There are many benefits to walking. From health benefits to reduced-carbon emissions, commuting by foot is becoming much more popular. Unfortunately, pedestrians are vulnerable to accidents. When a pedestrian gets hurt by a car or other motor vehicle, it can be dangerous and even deadly.
If you’ve been hurt in a pedestrian accident in Richmond Heights, Missouri, we can help. Bradley Law Personal Injury Lawyers is familiar with pedestrian accidents. Since 2002, we have recovered over $70 million for our injured clients. Our team of experienced Richmond Heights pedestrian accident lawyers can help you understand your rights and access the money you need for medical bills, emotional trauma, and other losses.
If you’re ready to speak with a lawyer, call our office at (314) 207-4399 to set up a free consultation.
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Bradley Law Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help You After Getting Hurt in a Richmond Heights Pedestrian Accident
With over 30 years of combined experience, you can trust Bradley Law Personal Injury Lawyers to help you with your pedestrian accident case. We are recognized nationally and locally as leading personal injury lawyers.
When you hire our Richmond Heights personal injury lawyers to handle your pedestrian accident case, we will:
- Investigate the cause of the accident
- Identify who is responsible
- File an insurance claim if necessary, and negotiate with insurance companies
- Calculate your damages
- Request and review medical records
- File a personal injury lawsuit
- Go to trial
Every case is different and requires a different strategy. Call our law office in Richmond Heights, MO, to set up a free consultation and learn more about how we can help you build a strong legal case for receiving the compensation you need and deserve.
What Is a Pedestrian Accident?
A pedestrian accident is an accident that involves a person on foot and usually some sort of car, motorcycle, bicycle, or even an electric scooter. Pedestrian accidents often happen on public sidewalks or roadways.
While pedestrian accidents most frequently involve a motor vehicle, technically, a pedestrian accident can include any pedestrian who is hurt by another force while walking. For example, this may involve a pedestrian who is hurt by falling debris from a construction site or by tripping on uneven surfaces.
Missouri is ranked #17 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for pedestrian fatality rates in the United States. In 2020, there were 128 pedestrians killed, which represented 2.08 per 100,000 residents. Predictably, St. Louis County accounted for the most pedestrian accidents in the state, with 28 in 2020.
The Most Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Richmond Heights
The most common causes of pedestrian accidents in Richmond Heights, MO include:
- Distracted driving
- Inadequate street lights
- Lack of sidewalks or obstructions on sidewalks
- DUI crashes
- Inclement weather
- Road rage
- Bicyclists or scooters on the sidewalk
- Failing to yield to pedestrians
- Running red lights
- Speeding
Our lawyers will work hard to identify the cause of your accident and who is responsible. This will help us formulate a strategy to recover the full amount of compensation that you deserve.
Pedestrian Accidents Can Cause Serious Injuries
Pedestrian accidents are very dangerous. Unlike cars or even bikers with helmets, pedestrians have no safety gear. Instead, pedestrians rely on motorists to follow the rules of the road. When they don’t, it can be deadly for the pedestrian.
Pedestrians are vulnerable to catastrophic injuries after an accident. Including death, pedestrians are often left with:
- Head and brain injuries
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis
- Nerve damage
- Broken or fractured bones
- Amputations
- Bruising, burns, and lacerations
- Hand and wrist injuries
Naturally, pedestrians who are hit by a car are more likely to have serious injuries compared to pedestrians who are hit by a bicyclist. However, depending on the speed and conditions, both can be severe.
We help clients who are experiencing all types of injuries. Our lawyers will review your medical records, speak with your doctors, and consult experts to fully understand the extent of your injury and the required treatment.
How Much Is My Richmond Heights Pedestrian Accident Case Worth?
Ultimately, a personal injury case is about recovering compensation for your losses. Even the best lawyer can’t turn back time and prevent your injuries. That’s why one of the first things we will discuss is the value of your Richmond Heights pedestrian accident case.
Both the lawyers and the client need to have a clear understanding of the case value before crafting a litigation strategy. By understanding the value, we can reject lowball offers and work to recover what is fair and necessary for you to move forward.
The value of a pedestrian accident case will vary from person to person. However, some factors are likely to make your case worth more than others.
Permanency of the Injury
Pedestrians who suffer from permanent or disabling injuries tend to get more money. That’s because the injury is ongoing and will affect them forever. Some of these injuries may require round-the-clock in-home care, building a wheel-chair accessible home, or permanent pain.
For example, a pedestrian who is paralyzed will almost certainly recover more than a pedestrian who has a broken arm.
Required Medical Treatment
If your injury has required extensive medical treatment, like multiple surgeries or ongoing physical therapy, you will probably recover more. That’s because your medical bills will be higher than someone who only goes to the doctor once or twice.
Affect on Work and Earning Income
You are entitled to compensation for missing work and losing income potential. If your injury has affected the amount of time that you can work, the type of work you can do, or your ability to be employed at all, you will recover more money.
If your injury has permanently prevented you from earning income, then you are entitled to compensation for that in the future. It’s not just about what you have lost but about what you will lose going forward.
Emotional Impact and Affect on Quality Of Life
Pain and suffering is an intangible and emotional losses that you are entitled to recover. If your accident or injury has caused serious emotional trauma, you can recover compensation for that. It isn’t just for the cost of therapy but also for the onset of mental illness.
You can also recover damages if the trauma has affected your overall quality of life. For example, if you no longer enjoy the same activities or have lost relationships because of the injury or emotional impact.
You Are Entitled to Damages After Getting Hurt in a Richmond Heights Pedestrian Accident
In many pedestrian accidents cases, we ask for damages to cover expenses like:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Property damage
- Mental anguish
- Physical and emotional pain and suffering
- Physical disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Sometimes we also recover punitive damages, but this is significantly less common. That’s because punitive damages are only available if the defendant caused intentional harm or with a flagrant disregard for others’ safety.
How Long Do I Have To File a Pedestrian Accident Lawsuit in Richmond Heights, MO?
In Richmond Heights, MO, pedestrian accident victims have five years to file a lawsuit. If they miss the deadline, their case will be dismissed. That means that this is an important deadline that should not be forgotten. A personal injury lawyer can help you keep track of this deadline and others throughout your case.
Is a Richmond Heights Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Affordable?
If you have medical bills stacking up and are out of work, it may be stressful to think about hiring a lawyer. Many clients walk into our office with a misconception about the cost of a pedestrian accident lawyer.
Pedestrian accident lawyers in Richmond Heights charge a contingency fee. That means that we are paid based on the outcome of the case. If we win or settle the case (and get you compensation), we will take a set percentage of the compensation as our fee. We will discuss this percentage at the beginning of the case – it will usually be around 33%.
If we lose the case and you don’t win any money, then you aren’t required to pay us anything in attorney’s fees. This means that you can always afford a lawyer. After all, payment is directly tied to the amount that you recover.
Call a Richmond Heights Pedestrian Accident Lawyer To Schedule a Free Consultation
If you’re ready to speak with a Richmond Heights pedestrian accident attorney, call Bradley Law Personal Injury Lawyers at (314) 207-4399 to set up a free consultation. There are no strings attached. Our consultation is an opportunity for our lawyers to learn about your case and for you to learn about how our lawyers can help.
We pride ourselves on building a strong relationship based on trust with our clients. A consultation is the first step in getting to know each other and in your journey to recovery.
