PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENT ATTORNEY

Unfortunately, our roads are not always as safe as they should be for pedestrians. Indeed, pedestrian accidents have been increasing throughout the last several years. These types of accidents occur between pedestrians and cars, scooters, bicycles, and the like. They can also be especially devastating accidents in terms of injuries and fatalities.

At Shaun Capps Injury Law, our pedestrian accident attorney in Alabama helps clients successfully file and win pedestrian accident lawsuits. Fill out our online contact form or call 205-955-5555 so we can help you get the compensation you deserve. We provide free, no obligation initial consultations in pedestrian accident injury claims in Birmingham and throughout Alabama.

Steps To Take After A Pedestrian Crash In Birmingham, Alabama

Are you a pedestrian who was struck by a vehicle in Birmingham or elsewhere in Jefferson County? It is imperative that you take immediate action to protect your health, well-being, and legal rights. Here are four steps to take after a pedestrian collision in Birmingham: 

1. Report the Crash to Police: All pedestrian collisions in Alabama should be reported to law enforcement. At the scene of the crash, you should get the name, license, vehicle information, and insurance policy details of the responsible driver. When police come, they will control the scene and write an official crash report. 
2. Seek Prompt Medical Care: Pedestrian accidents can cause very serious injuries. All pedestrian accident injuries should be evaluated by a licensed physician as soon as possible. Take a proactive approach: See a doctor right away. Without supporting medical records, you will not be in a position to bring a successful personal injury claim in Alabama.   
3. Document the Collision: Alabama is a fault-based motor vehicle accident state, including for pedestrian crashes. To hold any other party legally responsible for a pedestrian crash, you must prove that their negligence was a contributing factor. Take photographs, get witness contact details, and save any other relevant evidence related to the accident. 

Speak to an Attorney: For the most part, pedestrian accident claims are defended by insurance companies. Unfortunately, insurance companies cannot be relied upon to look out for your best interests. Quite the contrary, they want to settle claims for less. Before giving any recorded statement, be sure to consult with a Birmingham pedestrian accident lawyer.

What is a Pedestrian Accident?

A pedestrian accident is a collision involving someone on foot and someone in a vehicle. A vehicle can be a passenger car, a motorcycle, or even a bicycle. In these accidents, it is typically the pedestrian who suffers the most injuries simply because the pedestrian bears the brunt of the impact and has no protection at all.

Who Can Be Sued for a Pedestrian Accident in Alabama?

Generally speaking, anyone who is at fault for an accident can be sued. The obvious place to start this analysis is the driver or operator of the vehicle involved in your accident. However, there are also other, less obvious entities who could share in the liability.

If an accident was caused by something like a brake failure, the manufacturer of those brakes or a mechanic who negligently maintained the brake system could potentially be held liable. It is also possible for a public or private entity to be held liable if an accident is caused by some dangerous condition like poorly maintained roads or insufficient lighting. When the person at fault caused the accident while working, their employer could be held accountable. Because these cases are not always straightforward, it is important to––at a minimum––speak to a pedestrian accident attorney about your legal options.

The Bottom Line: Alabama is an at-fault state for pedestrian accidents. The party responsible for causing the accident is liable for damages. To recover compensation, injured pedestrians must prove the driver was negligent. With that being said, Alabama follows a contributory negligence rule for motor vehicle crashes, including pedestrian accidents. The plaintiff-unfriendly rule bars recovery if the pedestrian is found even 1 percent at fault for their own accident.

What Causes Alabama Pedestrian Accidents?

Every accident is unique, and there are as many potential causes of pedestrian accidents as there are drivers on the road. Some of the most common reasons are provided below.

Distracted Driver and Pedestrians

Both drivers and pedestrians have a lot of distractions that can cause them to take their eyes off the road. Common distractions are the same for both: cell phones or other electronics, children, eating, etc. Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of pedestrian collisions in Alabama.

Impaired Drivers and Pedestrians

Impaired driving is much more common than impaired pedestrians, but just the same, being impaired by chemical substances, like alcohol and drugs, can affect safe driving and walking. A driver may sway into another lane or come to a stop too late. A pedestrian may cross the road when they shouldn’t. Any kind of impairment can create conditions for an accident.

