Contact a pedestrian lawyer after an accident in Jacksonville. We understand walking around in Jacksonville can be a hazardous activity, as indicated by 2016 having the highest number of pedestrian fatalities since 1990, with 35 pedestrian fatalities out of a total of 149 crash fatalities that year.
Part of the issue is simply that Jacksonville is not designed with pedestrians in mind, and there is an additional lack of public transit, protected bicycle lanes, or alternatives to driving for those wishing to travel around the city.
However, this does not mean that people will be able to avoid travel by foot at all times, meaning that there will always be a risk of pedestrian accidents and fatalities. Since this is an unfortunate reality, there will always be a need for experienced personal injury lawyers in Jacksonville.
First Steps to File a Claim for Damages After a Pedestrian Accident in Jacksonville
If you’ve experienced a pedestrian accident, understanding the initial steps to file a claim for damages is crucial. The aftermath of such an incident can be overwhelming, with injuries, medical costs, and the need for legal representation at the forefront.
Here, we’ll guide you through the process with care and provide valuable information to empower you during this challenging time.
Seek Medical Care
The first and most critical step is to prioritize your well-being. Seek immediate medical care for any injuries sustained during the accident. Your health is paramount, and obtaining medical treatment not only ensures your recovery but also establishes a crucial record of your injuries, supporting your claim for damages.
Document the Accident Scene
While at the accident scene, if possible, gather essential information to strengthen your case. Take photographs of the scene, your injuries, and any property damage. This documentation can serve as vital evidence in demonstrating the severity of the incident and the resulting injuries.
Contact Law Enforcement
In the event of a pedestrian accident, it’s crucial to call 911 or contact law enforcement to report the incident. A police report will be generated, documenting the details of the accident, including the parties involved, the scene, and any potential contributing factors such as a negligent driver, drunk driving, or other forms of negligence.
Obtain Witness Information
If there are witnesses to the accident, gather their contact information. Witness statements can significantly strengthen your case, providing additional perspectives and supporting evidence. Whether it’s a drunk driver, issues with traffic signals, or a truck accident, witness accounts can be instrumental.
Consult with Personal Injury Attorneys
Navigating the complexities of a pedestrian accident claim can be challenging, which is why seeking legal representation is a wise decision. Experienced Jacksonville pedestrian accident lawyers can guide you through the process, ensuring that negligence, fault, and the duty of care are thoroughly addressed.
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Seeking Compensation After a Pedestrian Accident in Jacksonville
One of the most important things after any serious personal injury is understanding economic and non-economic damages. That is the central issue that we will be focusing on in our work together, and we will be preparing to fight as aggressively as possible in order to get you the money that you truly deserve.
Insurance companies prioritize finding as many ways as possible to limit your settlement amount, and without the right legal support, these negotiations will be exceptionally difficult.
Calculating Economic Damages
The foundation of a personal injury claim is the economic damage that a victim endures. Economic damages are any financial impacts of an accident that can be easily measured in terms of monetary value.
They include things such as medical bills and all associated costs (physical therapy, prescription medication, copayments, etc.), as well as any impacts on the victim’s income. If the victim sustains long-term injuries that will affect their ability to earn an income, such as a spinal cord injury, this loss of income will also be included.
In addition to these major financial impacts mentioned above, we will also identify any minor or secondary financial impacts on your life, such as any services that you may need to hire in order to perform routine tasks like grocery shopping, laundry, or house cleaning. Since you would have otherwise done this work yourself, you should not be liable to cover the costs.
Calculating Non-Economic Damages
Once we have identified and calculated all of the economic damages that you deserve to be compensated for, we will then move on to calculating the non-economic damages. As the name suggests, these damages do not have actual dollar values associated with them, making them more difficult to quantify but just as important for your case and your needs. Regardless, they are equally important to your case, and it is important that you receive the money you deserve.
Non-economic damages include things like the actual pain and suffering of an injury, as well as any emotional damages that you must endure, such as developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In order to determine the dollar amount that you deserve for these damages, there is a range of methods that we will be able to use. Regardless of the method, our main goal will be to reach a figure that is fair to you.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Pedestrian Accidents in Jacksonville
The following are just a few of the many important questions that we commonly go through with our clients and potential clients, both during our initial consultation and throughout our work together.
Is There a Time Limit for Filing a Claim After a Pedestrian Accident in Florida?
According to the Florida statute of limitations, a victim of a personal injury has two years from the date of the accident to file a claim against the responsible party, after which they will have little recourse. There are rare instances when the statute of limitations can be extended, but it is highly unlikely and should not be relied on.
Although it may seem like two years is a long time, we will need to use this time in order to attempt to negotiate a settlement before we are forced to file a lawsuit. If we begin working on your case too late, we will not have many options other than a lawsuit.
Will My Pedestrian Accident Claim Need to Go to Trial?
Most personal injury claims are settled before a trial, but this should not be confused as a guarantee that your claim will not need to be presented to a judge. We will use the time that we have in order to negotiate directly with the insurance company in an attempt to reach a fair settlement agreement and resolve your claim before the Florida courts become involved unless there are specifics of your case that cause us to prefer the courts.
There are many specific details that we will need to go through before we decide the appropriate course of action for your unique case, which we will do at the outset of our work together and will continue to adjust our expectations as new information develops. The goal of all personal injury claims is to get the victim the money that they deserve as quickly as possible without accepting less than is fair.
How Long Will It Take to Get a Settlement?
Like all other details of any personal injury claim, it will take some research before we are able to get a reasonable estimate of the time required to settle your case. If your case is extremely complicated and there are many parts of the negotiation where neither side can reach an agreement, this is one indication that your settlement may take longer than a simple case.
Contact us now to speak with us about your situation so that we can get a better idea of what we can expect as we move forward, fighting to get you the money that you deserve.
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If You Have Been Hurt, Contact Us Today
The team at Fasig | Brooks is here to help you get the compensation that you are entitled to while giving you the support that you deserve throughout this entire process. Our history of successful cases representing the victims of pedestrian accidents, among other personal injuries, is a great indication of the level of service and protection that you will get as one of our valued clients.
If you were hurt in a pedestrian accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to pursue compensatory damages. Contact our Jacksonville pedestrian accident lawyers today for a free consultation where we can discuss your case and your legal options.
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