Louisville, KY Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

With gas prices being as high as they are, it’s no wonder a lot of people have changed their driving routines and are now walking to most destinations. However, there are many potential risks pedestrians face, even when walking in designated crosswalks.

For instance, say a car struck you while you crossed a busy intersection at a Louisville street corner. Your first, emotionally-driven reaction might be to blame the “careless” driver who crashed into you. But a deeper look at the cause of the accident – a probe of all of the factors that contributed to it – might reveal that the driver had been driving cautiously and defensively. The problem stemmed from bad traffic engineering at that particular intersection. In other words, the city should be ultimately responsible. By failing to test the intersection for safety, the municipality created a risk, which caused your pedestrian accident and your injuries. This is why contacting a Louisville, KY pedestrian accident lawyer after the accident is crucial.

Understanding How You Were Harmed

If you were a victim in a pedestrian accident caused by negligence, you are likely operating with incomplete information. Indeed, even though you may believe that your version of events represents “the truth,” you will still need tremendous, compelling objective evidence to prove your case to independent arbitrators, such as a judge or jury.

Meanwhile, the possible defendants in your case, such as insurance companies, trucking agencies, neglectful drivers, etc., are likely diligently strategizing how to shield themselves from liability. Don’t underestimate the passion and power these defendants will leverage to escape having to pay for your medical bills and other damages.

In other words, the longer you wait to take action, the more “lead time” the defendants will have on you, and the harder it might be to obtain compensation for your injuries, pain and suffering, rehabilitation and medication costs, and more.

The Nationwide Toll of Pedestrian Accidents

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), an estimated 59,000 people were injured in pedestrian accidents in 2009. NHTSA data also emphasizes that an average of one pedestrian was killed every two hours and injured every nine minutes in traffic accidents during this same time frame.

The NHTSA states that 4,092 people were killed in pedestrian accidents in 2009. A family who loses a loved one in a pedestrian accident may be able to seek compensation from individuals or parties who caused the accident for funeral expenses, lost wages, and other damages. Although no amount of money can ever substitute a loved one, such compensation for a pedestrian wrongful death can help a family cope with unexpected challenges after the accident. Winning compensation can also help you feel like “justice has been done” and, hopefully, deter or actively prevent the wrongdoer from harming other pedestrians or others on the road.

The Legal Representation You Need

It can be difficult to determine how exactly you should move forward after you have suffered injuries in a pedestrian accident. Learn more about the resources, experience, and philosophy of Louisville, KY pedestrian accident lawyer Tad Thomas, who is a former Assistant Deputy Attorney General for Kentucky, by visiting https://www.thomaslawoffices.com, or call (502) 473-6540 to schedule a free consultation.