PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENT ATTORNEY IN MONROE, LOUISIANA

Vehicles are often thought to be the most dangerous, albeit most popular, mode of transportation, but walking can be a hazardous occasion too. Whether it is due to the poor maintenance of parking lots and sidewalks, construction and other forms of debris, or those often troublesome vehicles, there are many ways a pedestrian can be injured.

Pedestrian-Vehicle Accidents

Accidents involving pedestrians and vehicles are often the result of negligence or not following the rules of the road. Drivers and pedestrians both have a responsibility to pay attention to the road and act cautiously. For pedestrians this means paying attention to “walk” signals, paying attention to traffic flow, using marked crosswalks, and not darting in front of vehicles. For drivers it means a bit more.

Drivers have the greater responsibility to watch for others on the road. There are many ways they can be negligent. Distracted driving, speeding, driving under the influence, failing to yield at walkways — these are just a few of the many ways drivers contribute to negligence, and they are far to common. In 2016, 5,987 pedestrians were killed in traffic accidents in the U.S. This means that there is one crash-related pedestrian death every 1.5 hours.

Other Pedestrian Accidents

Traffic accidents are not the only ones that pedestrians might be involved in. There may be hazards on a person’s property, ill-maintained sidewalks or other walking areas, or construction debris that was left out. Many of these situations fall into the category of premises liability (another area of personal injury law). In premises liability cases, a claim would be filed against the property owners.

If you were injured due to someone else’s negligence, you have the right to fight for compensation. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you through the claims process and fight for you in court if it comes to that.

What to Do If You Were Involved in an Accident

Being in an accident is jarring and can often leave a person wondering what they need to do next. Some things you need to do, or try to do, right after an accident would be:

• Immediately contact the police

• Get witness information if you can

• Don’t make statements to anyone but the police

• Seek medical attention

If you did not do these things following your accident, it is not the end of the world. It is still possible to file a claim and receive compensation. But it is of the utmost importance to get medical attention. Even if you did not get it immediately after the accident, you should still get checked out. Some injuries do not show up right away and can cause issues later on.

What to Do If a Loved One Was Killed in an Accident

Just as a person who is facing personal injury from an accident, a surviving loved one has every right to file a claim, except this would be for wrongful death rather than personal injury. The person eligible to file this claim would be the surviving spouse or closest next of kin to the accident victim. Some of the damages that may be awarded in a wrongful death claim are:

• Medical expenses

• Funeral and/or burial expenses

• Lost wages and benefits

• Pain and suffering of the deceased

• Family’s loss of care, companionship, guidance, and emotional support

Losing a spouse, parent, or child is a grievous experience that stays with a person for life. It is especially hard if that loss was due to someone else's negligence. While a wrongful death suit is often sufficient, it is important to note that it is not a criminal charge and the only penalty to the responsible party would be monetary in nature.

If you are looking to file a wrongful death or personal injury claim, you will need an experienced accident attorney to help you through the process. I have a successful record of settlements for my clients and am dedicated to every case I encounter. I provide honest and straightforward legal counsel to those who need it most.