Catonsville Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Most pedestrian accidents are caused by negligent drivers. Recovering compensation can be difficult for a pedestrian recently injured in an accident.

Fortunately, a skilled Catonsville pedestrian accident lawyer can help you with the legal challenges you will face during recovery. Pedestrian accidents can be caused in several different ways and happen more often than people think. Most accidents occur at crosswalks, with some proving fatal. Recovering compensation for your damages can be challenging, especially if the driver fled the scene. However, we can help you obtain evidence to build your case and show how your injuries were negligently caused.

If you were injured in a pedestrian accident, our experienced Catonsville pedestrian accident lawyers can help you recover compensation from the negligent driver that injured you. For a free review of your case, call Rice, Murtha & Psoras today at (410) 694-7291.

Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Catonsville

Other drivers’ negligence causes the majority of pedestrian accidents in Catonsville. While pedestrian accidents can occur anywhere, most occur in areas like crosswalks and parking lots. However, there are many common ways that negligent drivers cause pedestrian accidents in Catonsville:

  • Distracted driving
  • Texting while driving
  • Disobeying traffic signals
  • Improper left turns
  • Speeding
  • Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
  • Reckless driving

An accident could, of course, be caused in many other ways. Our Catonsville pedestrian accident lawyers can help you recover compensation regardless of how your accident was negligently caused.

Pedestrian Accident Statistics in Maryland

Pedestrian accidents are unfortunately common in Catonsville. According to statistics from the Maryland Department of Transportation, 113 pedestrian fatalities occurred in Maryland in 2022. In 2021, 2,278 pedestrians were involved in accidents with a motor vehicles.

Catonsville is located in Baltimore County, which had 426 accidents involving injured pedestrians in 2021. Unfortunately, 27 of those accidents were fatal. Crosswalks, parking lots, and the middle of the road are where the majority of these accidents occur. Our Catonsville pedestrian accident lawyers can help if you are one of the unfortunate victims of a driver’s negligence.

Recovering Compensation for a Pedestrian Accident in Catonsville

Pedestrians injured in an accident will have a few legal options to recover compensation from a negligent driver. Maryland is an at-fault state. This means you can recover compensation from the negligent party that injured you.

Filing for Insurance

One of the benefits of living in an at-fault state is that you can file a lawsuit without having to file for insurance first. In some cases, insurance might be enough to cover your damages without requiring further legal action. However, filing a lawsuit is often the best way to ensure you get the damages you are entitled to.

However, if you were the victim of a hit-and-run or the driver that injured you did not have insurance, you can go straight to suing them in court. It can be difficult to identify a driver that fled the scene of a pedestrian accident, but it is not impossible. Our Catonsville pedestrian accident lawyers can investigate your case to determine if surveillance footage captured any details of the driver’s vehicle and work with law enforcement to identify the negligent party. You can still likely file with your car or health insurance to cover your damages while we work to identify the person to name in your lawsuit.

Filing a Lawsuit

If the driver is known in your case, you can file a lawsuit against them to recover compensation. Proving a lawsuit in a pedestrian accident case can be challenging. Still, we have years of experience litigating these types of lawsuits and know what evidence is needed to prove a case. Also, filing a lawsuit is often the best strategy for settlement negotiations with insurance companies, as we can obtain further evidence in your case and ensure you are treated fairly. Most cases settle, but our Catonsville pedestrian accident lawyers are ready to take your case to trial if negotiations fall through.

Elements to Prove a Catonsville Pedestrian Accident Lawsuit

To prevail in a personal injury lawsuit, you must prove four distinct elements. Several legal strategies will be used to prove these elements and recover compensation for your pedestrian accident injuries. Each element requires its own evidence to establish, and all must be shown to recover damages:

  • The driver owed you a duty of care
  • The driver breached that duty of care
  • Your injuries were caused by the driver’s breach of duty
  • You suffered damages because of your injuries

Drivers owe a duty of care while driving, including obeying all traffic laws. Establishing the first two elements is usually not too difficult. Proving that the driver’s conduct caused your injuries is arguably the most important part of a negligence case. Our Catonsville pedestrian accident lawyers can review your case to determine what damages you can claim and gather evidence to prove your case.

Evidence Used to Prove a Catonsville Pedestrian Accident Lawsuit

To successfully prevail in your pedestrian accident lawsuit, evidence must be obtained and submitted to prove that the driver’s negligence caused your injuries. Numerous types of evidence can be used to prove fault, depending on the circumstances of the case. The following are types of evidence that our Catonsville pedestrian accident lawyers typically use to prove a pedestrian accident case:

  • Police reports
  • EMS records
  • Medical records
  • Photos from the scene
  • Photos of your injuries
  • Physical evidence from the scene
  • Surveillance footage
  • Smartphone footage
  • Personal recollections
  • Property damage estimates
  • Property records
  • Contractual agreements
  • Witness statements
  • Expert witness statements

However, some of this evidence will be in the possession of parties that might be reluctant to cooperate with your requests. Having our Catonsville pedestrian accident lawyers on your side can make all the difference when gathering evidence. We can request that any evidence in their possession be preserved and subpoena them for the records, if necessary.

Our Catonsville Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Can Help

If a negligent driver has injured you or someone you know, our Catonsville pedestrian accident lawyers can help you get the justice you deserve for your injuries. Contact Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291 for a free case assessment.