Ylla|Gosney Attorneys at Law represents Oklahoma pedestrian accident victims after frightening collisions. We help victims and their families demand full support from negligent drivers and their insurance companies. We want our clients to be able to pay their hospital bills and rebuild their lives. Our skilled Oklahoma attorneys provide free case consultations to all victims. Contact us today to make sure you understand what your case is worth.
Should I Call a Lawyer After a Pedestrian Accident?
If you are struck by a car and somehow are able to walk away with only very minor injuries, you may not need the help of a lawyer. But if a pedestrian accident leaves you with more serious injuries, like a neck injury or a broken bone, you may need the legal protection that Ylla | Goseny Attorneys at Law can provide.
As your medical bills grow, car insurance companies get nervous and fight even harder to avoid having to pay out major compensation. When you don’t have a lawyer on your side, insurance adjusters can get away with blaming you for an accident you didn’t cause. They may even cast doubt on the seriousness of your injuries.
Your Oklahoma pedestrian accident lawyer fully investigates your collision and backs your case with strong evidence. This makes it much harder for insurance companies to find excuses to reject your case. Your lawyer then goes to work to get the most out of your injury claim so that you have what you need to make a full recovery.
Pedestrian Accident Dangers in Oklahoma
Oklahoma pedestrians may rely on their feet to get some exercise, to travel to work or school, or to head to the supermarket. Sidewalks in busy places like Oklahoma City or Tulsa provide safe footpaths, but most pedestrians will have to cross traffic at some point. This is where those on foot are most vulnerable.
Crosswalks might be poorly designed and offer walkers only a few seconds to get across six or eight lanes of traffic. They’ll also have to trust that distracted and speeding drivers will stop in time for red lights and flashing crosswalk signs. Drivers looking at cellphone screens may never see a defenseless person in a crosswalk. Motorists attempting a right turn may be looking to see if any cars are coming and forget to scan a crosswalk for those on foot.
And as motorists pay less and less attention as they travel through parking lots, people who park their cars and attempt to walk into businesses are also put at risk.
The injuries caused to a pedestrian’s unprotected body can be traumatic. Life-threatening injuries are common. Victims will need support to pay for medical care now and perhaps in the future. A skilled pedestrian accident lawyer makes sure clients receive the compensation to pay for the best medical care available for as long as necessary. In some cases, that can mean support over a lifetime.
Who Is Responsible for Oklahoma Pedestrian Collisions?
Oklahoma motorists are required to show pedestrians a “duty of care.” It’s a legal responsibility that means they must watch for the presence of those on foot at all times. Once spotting a pedestrian, drivers are required to slow down. If a pedestrian is in danger of an impact, drivers must be going slow enough to brake in time to avoid a collision.
This duty of care is required of drivers, even when a pedestrian is jaywalking. Motorists must always monitor for pedestrians and slow down to avoid accidents even when someone on foot is crossing the street outside of a crosswalk. Drivers can be held fully or partially responsible for pedestrian accidents even when the victim is crossing the street in a dangerous manner.
When a driver is assigned fault, victims can file injury claims against the driver’s car insurance provider and seek help in paying doctor bills and physical therapy costs. But this support is not automatic. Insurance adjusters are paid to try to limit the support victims receive. A skilled pedestrian accident lawyer fights back and negotiates to maximize the compensation victims take home.
Your lawyer will be documenting every hardship you and your family have suffered since a Tulsa pedestrian accident. It’s important to be thorough when your injury claim is submitted to an insurance company. Any damage you forget to include is something the insurance company can ignore.
Compensation Available After a Pedestrian Accident
Every hardship that you and your family are put through after a pedestrian collision should be considered when determining the size of a settlement check.
Victims must receive compensation for their economic damages, such as the cost of medical bills. They must also receive support for their non-economic damages, such as the emotional trauma they experience after a collision and during a difficult recovery.
Your lawyer makes sure no expense you’ve had is left out of an injury claim. These very real disruptions to your life are the responsibility of the at-fault driver that caused your accident.
These are just a few of the damages we’ll be seeking full compensation for on your behalf:
- Current medical bills and those expected in the future.
- Long-term support for victims who suffer permanent disfigurement and physical disabilities.
- Support for the physical pain felt by victims.
- Support for emotional damages caused by a pedestrian accident.
- The costs of transportation to get to doctor’s appointments and to see out-of-state specialists.
- The losses at work as victims must miss shifts and lose out on benefits.
- Wrongful death benefits. Sadly, a major pedestrian accident can easily claim a life. Families who lose loved ones are encouraged to seek support through a wrongful death claim. They may ask for help with funeral expenses and medical bills left behind. Families should also receive support for the future when they’ll be without the financial support the loved one would have provided.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get compensation if I’m struck by a hit-and-run driver?
Pedestrians struck by heartless hit-and-run drivers can still seek compensation if the motorist is never found. Victims earn support by filing a claim on their own car insurance policy. The money would come from their uninsured driver coverage.
How long can I wait to file an Oklahoma pedestrian accident claim?
Two years. Oklahoma victims have up to two years to file injury claims. If they wait beyond this deadline, the case will probably be rejected.
What if I can’t afford to pay an Oklahoma pedestrian accident attorney?
If you need a lawyer to get fair treatment from an insurance company, you won’t need to worry about how much money you have. We don’t get paid unless we win your case for you. Then our fee comes out of the settlement check you receive. We also adjust our fees to make sure you keep what you need to rebuild your life.
Contact an Oklahoma Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
We have an extensive background in safeguarding Oklahoma pedestrian accident victims. You may not be sure if you have a strong case, but that’s exactly what our free legal consultations are for.
Find out what your case may be worth in this no-obligation case review with a real Oklahoma Pedestrian Accident Lawyer. At Ylla | Gosney, we offer a free consultation with no pressure to file suit or even use our services if you decide to file. That way, you know everything you need to know before you decide.
