Gilbert Pedestrian Accident Attorney

If you or someone you love was injured in a pedestrian accident in Gilbert, dealing with the aftermath can feel overwhelming. You may face expensive medical treatments, missed work, and serious injuries that change your daily routine. Because of the lack of protection a pedestrian has compared to vehicles, these incidents can be catastrophic.

If you find yourself in this situation, contact Hastings & Hastings to schedule a free consultation with a Gilbert pedestrian accident lawyer. 

Why Hire Hastings & Hastings For Your Pedestrian Accident Case?

Pedestrian accidents can have serious consequences, affecting all aspects of your life. If you find yourself in this position, here’s why you should work with our team:

• Our legal team has more than 90 years of combined experience and has recovered millions of dollars on behalf of injury victims. 
• If you can’t visit our office, we will send a licensed attorney directly to you, making the legal process more convenient. 
• The majority of our business comes from repeat clients, referrals, and satisfied individuals who truly believe that we’re the right option for an injured pedestrian. 

If you have questions about a pedestrian accident claim or you’re ready to get started, contact us today to schedule a free consultation. 

How an Attorney Can Help You With a Pedestrian Accident Case

After a pedestrian accident, the best way to get the compensation you need for medical expenses and lost wages is to work with a personal injury lawyer in Gilbert. Here’s how they can help you:

• A lawyer gathers and organizes the evidence you need to build a strong case, such as witness statements, photos, and medical records. 
• They deal with insurance companies on your behalf, aiming for a fair settlement that reflects all of your current and future losses.
• The right lawyer will provide valuable guidance every step of the way, looking out for your interests while you concentrate on getting better.

For more information on a pedestrian accident case, contact Hastings & Hastings today. 

Most Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents

Pedestrian accidents happen for a variety of reasons, many of which are preventable. Below are some of the most common causes:

• Distracted Driving: When a driver texts or uses their phone in another way, they’re not paying attention to the road or pedestrians in front of them. 
• Speeding or Reckless Driving: Drivers going too fast often can’t stop in time to prevent a collision, leading them to hit a pedestrian. 
• Driving Under the Influence: Alcohol or drugs frequently reduce reaction times for drivers and impair judgment, leading drivers to make poor decisions that could cause them to hit a pedestrian. 
• Failure to Yield: Vehicles not stopping at crosswalks or intersections pose a huge threat to people on foot. 
• Bad Weather or Poor Visibility: Rain, fog, and insufficient lighting can make it harder for drivers to see pedestrians, leading to accidents. 
• Pedestrians Crossing Outside Crosswalks: Pedestrian accidents aren’t always the fault of the driver. When a pedestrian crosses in an area without a designated crosswalk, drivers might not expect to see someone on foot, raising the likelihood of an accident. 

By understanding these common causes, you can take steps to keep yourself safer on the road.

What Happens if a Pedestrian is Partially At Fault For The Accident?

If you’re hit by a car while crossing the street, but you were partially at fault (for example, crossing outside a designated crosswalk), Arizona’s pure comparative negligence system can affect your claim. Under this rule, you’re still able to recover damages even when you share in the blame for the accident. However, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. 

The defense of contributory negligence or of assumption of risk is in all cases a question of fact and shall at all times be left to the jury. If the jury applies either defense, the claimant’s action is not barred, but the full damages shall be reduced in proportion to the relative degree of the claimant’s fault which is a proximate cause of the injury or death, if any. There is no right to comparative negligence in favor of any claimant who has intentionally, wilfully or wantonly caused or contributed to the injury or wrongful death.

What this means in practice is that if a court finds that you were 30% responsible for the collision, you’d only receive 70% of the total damages. This approach means you don’t lose out on compensation just because you had some role in causing the accident. Instead, responsibility and damages are divided according to each party’s share of fault.

Proving Liability in a Pedestrian Accident Case

Proving liability in a pedestrian accident claim involves gathering strong evidence and showing that the driver’s negligence led to your injuries. Below are a few ways this is typically achieved:

• Police Reports: These official documents provide an unbiased overview of the accident scene, often pinpointing traffic law violations that can provide insight into whose fault the accident was. 
• Witness Statements: Anyone who was nearby and saw the accident can describe what happened and support your version of events, providing more evidence that you weren’t responsible for the accident. 
• Medical Records: Proof of your injuries and their direct link to the accident can show how your injuries occurred and explain how the other party was at fault. 
• Traffic or Surveillance Cameras: Footage from nearby homes, businesses, or traffic lights can confirm the sequence of events leading up to the collision. 

For help gathering appropriate evidence and proving that you deserve compensation, contact a personal injury lawyer right away. 

Contact Hastings & Hastings To Schedule a Free Consultation

Pedestrian accidents often escalate into life-altering situations, placing physical and financial burdens on victims and their families. With the help of a skilled attorney, you stand a better chance of pursuing the compensation you need for medical expenses, lost wages, and emotional distress. A lawyer will handle all of the legal aspects of your claim while you focus on healing from your injuries.

If you or someone you love has been hurt in a pedestrian accident, reach out for professional legal advice as soon as possible. Contact Hastings & Hastings to schedule a free consultation with a Gilbert accident lawyer.