When most people think of injuries due to car accidents, they usually think of a car accident between two or more cars. But there are many situations when you can be injured by cars without being a driver or even a passenger in the vehicle. The following are among the most significant.
You're struck by a car as a pedestrian
If you have the right of way in a marked crosswalk, it will usually be clear it was not your fault. But there are situations where you may be blamed for the accident, but the driver is at fault. For example, if there was no signal light nor a marked crosswalk, you may be told by an insurance company that you are at fault. However, in most jurisdictions, there is an implied crosswalk from one street corner to another, even if it is not marked. You should always speak to a personal injury attorney rather than trust the words of an insurance company representative.
You're hurt as a bystander
You can be standing on the side of the street or simply walking down the sidewalk when two cars collide, and you get caught up in the accident. Perhaps one of the cars slides into you causing injury, or parts of a car come loose and strike you. Shattered glass can also cause injury to a bystander who is close enough. Regardless of which driver is at fault in the accident, you can get compensation for your injuries. An attorney can sort out who is responsible for your injury.
You're hurt by debris from a vehicle
It may be something that was not securely tied down on the top of a car or SUV. Or maybe it was something that flew out of the bed of a truck. Drivers are responsible for what they are carrying in their truck or other vehicles. If you are injured by such debris, you may be entitled to compensation. In certain situations, it may not be debris from the vehicle, but from the road due to a lack of proper maintenance. A rock or piece of asphalt was propelled by the force of a tire. In this case, it may be a city government that is liable for your injuries and not the driver of a the vehicle.
Just remember, if you are ever involved in a car accident as a pedestrian, it is often the same personal injury attorney who handles car accident cases that can help you get the compensation you are entitled to. After seeking medical attention, contact an attorney like Carter & Fulton, P.S. to find out what to do next.
Share13 April 2017
It can be hard to know what to do to protect yourself legally in the immediate aftermath of a car accident. You’re liable to be disoriented or in shock, you may be injured, and you’re surely worried about your passenger or the other driver. At least, that’s how I felt. The thing is, the things you say and do in the immediate aftermath of an accident may affect a legal case later. Depending on who’s at fault and what the laws are in your state, you may want to sue the other driver for damages, or you may find yourself being sued. My blog is designed to give you tips for a car accident lawsuit, no matter which side you find yourself on.