Middle River Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

When struck by reckless drivers in Middle River, pedestrians can file injury lawsuits to recover compensatory damages.

Pedestrians happen relatively frequently, often resulting in serious injury or death to victims in Middle River. Top causes of pedestrian accidents include speeding and drunk driving, among others. If a driver hits you as a pedestrian, our lawyers can confirm if they are at fault for the accident or if another driver might have contributed to the event. We can then gather evidence to help us meet the burden of proof in your case and guide you through settlement negotiations if necessary. Furthermore, we can take your lawsuit to court if the defendant refuses to offer a fair settlement offer and prove their liability and your damages to the jury.

Call Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291 and discuss your case for free with our Middle River pedestrian accident lawyers.

Pedestrian Accident Statistics for Middle River

Negligent drivers hit pedestrians for various reasons in Middle River. No matter the accident’s cause, a pedestrian might sustain serious and life-altering injuries when struck by a vehicle.

Speeding is a top cause of pedestrian accidents and might cause serious injury to victims in Middle River. For example, when hit by cars moving 20 mph, pedestrians have a 10% chance of serious injury or death. Comparatively, when hit by cars moving 40 mph, pedestrians have an 80% chance of serious injury or death.

Driver impairment is another common reason for pedestrian accidents in the area. Drunk drivers might have poor response times, preventing them from stopping at intersections or yielding to pedestrians with the right of way. Furthermore, impaired drivers are more likely to speed and drive recklessly and might run into pedestrians on sidewalks.

A staggering 91% of pedestrian accidents resulted in serious injury or death in Maryland in 2021. Common injuries from these types of accidents include traumatic brain injuries, fractures, spinal cord injuries, internal injuries, limb loss, soft tissue injuries, and back injuries, among others.

In Baltimore County, where Middle River is, there were 400 accidents involving pedestrians on foot in 2022. Of those, 343 resulted in injury, and 16 resulted in death.

Knowing Who to Sue for a Pedestrian Accident in Middle River

Pedestrian accidents are often chaotic, sometimes involving multiple cars and drivers. Our lawyers can help you iron out some of the more complex matters surrounding your case and determine fault if that is unclear.

For example, who would be to blame if one driver tried to negligently merge into another driver’s lane, forcing that driver to veer out of the way and hit you? In this instance, the driver who tried merging might be to blame unless the other driver could have avoided hitting you. These situations can get complicated quickly, so it is important to review all the available evidence as soon as possible to determine who is negligent and if multiple parties share fault.

Once we establish the at-fault party’s identity, we can focus on gathering additional evidence that will support your claim. We can then file your lawsuit before the deadline for pedestrian accident claims in Middle River, which is three years under Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. Art., § 5-101.

Proving Fault for Pedestrian Accident Injuries in Middle River

In order to prove fault for your injuries, we must meet the standard of proof that applies to your case. We can explain what the standard of proof means and how we will approach meeting it.

In civil claims, the standard of proof is a preponderance of the evidence, meaning plaintiffs must prove that a defendant more than likely caused their injuries. This burden is on the victim who brings the claim. The defendant will instead try to poke holes in a case, such as by using a contributory negligence defense, which could bar even pedestrians from recovery if they acted negligently in any way and contributed to an accident, such as by jaywalking.

When delving further into the accident and its aftermath, our pedestrian accident lawyers can obtain and organize more evidence of negligence. For example, our attorneys may conduct thorough interviews with eyewitnesses to see if their testimony might aid your claim. Furthermore, we can review relevant surveillance footage and photos, analyze the police report for the accident, and get experts’ opinions on certain matters to build a stronger claim.

Settling Pedestrian Injury Claims vs. Taking Them to Court in Middle River

Initially, victims might want to settle claims as soon as possible to recover damages quickly. While that is understandable, it is important to negotiate a fair settlement agreement to get what you are owed.

Engaging in settlement negotiations, at least for a time, can help you gauge a defendant’s willingness to settle outside of court and their desire to avoid a trial altogether. We can explain your various damages during negotiations and use evidence to support any counteroffers we propose.

Sometimes, defendants extend settlement negotiations for far too long, making a victim desperate for compensation. It is important to identify when a defendant is intentionally stalling settlement negotiations.

If that is the case, we can help you decide whether or not you should take your lawsuit to court. At a trial, we can present our evidence of the defendant’s negligence to the jury, and the jury will then decide the defendant’s fault and award you compensation. Your exact award will depend on your specific losses, like your medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering. According to Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. Art., § 11-108(b)(2), Maryland currently caps non-economic damages in injury claims at $935,000, and this limit increases by $15,000 annually each October.

Call Our Middle River Injury Lawyers About Your Case Now

Call Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291 and get a free case review from our pedestrian accident lawyers.