Clarksburg, MD Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

No one thinks of themselves as a “pedestrian” as they are going about their day. You may just think of yourself as a commuter, shopper, jogger, or literally anything else. In fact, perhaps the only time that someone may actively think of themselves as a pedestrian is when they are stuck by an oncoming vehicle and badly injured. Pedestrian accidents due to negligent drivers, defective vehicles, and many other factors sadly happen every day. The injuries pedestrians receive in these accidents are often severe because they do not have the luxury of a motor vehicle’s safety features, and, simply put, cars are a lot heavier than people, and getting hit by something heavy is likely to result in injury. Pedestrians injured by cars and other motor vehicles are often angry, upset, and frustrated by the experience.

You can start seeking justice for injuries done to you right now. Our lawyers have dealt with many personal injury claims, so we have the experience as well as the motivation to fight for your rights in court. We will do everything we can to hold those responsible for your accident accountable and get you the damages you deserve.

To get a free analysis of your case from Rice, Murtha & Psoras’s pedestrian accident legal team, call us at the number (410) 694-7291.

What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident in Clarksburg, MD

Getting hit by a car is a scary and traumatic experience. For that reason, it can be difficult to know what to do in the moments and days after a pedestrian crash. Below are some tips and things you can do in order to both make sure you are safe after a pedestrian accident and help you out in a potential future lawsuit.

Get Medical Attention

The most important thing you can do right after a pedestrian accident is to ensure that you get the medical attention you need. Sometimes, a victim’s injuries will be so serious that it is out of their hands, and they will be evacuated for emergency care. In other cases, the victim can be examined on-site by first responders. In those instances, you should follow all of their instructions and either go with them to a hospital or, if allowed, stay near the site of the accident.

Collect Information

If you are able to stick around after the incident, you need to get as much information as possible about the accident, talk to eyewitnesses about what they saw, and record their statements. Take lots of photos and videos of the crash and surrounding area, and be sure to get the name, license plate number, insurance information, and other details of any drivers involved in the incident. It is also a good idea to file a police report since that can be used to help your case later down the line.

Damages You Can Get in Clarksburg, MD Pedestrian Accident Claims

If you successfully prove that the defendant is liable for your injuries, the court will award you damages as compensation. Damages are the way that the legal system tries to restore the victim to how they were before they got hit by a vehicle. Unfortunately, the nature of the injuries victims of pedestrian accidents suffer often means that truly getting “back to normal” is a physical impossibility, which is the reason that financial compensation is the form that damages take in civil claims.

Economic Damages

Economic damages are based on things that have actual monetary value. Things like medical expenses – both for emergency care and long-term treatment – lost income, property damage, and other items fall into this category. The defining feature of economic damages is that there is some kind of “paper trail” you can use to back up your claim. Examples of evidence you can use to prove that you suffered economic hardship because of the defendant include invoices from hospitals, pay stubs detailing how much you earn – or, in this case, failed to earn because you were injured instead of working – and receipts for purchases you had to make on account of your injuries.

Non-Economic Damages

By contrast, non-economic damages can initially appear to be more obscure than economic damages. These damages are for intangible things that still have a significant impact on the plaintiff. The form of non-economic damages that most people will be familiar with is “pain and suffering.” This covers not just the physical pain you experienced because of your injuries but also the mental effects of the accident. For example, if you have recurring nightmares about getting hit by vehicles or have apprehension before crossing the street because of the accident you were involved in, that can also factor into non-economic damages.

Things like physical pain and anxiety are not going to have bills associated with them. In most circumstances, there is not going to be a paper trail you can use to prove non-economic damages, so our pedestrian accident attorneys will need to use witness testimony and persuasive legal arguments to demonstrate to the court that you are owed these damages.

Punitive Damages

Thus far, the damages we have discussed have dealt with making the plaintiff “whole” again. Punitive damages are different. Instead of trying to rewind things for the plaintiff, punitive damages punish the defendant for especially bad actions. In Maryland, you have to prove that the defendant acted with malice instead of mere negligence to get punitive damages as established in Phillip Morris Inc. v. Angeletti. Because of this higher standard, punitive damages will not make sense for every plaintiff. Therefore, you should talk to our attorneys to determine if seeking punitive damages makes sense in your claim.

Discuss Your Claim with Our Clarksburg, MD Pedestrian Accident Attorneys Now

Rice, Murtha & Psoras’s pedestrian accident attorneys are here to help you when you contact us at (410) 694-7291.