Pedestrian accidents can cause catastrophic injuries. If you were the victim of one, a Babylon personal injury lawyer can help you file a claim.
The attorneys at Chaikin Trial Group Injury Lawyers have over 50 years of combined experience. If you were injured by a negligent driver, a pedestrian accident lawyer in Babylon from our team can take on your case and help you secure the compensation you deserve.
How a Babylon Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Can Help
A Babylon pedestrian accident lawyer can help with every aspect of your case. Specifically, a lawyer can assist by:
- Gather evidence: A lawyer can collect police reports, surveillance footage, traffic camera recordings, witness statements, and medical records to strengthen your claim.
- Calculating damages: A lawyer can evaluate your medical bills, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, long-term care needs, and pain and suffering to ensure nothing is overlooked in your claim.
- Handling insurance negotiations: Insurance companies often try to reduce or deny claims. A lawyer can pursue full and fair compensation on your behalf.
- Preparing for litigation: If negotiations fail, a lawyer can file a lawsuit and represent you in court.
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What Types of Compensation May Be Available?
As a victim of a pedestrian accident, you may be entitled to a number of damages, including:
- Medical bills: You can recover the cost of hospital stays, surgeries, rehabilitation, prescription medications, and any future treatment related to the accident.
- Lost income: You can seek compensation for the wages you missed out on while recovering, as well as any reduction in your future earning capacity.
- Pain and suffering: You can recover compensation for the physical pain, emotional distress, trauma, and overall loss of enjoyment of life caused by the accident.
- Permanent disability: You can obtain compensation for long-term physical limitations, mobility impairments, or other life-altering conditions that result from the crash.
- Wrongful death damages: If a pedestrian accident results in a fatality, surviving family members can recover funeral expenses and other financial losses.
A Babylon pedestrian accident attorney can help make sure your settlement covers all of your losses.
What Is the Time Limit for Pedestrian Accident Claims in New York?
In most cases, NY CPLR § 214 gives you three years from the date of a pedestrian accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in New York.
If the accident resulted in a fatality, a wrongful death claim generally must be filed within two years of the date of the victim’s death. Claims against a municipality or other government entity can involve much shorter notice deadlines.
Missing the applicable deadline can permanently prevent you from recovering compensation, which is why it’s important to contact our Babylon pedestrian accident attorneys as soon as possible.
How Is Fault Determined in a Pedestrian Accident Case?
Liability in a pedestrian accident case is often more complicated than it initially appears. Drivers may claim that you crossed outside a crosswalk or stepped into traffic unexpectedly, and insurers may also attempt to shift blame.
Evidence that can strengthen your case may include:
- Police accident reports
- Traffic camera or security footage
- Eyewitness testimony
- Accident reconstruction analysis
- Cell phone records (in distracted driving cases)
- Toxicology reports (in DUI cases)
New York follows a pure comparative negligence rule. This means that you can recover damages even if you are partially at fault for your accident.
However, if that is the case, your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of responsibility.
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Babylon
Some of the most common causes of pedestrian accidents in Babylon include:
- Failure to yield at crosswalks: Drivers are required to yield to pedestrians in marked and unmarked crosswalks. Many collisions happen when motorists ignore this rule.
- Distracted driving: Texting, using GPS, adjusting music, or even eating can pull a driver’s attention away from the road for just long enough to cause a collision.
- Speeding: Higher speeds reduce drivers’ reaction time and dramatically increase the severity of injuries when a pedestrian is struck.
- Driving under the influence: Alcohol and drugs impair drivers’ judgment, coordination, and reaction time.
- Poor visibility: Nighttime conditions, bad weather, or poorly lit streets can contribute to crashes, especially when drivers fail to exercise caution.
Our Babylon pedestrian accident lawyers can help determine the cause of your accident.
Common Injuries in Pedestrian Accidents
Unlike drivers and their passengers, pedestrians have no protection. As a result, the injuries they suffer in accidents are often more severe. Typical pedestrian accident injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Internal organ damage
- Severe lacerations and road rash
- Permanent scarring or disfigurement
A Babylon pedestrian injury lawyer can help you recover compensation for your medical bills.
What Should You Do After a Pedestrian Accident in Babylon?
What you do after a pedestrian accident can significantly affect your case. You should:
- Call law enforcement: A formal accident report provides an official record of the incident, which will be important for your claim.
- Document the scene: If possible, take photos of the roadway, vehicle damage, and any visible injuries.
- Collect witness information: Independent witnesses can provide crucial testimony.
- Seek immediate medical attention: Medical documentation will connect your injuries to the accident.
- Avoid giving statements to adjusters: Statements made early on may be used against you later.
- Consult a lawyer: Contact a Babylon pedestrian hit by car lawyer to discuss your legal options and go over next steps.
Get Help From a Pedestrian Accident Attorney in Babylon
If you have been looking for a “Babylon pedestrian accident lawyer near me,” Chaikin Trial Group Injury Lawyers is here to help. An attorney from our team can investigate your accident, negotiate with insurers, and pursue full compensation for your losses.
Book a free consultation to take the first step toward justice.