Easton Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Pretty much everyone is a pedestrian at some point during their day. This could be when they are going to work, going into a shopping mall, or doing some other activity. Generally, being a “pedestrian” is not something people think about. In fact, probably the only time people think about themselves as pedestrians is when they get hit by a car.

If you were hit by a car in Easton and need help, call us. Our attorneys have lots of experience dealing with pedestrian accident cases, so we understand how to effectively handle these claims and give you a good shot at getting the financial compensation you deserve.

Rice, Murtha & Psoras’s pedestrian accident lawyers are here to help you with your claim when you call our office at (410) 694-7291.

Injuries from Pedestrian Accidents in Easton

Pedestrians are often very badly injured when they get hit by motor vehicles. The fact of the matter is that pedestrians are “squishier” than cars and do not have a suite of safety features protecting them. Thus, even a hit at low speed from a motor vehicle can seriously hurt pedestrians.

When you file your claim, it is good practice to go into detail about the exact injuries you incurred in your accident. This both helps strengthen your legal argument and helps the court understand the basis for some of the damages you may ask for in your lawsuit.

Broken Bones

It is not at all uncommon for victims of pedestrian accidents to get arms, legs, pelvises, ribs, or other body parts broken when a car hits them. Not only are broken bones quite painful, but you will not be able to use the affected area while it recovers since it will probably be stuck in a cast or sling.

Bruises

Bruising is usually nothing to worry about on its own, but large areas of bruising, particularly on the torso or head, that will not go away may indicate something much more serious, like internal bleeding or organ damage.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

A traumatic brain injury, or TBI, is caused by a hard hit to the head that injures the brain. Even “mild” traumatic brain injuries, or concussions, have nasty consequences like memory loss and mood swings. More severe TBIs can lead to loss of basic functions like talking, paralysis, or even death.

Cuts and Puncturing Wounds

In any car collision, there is a chance that broken glass and bits of metal are going to go flying about. When that happens, victims can get cut up or “stabbed” by those sharp objects. This means that pedestrians may experience deep cuts and dangerous puncture wounds when hit by a motor vehicle.

While cuts may look much scarier – and bloodier – than puncture wounds, the latter are actually far more dangerous. While cuts can generally be treated with stitching, puncture wounds are much harder to stop from bleeding. Worse still, it only takes a couple of inches of penetration to hit important blood vessels or organs, so puncture wounds from a pedestrian accident can put a victim in critical condition.

Damages From Pedestrian Accident Claims in Easton

If you successfully prove that the defendant is liable, you will be awarded damages by the court. Damages are how courts try to place the plaintiff in a similar position to where they were before they got hurt. Of course, this is often not literally possible due to the nature of the plaintiff’s injuries, so damages are nearly always financial payouts and not something else. Some of the things you can get financial compensation for include:

Medical Expenses

You can get damages stemming from any medical expenses you incurred because of your injuries – even if they were covered by insurance. Surgery, hospital stays, and other procedures can become very expensive, so you can offset that expense with damages. Remember, too, that medical expenses do not just include emergency treatment you got after the accident but also long-term care like physical therapy sessions or medication you need to routinely take.

Lost Income

You can also get damages for lost opportunities to earn income. For example, if you have to take time off of work because of your injuries, you can get compensated for the income you would have earned had you not been injured. Alternatively, if you have to switch jobs to one that pays less, you can get damages based on that pay differential. Finally, if you are no longer able to work at all because of your injuries, you can get damages based on estimates of what you would have earned for the remainder of your working career.

Pain and Suffering

Not all damages are based on things people can see. The value of medical expenses or income you did not earn is easy to prove because of receipts, bills, and other sorts of paperwork. There is not going to be any paperwork, though, for things like the physical pain you felt because of the accident or for the mental toll your injuries may take on you. Accordingly, you will have to prove their value through other means. For example, you could testify on the stand – or have someone else testify – as to how pain from the accident has affected you.

Punitive Damages

In some instances, you can pursue what are known as “punitive damages.” These are only awarded when the defendant has acted particularly badly. You usually must prove that they were more than just negligent and had some level of malice behind their actions. If you want to seek punitive damages in your claim, you should bring up that prospect early on in discussions with our attorneys.

Contact Our Easton Pedestrian Accident Attorneys Today

Let our pedestrian accident lawyers with Rice, Murtha & Psoras go over your case when you contact us at (410) 694-7291.