injury to pursue compensation. This is the statute of limitations, which limits the time that someone can recover the cost of their injuries in civil court. Meeting the statute of limitations does not mean that you must file an insurance claim by that date or hire an attorney. It means that you must file a petition (lawsuit) in the appropriate court on or before that date or your case is forever barred regardless of the merits of your case.  If the statute of limitations expires on your case, you will be forever barred from recovering any financial compensation. Other types of cases may have unique statutes of limitations, giving you less time.

However, you should never delay pursuing compensation in Webster Groves. Waiting can result in the loss of crucial evidence and give less time to build a case. After you are injured as a pedestrian, you should begin pursuing compensation with an attorney. They can help you determine fault in the incident and whose insurer can be held liable.

What Evidence Is Important in a Pedestrian Accident?

When an attorney is determining fault and calculating the cost of your injuries in your case, evidence is essential. Some of the important evidence in pedestrian accidents includes a police report, toxicology report, personal or commercial CCTV, vehicle computer data, the driver’s cell phone records, other digital evidence, photos and videos of the accident site, eyewitness testimony, and expert witness testimony.

Some of this evidence is impossible for the average individual to obtain. An attorney has the resources to gather evidence and knows what evidence to look for after a pedestrian accident.

FAQs About Webster Groves, MO Pedestrian Accident Laws

Do Pedestrians Always Have the Right-of-Way in Missouri?

No, pedestrians in Missouri don’t always have the right-of-way. Pedestrians have the right-of-way at marked crosswalks and at implied but unmarked crosswalks at intersections. In all other cases, pedestrians are required to yield to drivers on the roadway

Being aware of these laws and following them is important for both drivers and pedestrians to prevent someone from being hurt. It is also important because breaking these laws can be used in determining liability if an accident does occur.

What Happens if a Jaywalker Is Hit in Missouri?

If a jaywalker is hit in Missouri, it can influence which party is fully or partially liable for the accident. If the driver was at fault for the accident, the compensation the pedestrian is owed may be reduced because they were jaywalking.

In some cases, the jaywalking pedestrians cannot recover compensation from the driver. If you were a pedestrian who was hit, it is crucial that you work with an attorney. They can take your case to court to potentially recover compensation based on comparative negligence laws.

How Is Fault Determined in a Car Accident With a Pedestrian in Missouri?

When a car accident involves a pedestrian in Missouri, fault is determined based on the unique aspects of the case. Either the driver or the pedestrian may be to blame or another party. A party is liable when they owed the other party a duty of care, and were negligent, causing the accident. Evidence such as the initial police report, photos of the scene, and eyewitness testimony can determine which party was at fault for the accident.

How Long Does a Person Have to File an Accident Report in Missouri?

In Missouri, if you are a pedestrian involved in a vehicle accident, you should file an accident report immediately with the officer on the scene. The driver in an accident has 30 days to file a report, but you should always call emergency responders immediately and not wait 30 days. The police report is one of the most important initial pieces of evidence. It ensures there is third-party corroboration of the accident by officers at the scene. It also ensures everyone in the accident gets medical care quickly.

The Cagle Law Firm: Your Pedestrian Accident Attorneys

If you or someone you love was injured by a negligent driver, contact The Cagle Law Firm today.