Pedestrian Accident Injury Attorney

Accidents happen to everyone, but just because someone didn’t mean to injure you doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be held accountable for their reckless behavior. If you’re facing injury-related losses, we may be able to help you secure compensation. Contact us today. Walking is a healthy, eco-friendly, economical way to get around. And in scenic Denver, Colorado, it’s an opportunity to bask in our state’s natural beauty. It seems unfair that just walking around the city would be a potentially dangerous activity, but unfortunately it is. More than 7,000 pedestrians in the U.S. were killed by motor vehicles in 2020, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Another 104,000 pedestrians were hospitalized with non-fatal, crash-related injuries. Even when pedestrians survive these accidents, their injuries can be catastrophic. If you or a loved one were involved in a pedestrian accident caused by someone else, you shouldn’t be paying for your recovery and related losses. Unfortunately, that’s probably what you’ll be doing unless you solicit legal help. An experienced pedestrian accident attorney at The Hermele Law Firm may be able to help you secure the compensation you deserve. Keep reading to find out whether you’re eligible to file a claim and how we can help you get started. Why should you have to pay the price for someone’s negligence? The answer’s simple: You shouldn’t. If you suffered injuries in an accident caused by someone else, we want to talk to you. Schedule your free consultation today.

What Causes Pedestrian Accidents in Colorado?

Pedestrian accidents occur as the result of many different situations, and many of them involve negligence. Although we tend to associate pedestrian accidents with motor vehicles, not all of them involve cars. But just because a car wasn’t involved doesn’t mean they don’t need a pedestrian accident attorney.

Non-Vehicular Pedestrian Accidents

In crowded city streets, pedestrians face a veritable jungle of hazards. If the sidewalks are poorly maintained, a pedestrian might trip and suffer serious injuries. Similarly, if a construction company leaves debris on the sidewalks, people walking through may also get hurt. Depending on the particular circumstances, these examples could involve negligence, in which case you may be able to file a pedestrian accident claim.

Pedestrian Accidents Involving Vehicles

Many pedestrian accidents are caused by negligent drivers. If you were injured by a driver who was distracted, speeding, disobeying traffic laws, under the influence or just generally reckless, a pedestrian accident attorney may be able to help you pursue compensation.

Am I Eligible to File a Pedestrian Accident Claim?

In order for an injured pedestrian to pursue a lawsuit, they need to establish negligence and liability, which can be difficult to do without help from a lawyer. An experienced attorney can help try to prove the following:

• The driver owed a legal duty to the pedestrian.
• The driver breached that duty as a result of negligence or failure to act.
• The driver caused the accident that injured the pedestrian.
• The driver is responsible for the harm the pedestrian suffered.

Once this is established, a pedestrian accident lawyer can begin litigating your case, starting with sending a notice to the defendant. At this point, the defendant may want to negotiate a settlement rather than go to court. If both parties fail to negotiate a fair settlement, the case will be decided by a judge or jury.

What Types of Compensation Can I Recover?

Most injury victims don’t realize that they can recover more than just compensation for their medical bills. In fact, there are different types of damages awarded, not all of which are meant to compensate for tangible losses.

Economic Damages

Economic damages refer to compensation for financial losses, such as medical bills, lost wages, cost of continued treatment, damage to property, etc. Calculating these isn’t as simple as adding up what you’ve already spent—you’ll want to include an approximation of what you will continue to spend as a result of the accident.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages refer to compensation awarded for intangible losses. Examples include pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, disfigurement, permanent disability, emotional distress, scars, chronic pain, depression, anxiety and more.

Punitive Damages

Unlike economic and non-economic damages, punitive damages aren’t awarded to compensate the victim, but to punish the defendant. These damages are typically ordered when the defendant’s behavior was outrageously reckless or uncaring and are meant to deter others from acting in similar ways.

Colorado Pedestrian Laws

Colorado goes to great lengths to protect pedestrians, but it’s a two-way street. The state has outlined laws that must be followed by both drivers and pedestrians to ensure safety. Pedestrians who were violating these laws at the time of their injury may or may not be eligible for compensation.

Laws for Drivers

It doesn’t take a genius to know that cars and pedestrians shouldn’t mix. To prevent pedestrians from being severely injured or killed in the event of a crash, Colorado law outlines the following rules for drivers:

• Drivers must yield the right of way to pedestrians when they are within the same half of the crosswalk as their vehicles.
• Drivers must also yield the right of way to pedestrians at stop signs and flashing red lights.
• Drivers cannot go around or pass a vehicle in front of them that has stopped for a pedestrian to cross the walkway.

If a driver is flouting one of the above rules at the time of the pedestrian accident, they may be considered negligent.

Laws for Pedestrians

Although pedestrians have the right of way in many situations, their vulnerability demands that they also take the necessary safety precautions. In Colorado, pedestrians must abide by the following rules:

• Pedestrians must use the crosswalks and not jaywalk in unmarked areas.
• Pedestrians must yield to all vehicles while crossing the street outside of a crosswalk.
• They must also yield to vehicles when crossing roads that have a pedestrian tunnel or overhead crossing.
• Pedestrians should follow the flashing “walk” and “don’t walk” signs.

If a pedestrian was breaking any of these laws at the time of their accident, they may not be eligible for compensation. The best way to find out is by contacting an experienced pedestrian accident attorney.

How We Can Help You

If you were injured in a pedestrian accident, you could be facing life-altering consequences. If the accident wasn’t your fault, it’s not fair that you should be paying the price for your recovery. Luckily, that’s where we come in. The pedestrian accident lawyers at The Hermele Law Firm may be able to help you secure the compensation you need to recover both physically and financially. We’ll work with you to establish the at-fault party, gather evidence and file your claim. If it goes to court, we’ll be right beside you, providing the best litigation we have to offer. We know that choosing a lawyer is about more than just looking at their experience—it’s about finding someone who listens to you, communicates clearly and devotes their legal expertise to compassionate care. That’s exactly what you get when you partner with us. Ready to get started? Contact us online to schedule your free consultation or give us a call at (720) 740-0889 today.