A pedestrian accident can quickly turn your world upside down. Pedestrian accident victims often suffer life-threatening injuries. When they survive, they often need long-term medical care and may be left with debilitating chronic pain.
Insurance companies representing drivers will work hard to deny or minimize payouts. You need an experienced Edmond pedestrian accident lawyer who can combat the tactics used by insurance companies and defense attorneys to help you recover the compensation you deserve.
At Warhawk Legal, our Edmond pedestrian accident lawyers have over twenty years of experience protecting the rights of injury victims and recovering maximum compensation.
Call (405) 397-1717 or visit our contact page to schedule a free consultation to discuss your accident with our personal injury attorney in Edmond. We look forward to meeting you, answering your questions, and explaining your options. If we represent you, we will work tirelessly to recover the compensation you are entitled to.
Why You Should Choose an Edmond Pedestrian Accident Lawyer From Warhawk Legal
- Experience. We have been protecting the rights of injury victims for over twenty years.
- Results. We have recovered numerous million-dollar and multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for our clients.
- Integrity. We won’t take your case unless we believe it has merit and we can help you recover the compensation you deserve.
- Commitment. We are committed to the well-being of our clients and work tirelessly to help you get the justice and compensation you deserve so you can move forward with your life.
Common Causes of Edmond Pedestrian Accidents
Negligent motor vehicle drivers cause most Edmond pedestrian accidents. When motorists fail to yield the right of way to pedestrians, catastrophic accidents are often the result. Some of the most common causes of Edmond pedestrian accidents include:
- Speeding. When speeding, it is harder to stop and avoid hitting a pedestrian. Additionally, the faster a motor vehicle travels, the greater the injuries usually are to the pedestrian.
- Distracted driving. When drivers take their eyes or minds off the road, they are more likely to cause an accident. If a driver is texting, looking at a GPS, or reaching for something in the passenger seat, they could easily fail to see a pedestrian walking on the side of the road or crossing in a crosswalk. According to the Oklahoma Motor Vehicle Violation Code, if a driver receives or sends texts while a vehicle is in motion, the driver can be charged with negligence.
- Driving drunk or drugged. An impaired motorist is dangerous to everyone else on the road, including pedestrians. When under the influence of alcohol or drugs, a driver’s vision, judgment, and reflexes are compromised, making it more difficult to see a pedestrian and to take action to avoid hitting them.
- Reckless driving. An aggressive driver may ignore pedestrians in crosswalks or on the shoulder of a road and be more likely to hit them. If they drive erratically, too fast, and aggressively, they can threaten other drivers and pedestrians.
- Malfunctioning traffic or crosswalk signals. Drivers and pedestrians trust the proper functioning of traffic and crosswalk signals every time they drive or walk on the road. If a signal malfunctions, whether because it is defective or negligently maintained, it can quickly cause a devastating accident.
- Dangerous road conditions. A defectively designed or negligently maintained road can cause a pedestrian accident.
At Warhawk Legal, our Edmond car accident lawyer excels at investigating accidents to determine all possible causes and potentially liable parties.
Top Injuries Caused by Edmond Pedestrian Accidents
There is little protection between pedestrians, motor vehicles, and the pavement. The average weight of a passenger car in the United States is more than 4,000 pounds. When a vehicle of that size is in motion, it can easily cause fatal or catastrophic injuries to the human body.
Some of the top injuries caused by Edmond pedestrian accidents include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).
- Broken and crushed bones.
- Spinal cord injuries, including paralysis.
- Severed or amputated limbs.
- Scarring and disfigurement.
- Organ damage and internal bleeding.
- Back and neck injuries.
Pedestrian accident injuries can result in the need for long-term medical care and lifelong chronic pain. Many times, pedestrian accident injury victims are unable to return to work due to their injuries.
If you have been injured in a pedestrian accident, you deserve to be represented by an Edmond brain injury lawyer with a proven record of recovering maximum compensation for their clients.
Damages Recoverable in an Edmond Pedestrian Accident Claim
In a successful pedestrian accident claim, you should be able to recover all damages which can be divided into economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages include all current and future medical expenses, all current and future lost wages, and all other necessary expenses or measurable costs incurred because of your injuries.
Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, mental and emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, scarring and disfigurement, and other intangible losses and costs.
Damages such as these are intended to compensate an injury victim for their losses. Punitive damages, however, are designed to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar future behavior.
Punitive damages are rarely awarded in Oklahoma. However, if the jury finds that the defendant’s conduct was particularly egregious, malicious, or reckless, punitive damages may be awarded. For example, if a drunk driver caused your injuries, the jury could find that punitive damages were appropriate.
Oklahoma Statutes §23-9.1 provides the factors a jury should consider when determining whether to award punitive damages.
You May Be Able To Recover Damages Even If You Are Partially At-Fault
Oklahoma follows a modified comparative fault rule. Under this model, a percentage of fault may be assigned to more than one party in an accident.
Under Oklahoma Statute §23-13, an injury victim may pursue damages if their percentage of fault for the accident is 50 percent or less. If their percentage of fault is more than 50%, they will be barred from seeking compensation for damages.
However, if you are found to be partially at fault, your compensation will be reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to you. For example, if you are found to be 20% at fault and your damages total $100,000, you can recover up to $80,000 after your percentage of fault is deducted.
Consult an Edmond Pedestrian Accident Attorney Before Speaking to the Insurance Company
Insurance companies often use unfair tactics to avoid or minimize liability. Don’t be too eager to accept a quick settlement offer.
An insurance company often offers you a fast settlement, hoping you will accept and not retain an attorney. These offers are almost always far below the actual value of your claim.
At Warhawk Legal, our Edmond wrongful death lawyers have over twenty years of experience combatting insurance companies’ unfair tactics. We have a proven record of holding insurance companies accountable for paying the full value of our client’s claims.
Before you speak to the insurance company about your accident, consult an experienced Edmond pedestrian accident lawyer. You will almost always have a better outcome when represented by a good attorney.
Why You Need a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
An experienced Edmond pedestrian accident lawyer will improve your chances of recovering maximum compensation. The many ways an attorney will benefit you include:
- They will investigate your accident to help determine all causes and liable parties.
- They will identify and gather essential evidence to support your claim.
- An attorney understands the relevant laws and will help build your strongest case.
- Your attorney will help accurately calculate all current and future damages, so you know what a fair settlement of your case would be.
- They will work to negotiate a fair settlement of your claim as quickly as possible.
- They will hold the insurance company responsible for paying the actual value of your case.
- They will take your case to trial to recover maximum compensation if a fair settlement is not reached.
Schedule a Free Consultation to Discuss Your Pedestrian Injury Claim
The attorneys at Warhawk Legal have the experience, skills, and resources to protect your rights and recover maximum compensation.
If you have been injured in an Edmond pedestrian accident, we want to help. Call (405) 397-1717 or complete the short form on our contact page to schedule a free consultation.