Even when paying attention and following every traffic law that applies to them, pedestrians are still at risk of being injured by negligent motorists. A reckless or careless act by a nearby driver could lead to a collision with life-changing consequences.
In these situations, you have the right to hold the driver financially accountable for your losses. At Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers, our winning personal injury attorneys have years of experience fighting on behalf of injured victims. With a Philadelphia pedestrian accident lawyer like Jon Ostroff on your side, you can pursue the compensation you deserve. Our firm has won cases for over 30,000 clients throughout Pennsylvania, including a $430,000 settlement for a pedestrian who suffered a pelvic fracture after being hit by a motor vehicle in Philadelphia.
Liability in Philadelphia Pedestrian Crash Cases
In a traffic collision, pedestrians are much more likely to be injured than any vehicle driver or passenger involved. However, this does not make drivers automatically liable in legal terms. You and your pedestrian accident attorney still need to prove “negligence” by the driver who hit you to make them pay for your damages. This means proving that all the following facts are true:
- The “defendant”—the person you’re suing—did something reckless, careless, and/or illegal, violating the “duty” they owed you and everyone else on the road to act responsibly behind the wheel
- The specific irresponsible act directly caused the defendant to hit you
- You suffered physical injuries serious enough to require professional medical care as a direct result of that accident
As a Philadelphia attorney can explain, it may also be vital to prove that you didn’t cause your own injuries by acting negligently—for example, by walking into the road outside of a crosswalk. A court might hold your “comparative fault” against you and reduce the amount of money you can receive from a successful court verdict.
Types of Damages after Being Hit by a Car
A successful lawsuit or settlement proposal after a pedestrian crash can include both past and future losses you suffered from the accident, including:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Loss of life’s pleasures
- Emotional/psychological trauma
- Lost work wages and/or working capacity
- All medical bills
- Personal property damage
A Philadelphia pedestrian injury lawyer at our firm can help recover some or all of your damages by filing a claim against the car insurance policy held by the driver who hit you. Our legal team can discuss recovery options in more detail during a free consultation.
Contact a Philadelphia Pedestrian Accident Attorney Today
No one deserves to get hurt because a car or truck driver wasn’t paying attention. Unfortunately, accidents like this happen daily in Philadelphia, often leading to injuries that cause long-lasting financial, physical, and personal harm.
Working with a skilled Philadelphia pedestrian accident lawyer can be vital to protecting your rights and getting paid fairly for your losses. At Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers, we know how to fight like hell and win cases for our clients. Give us a call today to get started.
