Sadly, numerous pedestrians in Connecticut have been struck by automobiles. Either as a victim of an auto-pedestrian accident or — in the event of a fatality — as a victim’s surviving family member, it is not uncommon to have a number of questions and concerns after a pedestrian accident occurs. This column will try to address some of the common questions.
When a person has been injured in an auto-pedestrian accident, he or she may not know which actions he or she should take after the fact — aside from getting the medical attention needed. After such an incident, a victim may have legal recourse, but certain things will be needed in order to establish negligence against the driver. While it may be difficult to do, victims of pedestrian accidents should write down as many details about the accidents as possible, including information about the crashes, injuries suffered, other losses sustained and even information about possible witnesses to the events. This information can then be taken to an attorney for review and further investigation.
After an auto-pedestrian accident, how long does one have to file a lawsuit? Every state has what is known as a statute of limitations. This sets a limit as to how long someone can wait to take legal action. Seeking legal counsel as soon as possible is advisable in order to make sure that one takes action during the allowable period.
What happens when a pedestrian faces partial blame for an accident? In such cases, the victim may still seek damages through legal means, but he or she may only be able to achieve partial recovery of his or her losses. A pedestrian may be considered partially at fault if he or she was found to be disobeying traffic laws when the accident occurred.
Finally, which damages are recoverable in accordance with Connecticut laws following a pedestrian accident? The losses suffered in this type of accident can be extreme. Victims of surviving family members may seek to recover a number of things, including past and future medical expenses, funeral expenses, lost wages, compensation for pain and suffering, and more. With the assistance of legal counsel, maximum relief may be achieved if litigation proves successful.
Source: FindLaw, “Pedestrian Accidents FAQ“, Accessed on April 20, 2016
