Pedestrian accidents often lead to serious injuries because the victims have no protection against the impact. If you were injured by a vehicle while you were on foot, you could face long-term financial problems. A pedestrian accident lawyer in Fall River will investigate the incident and help you get maximum compensation.
Jason Stone Injury Lawyers has been helping injury victims since 2004. We have recovered more than $225 million for clients, and we continue to win big cases. Our Fall River personal injury lawyers will help you rebuild your life. Call today to schedule a free legal consultation.
Experienced Fall River Pedestrian Accident Attorneys
As you navigate the aftermath of a pedestrian accident in Fall River, you’re likely to face a multitude of challenges, from physical pain and emotional distress to financial burdens and complex legal issues.
We are local Fall River lawyers who understand the needs of our community. We live and work here, so we know the people, the neighborhoods, and the local courts. When you hire us, you get a team that truly cares about helping Fall River residents.
At our personal injury law firm, we are also familiar with the most dangerous areas for pedestrian accidents in Fall River, including the following:
- Plymouth Avenue
- Pleasant Street
- South Main Street
- Robeson Street
- North Main Street
- Bedford Street
- President Avenue
- Eastern Avenue at Pleasant Street
- Rodman Street at William S. Canning Boulevard
Our team of experienced Boston personal injury lawyers will work closely with you to address all aspects of your post-accident life. We maintain frequent client contact, proactively address challenges as they arise, and develop a tailored plan to meet your unique needs. We’ll answer your questions, explain your options, and guide you every step of the way.
Compensation for Fall River Pedestrian Accident Injuries
Unlike drivers or passengers in vehicles, pedestrians don’t have seat belts, airbags, or a metal frame to shield them from impact. When a car hits a person, the force of the collision goes directly to the body, often causing serious injuries like broken bones, head trauma, or internal damage.
Our team of experienced pedestrian accident lawyers understands the importance of pedestrian safety and will work tirelessly to fully recover all your losses. The compensation you may be eligible for includes:
- Medical expenses
- Future expenses for medical treatment
- Lost wages
- Lost earning potential
- Pain and suffering
- Any property damage
Pain and suffering cover the physical discomfort and emotional distress you experience as a result of your injuries. This can include ongoing pain, trauma, anxiety, depression, or a reduced quality of life. Suffering intense emotional trauma will increase your claim’s value, and you could get more than the average settlement for a pedestrian hit by a car.
Unlike medical bills or lost wages, pain and suffering losses are not tied to a specific dollar amount. They can vary based on the severity of your injuries, how long your recovery takes, and how the accident impacts your daily life.
A personal injury lawyer will calculate and prove pain and suffering so you receive fair compensation. We will help you recover from your injuries and get back on your feet. You can trust that your case is in good hands.
How Much Is a Pedestrian Accident Case Worth in Fall River?
How much your pedestrian accident case is worth depends on the unique details of your claim. As your Fall River pedestrian accident attorneys, we will investigate what happened and how your life changed after the accident.
The following aspects impact the value of your pedestrian accident claim:
- Severity of your injuries
- Cost of medical treatment
- Length of your recovery
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Impact on daily life and activities
- Insurance policy limits
- Each party’s degree of fault
Every pedestrian accident case is unique. We want to hear about your experience so we can create a personalized legal strategy to achieve the best possible outcome. The more details you provide, the stronger the case we can build on your behalf.
The Insurance Company Is Not Your Friend
After a pedestrian accident, the insurance company may contact you quickly and seem helpful, but they are not on your side. Their main goal is to save money, not to make sure you get the full amount. Claims adjusters employ tactics like the following to downplay your injuries or dismiss your claim:
- Offering a quick, low settlement
- Asking you to give a recorded statement
- Pressuring you to settle before you fully understand the extent of your injuries
- Minimizing the severity of your injuries
- Suggesting your injuries were pre-existing
- Delaying your claim to cause frustration
- Disputing medical evidence or treatment plans
- Offering to settle without factoring in long-term care needs
Accepting an offer too soon can leave you with unpaid medical bills or lost income down the road. That’s why you should speak with our personal injury lawyers before talking to the insurance company. We can protect your rights and fight to get you the compensation you truly need to recover.
We understand how difficult insurance companies can be, which is why we’re prepared to stand up to them for you. We want to hold the at-fault party responsible for your accident and fight to get you the maximum compensation.
Our Pedestrian Accident Lawyers in Fall River Will Prove Negligence
Negligence refers to the failure of a driver or another party to exercise reasonable care, resulting in harm to the pedestrian. It is a key factor in determining liability and whether the other party should be held accountable for your losses.
We’ll gather evidence, interview witnesses, and reconstruct the accident scene to determine who’s at fault. Our experienced attorneys will analyze the facts, considering driver negligence, road conditions, and pedestrian behavior. We will build a robust case and make an informed negligence determination.
