If you are injured in a pedestrian accident, you can suffer life-changing injuries requiring months, sometimes years of medical treatment and rehabilitation. You might have to take significant time off of work, or if your injuries are severe enough, be permanently disabled and unable to work. Our law firm is dedicated to helping accident victims navigate the complexities of legal claims, ensuring they receive the support and compensation they need during this difficult time.
Hopefully, you can find reassurance knowing you can hold the negligent driver responsible for their actions. By filing a pedestrian accident lawsuit, you can seek compensation for damages, such as medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering.
The Canton pedestrian accident attorneys at Slater & Zurz have over 100 years of collective knowledge and experience, offering injured victims expert legal representation. We fight relentlessly to hold negligent parties accountable for their actions and secure the compensation our clients need to recover emotionally, physically, and financially from their accidents. When experience matters, contact Slater & Zurz.
Pedestrian Accident Injuries
Our legal team understands that all accidents have unique circumstances. Though no two cases are the same, some of the more common causes of pedestrian accidents include:
- Distracted driving
As one of the leading causes of pedestrian accidents, distracted driving occurs when a motorist is focused on something other than driving, such as texting, using a navigation system, eating, or tending to children or pets in the vehicle.
- Speeding
When a driver exceeds the posted speed limit, they put themselves and others at risk. Drivers may not be able to see or react to a pedestrian when traveling at a high rate of speed. Due to the vehicle’s excessive speed, pedestrians generally sustain devastating, often fatal injuries.
- Aggressive driving
Making unsafe lane changes, unlawfully passing other cars, and running red lights often result in pedestrian-related crashes.
- Driving under the influence (DUI)
Operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs and alcohol is another common cause of Canton pedestrian accidents. While under the influence, a driver’s perception and ability to react are significantly impaired.
- Failure to yield
Under Ohio Revised Code 4511.46, drivers must yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk. In addition, drivers must also yield to individuals on sidewalks, as detailed in ORC 4511.441.
- Poor signage
Improper or inadequate road signs and signals can cause some confusion on behalf of the driver and pedestrians. These accidents commonly take place at or near intersections and often result in serious injury.
- Dangerous road conditions
Hazardous road conditions, such as poorly designed roadways, inadequately maintained streets, poor lighting, and improperly designed intersections, lead to many pedestrian accidents.
What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident
Being involved in a pedestrian accident can be a frightening experience. However, the steps you take after your accident can significantly impact the success of your claim. Important steps you should take include:
- Move to safety
If you have been hit by a car, it is crucial to gather as much evidence as possible at the scene to support your claim.
- Seek medical attention
Even if you don’t feel you were seriously injured, you should always be evaluated by a doctor for neck, back, or spinal injuries, internal bleeding, or a traumatic brain injury. Often, severe injuries don’t show symptoms for a while, with some taking several days to present themselves. Being seen by a doctor will help you get a prompt diagnosis and any necessary treatment.
- Call the police
Be sure to call the police while at the scene of the accident and provide them with detailed and accurate information. Obtain a copy of the police report as it will help you document what happened by containing vital information, such as the driver’s contact information, details about the incident, a diagram of the scene, the officer’s findings, and a list of any citations given.
- Look for eyewitnesses
If you can, talk to any possible eyewitnesses. If they saw what happened, obtain their contact information and a brief statement of what they saw. Eyewitness testimony is essential in showing what took place and who was responsible for the incident.
- Take pictures
With your cell phone or camera, take photographs and video of the scene, preferably before the car(s) have been moved. Take pictures of the damage to the vehicle and any skid marks or debris. It is also a good idea to write down what happened and detail the road and weather conditions at the time.
- Save all of your medical records
Compile all medical bills, diagnoses, and treatment plans. Having complete documentation of your injuries and medical expenses will help you prove the extent of your injuries and the associated costs.
- Speak to our Canton pedestrian accident Attorney
To ensure you receive maximum compensation, it is best to consult with an experienced lawyer as soon as possible. Your lawyer will explain your legal options, develop an effective course of action, and handle all communication with the insurance company.
Recovering Damages in a Pedestrian Accident Case
If another party caused your injuries, you have the right to seek compensation for your losses. Although the circumstances are different in every case, you may be entitled to the following:
- Medical expenses
- Rehabilitation
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Assistive care
- Modifications to your home and vehicle
- Pain and suffering
- Disability
- Disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment
- Loss of consortium
- Wrongful death damages (if you lost a loved one)
How Slater & Zurz Can Help
Our Canton personal injury lawyers consider it our duty and privilege to represent injured victims and secure rightful damages on their behalf. Unlike many other law firms, we take our clients’ situations to heart and treat each one as if they were our family members. We genuinely care about the future and well-being of our clients and their families and strive to get them the results they deserve. Our legal team will provide you with the highest level of representation by:
- Listening to your situation and learning what aspects of your case are most important to you
- Explaining every part of the process so you know what to expect
- Explaining your rights, providing you with the confidence to demand the compensation you deserve
- Utilizing our relentless approach with the insurance company to secure maximum damages in a timely manner
- Aggressively advocating in court if negotiations do not result in an acceptable settlement
- Keeping you apprised of any updates in your case
- Being there for you every step of the way and providing our continued guidance and support even after your case is resolved.
At Slater & Zurz, we believe that every case – and every client – is important. We will do everything we can to bring you justice, no matter how big or small your case is. For honest, diligent, and compassionate legal representation, we encourage you to give us a call.
Qualified Pedestrian Accident Lawyers in Canton
At Slater & Zurz, we take a compassionate and relentless approach to all of our cases. We offer the guidance and support you need following such a traumatic experience, while also utilizing a comprehensive and aggressive strategy to secure the compensation you deserve.
We understand that injured victims generally struggle to make ends meet while recovering from their injuries. That is why we handle our pedestrian accident injury cases on a contingency fee basis. What this means is we will not ask you to pay for any up-front fees or costs. In addition, we will only be paid when we successfully secure compensation on your behalf. This allows you to take legal action without having to pay any out-of-pocket expenses.
If you or a loved one was injured in a pedestrian accident in Canton or elsewhere in Ohio, our legal team can help. Whether you were struck by a negligent driver or injured due to poorly maintained or hazardous conditions, you do not have to go through the pursuit of justice alone. Consult with one of our experienced lawyers today. Call (330) 968-2547 today to arrange your FREE case review.