Recklessness

Both drivers and pedestrians should refrain from recklessness. A driver who speeds, fails to follow traffic rules, or disregards the presence of potential pedestrians can cause a serious accident. Pedestrians, likewise, should not, for example, cross streets without using cross or side walks or when the light is not green for them to cross. Reckless drivers must be held accountable.

Impatience

Drivers who are impatient may speed or try to whip around pedestrians who are crossing the street. Pedestrians can be impatient, too, and like already mentioned above, may try to cross the street where and when they are not permitted to do so.

Dark Clothes at Night

When pedestrians wear dark clothes at night and are on or near the road, drivers may not be able to see them until it is too late. Even where the road is illuminated by street lamps or traffic lights, seeing a pedestrian at night remains difficult if in dark clothes.  

Road Construction

Road construction is a real hazard. Drivers are typically alerted to pay special attention. Pedestrians are often forced to walk around the construction area, and this may mean walking into or close to roadways. In some cases, highway construction companies may bear liability for a collision.

Road Conditions

How a road is engineered, designed, or otherwise constructed can make life difficult for both drivers and pedestrians. A pedestrian may not be viewable by a driver around certain bends in the road or on hilly roads. Wet road conditions, rundown roads, and the like can also make it dangerous for both drivers and pedestrians.

Bad Weather

Rain, snow, sleet, wind, and more bad weather conditions can make it treacherous to drive and walk on or near roads. Visibility may be affected. Road conditions can get messy and dangerous. Drivers and pedestrians seeking to get out of bad weather may become impatient or reckless in their efforts. 

Compensation for Pedestrian Accident Injuries in Alabama

The central motivation behind awarding monetary damages to pedestrian accident victims is to make them as whole as possible, or to restore them to the financial position they were in before the accident. As such, there are a number of different things that a victim might receive compensation for after an accident. 

For example, victims with expensive medical bills might receive compensation for the latter as well as for transportation costs to and from the doctor’s office. Further, if those injuries prevented the victim from working, the injured party may also be eligible to receive compensation for the wages that they weren’t able to earn. These are all known as economic damages, meaning the actual costs of your recovery is compensable.

A victim of a pedestrian accident could also receive monetary damages to compensate for the physical pain and mental or emotional suffering they experience because of their injuries. These compensable damages are known as non-economic because the monetary value requires some calculation and determination.

Why Hire a Alabama Pedestrian Accident Attorney?

After a pedestrian accident, it is important to understand that your insurance company may not always have your best interests in mind. They are businesses first and foremost, which means that their goal is to pay out as little as they are legally obligated to do. It’s true of the at-fault party’s insurance company, too. In fact, insurance companies notoriously use manipulation and intimidation as ways to reduce or avoid settlement. Do not go it alone. Our founding attorney Shaun Capps is more than ready to help. When you reach out to our Birmingham office, you will connect directly with an Alabama pedestrian accident lawyer who is prepared to:

• Hear your story and answer questions about pedestrian accident cases; 
• Investigate your pedestrian collision—gathering the evidence to prove fault; 
• Handle the settlement negotiations with the insurance companies; and
• Take aggressive action to help you secure the maximum financial recovery.

To make sure your insurance company or the at-fault party’s insurance company settles for a value that makes sense in your unique situation, you need a pedestrian accident lawyer who has been there before. Your lawyer can help you through the process and act as your advocate, negotiating and arguing on your behalf so that you get what is right and just. Plus, if the insurance company still refuses to pay what is fair, your attorney can take the matter to trial

Contact Shaun Capps Injury Law for a FREE Case Evaluation Today

Hiring a pedestrian accident attorney from Shaun Capps Injury Law gives you someone in your corner who has the necessary experience to be able to accurately assess the value of your case and then fight on your behalf for fair compensation. To schedule a FREE Case Evaluation about your accident, contact us online or by calling 205-955-5555. With an office in Birmingham, we fight for the rights of injured pedestrians in Jefferson County and throughout North Central Alabama.