Pedestrians often suffer disabling, permanent injuries after getting hit by a car, truck, or other motor vehicle. The financial consequences of a severe injury can also be devastating. Even when the injuries are less serious, a pedestrian accident takes an emotional toll.
A driver who hits a pedestrian is almost always at fault, but you must prove it to hold them legally accountable and receive appropriate compensation. A Waterbury pedestrian accident lawyer at D’Amico and Pettinicchi, LLC, can help you gather and present the proof you need to secure the payments you need and deserve. Call today to schedule a free remote or in-person consultation with one of our personal injury attorneys.
Pedestrian accidents usually happen when a driver does not notice a person in front of their vehicle until it is too late. Drivers tend to focus on the road in front of them and any vehicles in their immediate vicinity. If they concentrate their focus too narrowly, a driver might miss people walking on the side of the road.
Pedestrian accidents are also common in areas where cars and pedestrians must share space. Examples include parking lots, bank or fast-food drive-thru lanes, and school drop-off and pick-up zones. Drivers in these settings are often distracted with the task at hand and do not pay enough attention to people who may be on foot in the area.
Distraction can be a cause of a pedestrian accident in any setting. A driver who uses their phone or gets involved in a discussion with a passenger while driving may not notice a person sharing the road. A driver who hits a pedestrian might be high or drunk. A Waterbury pedestrian accident attorney will investigate the circumstances of a specific incident and collect evidence demonstrating its cause.
Connecticut follows a fault-based system for car accidents, making the driver who causes the crash responsible for injuries and property damage other people suffer as a result. Drivers must carry liability insurance, and the at-fault driver’s insurance company pays for the losses others suffer up to the coverage limits.
You could claim reimbursement for destroyed or damaged property, medical expenses, and income lost because of the accident. If your injuries require ongoing care or future medical intervention, or they prevent you from returning to your job, the at-fault drivers’ insurance must provide compensation for those future losses. You are also entitled to receive money for your pain and suffering.
If your injuries are severe, your losses might exceed the at-fault driver’s insurance coverage. If the driver has substantial assets, our pedestrian injury lawyers in Waterbury can sue the driver to hold them personally responsible for the portion of your damages their insurance did not cover. Our legal professionals will also attempt to find other sources of insurance coverage, such as the vehicle manufacturer, a bar or restaurant if the driver was drunk, or others who might have contributed to the incident.
Drivers have a responsibility to be aware of their surroundings and avoid harming others. A driver who hits a pedestrian almost always shoulders some blame for not seeing the pedestrian in time to avoid them. If the driver was speeding, texting, drunk, or disobeying the law in some other way, they will almost certainly be held liable for the accident.
However, Connecticut General Statutes § 52-572h allows a driver to assert that an accident victim was partially to blame for an incident. If the driver can prove a pedestrian darted into traffic unexpectedly, did not make themselves visible after dark, or was drunk and moving erratically or passed out in the road, the driver might not bear all the legal responsibility. Your compensation could be reduced by an amount equal to your share of the blame—for example, if you can prove losses of $100,000 but you are 20 percent at fault for the accident, you could collect only $80,000.
Insurance companies exploit this law to reduce the amount they must pay to injured accident victims. When you may be partially responsible for a pedestrian accident in Waterbury, having our attorneys on your side to advocate for your rights is critical.
If you were hit by a motor vehicle while on foot, the consequences can be devastating and last a lifetime. You must learn to adapt to your injuries, but you should not shoulder the financial burden alone.
The driver who hit you is responsible for paying compensation, but it takes a skilled and experienced legal professional to obtain a settlement or verdict that gives you the financial security you need. A Waterbury pedestrian accident lawyer at D’Amico and Pettinicchi, LLC, has spent years fighting for people like you. Schedule a free consultation today.
