Pedestrian accidents can leave you in physically and financially ruins
In 2022, 1,390 people were injured by a car. 171 people died as a result of a pedestrian car wreck. 58 pedestrians were killed and 229 were injured by drunk drivers.
Pedestrian accident cases are very difficult cases in Virginia. So many people do not understand what side of the road they should be walking on, and when it is safe to do so.
The law in Virginia is designed to keep pedestrians safe. But it can appear counterintuitive.
In short, if you are walking on the hard surface of the road, then you should walk as close as you can to the edge and walk against traffic. That way you can see oncoming traffic and you will not get hit from behind while you are walking.
But, if you are walking on the shoulder, then you can walk on either shoulder.
We have seen many cases where the debate is over whether our client was walking on the shoulder or the hard surface of the road. If you break the law regarding which side of the road to walk on, then the jury could find you guilty of contributory negligence.
What is Contributory Negligence?
What is contributory negligence? Contributory negligence is a one hundred percent bar of any recovery in Virginia. That means if you are one percent negligent, then you will get nothing and you don’t have a case.
Many of these cases come down to this question: could you have seen and avoided the danger by exercising your own reasonable diligence.
In many instances, you simply need a lawyer who knows these rules inside and out. Your lawyer should be able to tell you when the insurance company is wasting time and should help you push toward a trial.
The insurance companies almost never agree to liability in these cases as they are hoping for a contributory negligence verdict. They always choose to fight, instead of doing the right thing.
A trusted lawyer should know how to handle a pedestrian case
Our lawyers are experts at getting information to prove our client’s case.
For example, Hannah Bowie represented a pedestrian in a car wreck case in Farmville, Virginia. After extensive litigation, the defense finally stipulated that the defendant was liable. That means the jury only had to decide how much to award our client.
Even though the insurance company made an offer, it was way too low to accept.
At trial, our client was awarded double the insurance company’s last offer.
To be the best pedestrian accident lawyer, you have to try pedestrian accident cases. Trying cases and winning verdicts helps your lawyer understand how much to expect in a settlement.
Our job as lawyers is to tell you what to expect and what the possible outcomes could be. Your job is to make the best legal decision you can make with the information you have.
Sometimes that means settling your case, and other times it means trying your case to a jury.
We walk through both decisions with you.
If you’ve suffered one of these injuries, you may be wondering
What Damages May I Recover?
- Medical Expense
- Pain and Suffering
- Inconvenience
- Permanent Impairment or Disfigurement
- Lost Wages
- Lost Earning Capacity
Do you have a pedestrian accident case?
Contacting a personal injury attorney in Lynchburg, Virginia can help you recover financially after an accident. Since there is a two-year window for you to be able to file a lawsuit, the sooner you contact an attorney, the better. You have rights under Virginia law and an attorney can help you preserve those rights.
