Pedestrian accidents can be catastrophic, leading to severe, long-term injuries. If you have been injured while walking, you may be entitled to compensation. Working with a pedestrian accident lawyer in Maple Grove can help you understand what your case may be worth.
At Postman Law, our personal injury lawyer in Maple Grove is here to fight for the justice you deserve. We have helped over 1.4 million clients get the compensation they are owed. If you were injured due to someone else’s negligence, we are here to help.
Pedestrian Accidents Often Happen Where Drivers Should Expect People
Crosswalks and intersections bring pedestrians and vehicles into the same space. Drivers need to watch for people entering the road, especially when approaching a crosswalk or making a turn. A few seconds of inattention can be enough to cause a serious collision.
Accidents also happen in places where vehicles are moving at much lower speeds. Parking lots, driveways, shopping centers, and neighborhood streets all have regular foot traffic. A driver backing out of a parking space or driveway may hit someone they never noticed behind the vehicle.
Working with a pedestrian accident attorney in Maple Grove at Postman Law can help you understand who is at fault in a pedestrian accident and fight to help you secure the compensation you deserve for the pain and suffering you’ve been made to endure.
For a free legal consultation with a pedestrian accident lawyer serving Maple Grove, call 844-767-8626
Driver Negligence Can Cause Pedestrian Accidents
Many pedestrian crashes happen because a driver was not paying enough attention to what was happening around the vehicle. Others involve a driver breaking a traffic law or moving too quickly to react to someone in the roadway. Common causes include:
- Failing to yield to a pedestrian
- Speeding or driving too fast for the area
- Texting or otherwise driving while distracted
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Making a turn without checking the crosswalk
- Backing up without checking the area behind the vehicle
The fact that a vehicle struck a pedestrian does not answer every question about fault. The driver’s actions, the pedestrian’s location, traffic signals, visibility, and other details all need to be considered. Your lawyer can help to piece those details together and help you navigate a personal injury case in Minnesota.
Maple Grove Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Near Me 844-767-8626
Drivers and Insurance Companies May Blame the Pedestrian
Being hit by a vehicle does not necessarily mean the insurance company will agree that the driver was completely responsible. An adjuster may argue that the pedestrian crossed outside a crosswalk, entered the street suddenly, ignored a signal, or was looking at a phone.
Insurance companies will often try to displace as much blame as possible onto the pedestrian. Minnesota abides by a modified comparative negligence law. This means that as long as you are 50% or less at fault, you may still be able to recover some damages (Minnesota Statute 604.01).
The details need to be checked against the available evidence. Traffic signals, vehicle speed, the location of the impact, witness accounts, and video footage can all provide information about what happened. A pedestrian should not assume an insurance company’s version of the accident is automatically correct.
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Evidence Can Show What Happened Before a Pedestrian Was Hit
Pedestrian accidents can happen quickly, and the people involved may remember the same few seconds very differently. Evidence from outside sources can fill in details and help establish where each person was immediately before the impact. Useful evidence may include:
- Video from nearby businesses, homes, or traffic cameras
- Dashcam footage and eyewitness accounts
- Photographs of the roadway, crosswalk, and vehicle
- Police reports and information about traffic signals
- Vehicle damage and other physical evidence
- Medical records documenting the injuries
Video can be particularly important, but it may not remain available for long. A nearby business might record over its security footage within days or weeks. Starting an investigation early gives an attorney a better chance to locate and preserve evidence before it disappears.
Insurance Coverage Can Become Complicated After a Pedestrian Accident
The driver’s auto insurance will often be one of the first places to look after a pedestrian is injured. That does not mean the insurance process will be simple. Questions can arise about available coverage, the extent of the injuries, fault, and the value of the claim.
In some cases, more than one insurance policy may need to be reviewed. Identifying available coverage matters especially after a catastrophic injury because medical expenses and other losses may be substantial. An attorney can examine the policies at issue rather than assuming the driver’s insurer is the only possible source of coverage.
Insurance companies also have their own interests to protect. An adjuster may question treatment, dispute certain losses, or push back against the amount being requested. Postman Law will handle those conversations to keep you from having to manage an insurance dispute while trying to recover.
A Maple Grove Pedestrian Accident Attorney Can Handle the Claim While You Recover
Serious injuries can make even ordinary tasks difficult. Adding insurance calls, paperwork, medical records, and negotiations to that situation can quickly become overwhelming. A lawyer can take over much of that work and keep the claim moving. Your Maple Grove pedestrian accident lawyer can:
- Investigate the crash and preserve evidence
- Deal directly with insurance companies
- Gather medical and employment records
- Calculate current and future losses
- Work with experts when a case requires them
- Negotiate a settlement or take the case to court
Not every pedestrian accident claim needs to go to trial. Many cases are resolved through negotiations, but the amount offered should be weighed against the injuries and losses the person has actually suffered. If the insurance company will not agree to a reasonable resolution, a lawyer can pursue the case through a lawsuit.
Postman Law is Here to Fight for You
After a devastating accident such as being struck by a car as a pedestrian, you deserve a lawyer who will fight to get you the compensation you deserve.
At Postman Law, our Maple Grove pedestrian accident lawyers are here to take on the insurance company so you can focus on recovery and healing. Contact us today for your free consultation.