To establish negligence in your case, our Fall River pedestrian accident lawyers will focus on these key elements:
- Duty of care: Whether the at-fault party had a legal obligation to act safely around pedestrians
- Breach of duty of care: Whether the at-fault party failed to meet that obligation through actions like speeding, distracted driving, or ignoring traffic laws
- Causation: Whether the breach of duty directly caused the accident and your injuries
- Losses: The physical, emotional, and financial impact you’ve suffered as a result of the accident
We’ll also consider Massachusetts laws and regulations as we investigate your case. Our team is well-versed in the state’s statutes and will apply this knowledge to establish liability. Whether the accident was caused by a reckless driver or inadequate infrastructure, we’ll work to hold the responsible party accountable. We take care of our own because Massachusetts is our home.
Massachusetts Follows a Modified Comparative Negligence System
In Massachusetts, if you’re partially at fault for the pedestrian accident, your compensation may be reduced based on your percentage of responsibility. However, you won’t be able to recover any losses if you are 51% or more at fault, according to General Law – Part III, Title II, Chapter 231, Section 85.
For example, if the court determines you were 30% at fault for the accident, your total compensation will be reduced by 30%. If your settlement award is valued at $100,000, you would only recover $70,000.
Who Is Liable for Your Pedestrian Accident
While the at-fault party in a pedestrian accident is often a driver, other parties could also be liable, depending on the details of your case. Correctly identifying the responsible party is often difficult without professional legal help.
Any of the following parties could be at fault for a pedestrian accident:
- The driver: Drivers are expected to follow traffic laws and exercise reasonable care to avoid hitting pedestrians.
- The property owner: If the accident occurs due to poorly maintained sidewalks, faulty lighting, or other hazardous conditions on private property, the property owner could be held liable. They are responsible for keeping their property safe for pedestrians.
- Government entities: Local or state governments may be liable if the accident is caused by poorly maintained public infrastructure, such as broken sidewalks, missing crosswalks, or ineffective traffic signals.
- Construction companies: Sometimes, construction zones are not properly marked, or safety measures like signs, barriers, or detours are insufficient. In such cases, the construction company in charge of the site may be held liable. Hazards created by construction can pose significant risks to pedestrians.
- Vehicle manufacturers: If a defect in the vehicle, such as faulty brakes or malfunctioning lights, contributed to the accident, the vehicle manufacturer could be held responsible. This is typically the case in product liability claims, where a defect causes a crash or worsens the severity of an accident.
Massachusetts Has a Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Lawsuits
In Massachusetts, there is a time limit, known as the statute of limitations, for filing a personal injury lawsuit. For pedestrian accidents, you generally have three years to file a claim, according to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 260, Section 2a. If you miss this deadline, you may lose your right to seek compensation.
Act quickly after an accident by gathering evidence and consulting our lawyers to ensure you don’t miss the filing deadline. Starting the process early gives you the best chance to build a strong case and protect your legal rights.
How a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer in Fall River Can Help You
Your life can change in an instant when a car strikes you as a pedestrian, leaving you with severe injuries and a mountain of medical bills. As you focus on recovering physically, the last thing you want to worry about is managing the complexities of a pedestrian accident claim. Our pedestrian accident lawyer in Fall River can help.
As your attorneys, we will:
- Deal with insurance companies: We’ll handle all communication with insurance companies, ensuring you receive fair treatment and maximum compensation.
- Help you secure medical care: Our lawyers work with medical experts who will give you the care and treatment you need. We also help ensure that your medical bills are properly documented and included in your case for compensation.
- Deal with the health insurance: Our team will guide you through navigating your insurance or other coverage options to get the treatment you need without delay.
- Gather evidence: We will search for traffic cameras that may have captured the incident, as this footage can be crucial. If law enforcement is involved, we will request body cam footage if available. We will also canvas nearby businesses for any surveillance footage that might show the accident.
- Provide professional legal guidance: Our experienced lawyers will offer trusted advice and support throughout the process.
We Work on a Contingency Fee Basis
We operate on a contingency fee structure, meaning you won’t owe us anything unless we win your case. This approach allows you to pursue your claim without the concern of paying upfront fees. If we succeed, our fee will be a percentage of the settlement or award you receive from the court.
You will have no out-of-pocket expenses and will only pay us if we achieve a favorable outcome. With this arrangement, you can focus on your recovery while we manage the legal aspects for you. This is our Stone Cold Guarantee®.
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents
As experienced pedestrian accident attorneys in Fall River, we have seen the many ways negligence can injure pedestrians. We will investigate the incident to determine what caused it.
Common causes of pedestrian accidents in Fall River include:
- Distracted driving (e.g., texting or using a phone)
- Speeding through residential areas
- Failure to yield at crosswalks
- Poorly lit streets or intersections
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Lack of proper signage or signals for pedestrians
- Aggressive driving or road rage
- Jaywalking or crossing streets outside of designated crosswalks
- Inclement weather affecting visibility
Determining the cause of a pedestrian accident directly impacts liability and the ability to seek compensation. Identifying the specific factors that led to the accident helps establish who is at fault. This is essential for proving negligence and holding the responsible party accountable.
Call a Pedestrian Accident Attorney in Fall River Today
You’ve taken the first step toward seeking compensation for your pedestrian accident in Fall River. Now, let us handle the rest. Our Jason Stone Injury Lawyers team will work tirelessly to guarantee you receive fair compensation.
Don’t let someone else’s negligence dictate your future; take control by contacting us today to schedule a free case evaluation. We’ll navigate the complex legal system so that you can focus on your recovery.
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