Whether you are strolling to clear your head or speed walking to get to work, you have the right to be safe from unreasonable danger. Unfortunately, pedestrian accidents occur with surprising regularity. Being injured in a pedestrian accident can change your life in devastating ways.

Have you or a loved one experienced a pedestrian accident? If so, you may be entitled to a compensation payout that could make a difference in your situation. Wapner Newman can potentially help you recover the maximum amount of money available for your claim.

Why Choose Wapner Newman?

Experience that You Need

When it comes to pursuing damages for your injuries, you need a law firm with a demonstrated history of success. Wapner Newman is a premier injury firm with an impressive track record of recovering millions of dollars in compensation for clients. Thousands have relied on our team of attorneys and legal professionals, and so can you.

When Wapner Newman represents you, you get a firm that provides:

  • Proven results
  • Award-winning attorneys who care
  • Personalized care and service
  • Direct access for clients to communicate concerns.

If you are facing pain and losses due to a pedestrian accident, let the pedestrian accident lawyers at Wapner Newman fight to get you the compensation you deserve. Call (215) 569-0900 today for a complimentary consultation and case review.

Liability for Pedestrian Accidents

When it comes to pedestrian accidents, liability typically belongs to one of the following parties:

  • Motorists
  • Bicyclists
  • Government agencies
  • Property owners.

Motorists who cause pedestrian accidents typically do so while engaged in negligent behavior, such as:

  • Driving while intoxicated
  • Driving while distracted
  • Driving while drowsy
  • Failure to yield
  • Failure to obey traffic signs and signals
  • Failure to signal
  • Excessive speeding
  • Road rage.

When a bicyclist is the cause of an accident, it is typically because they fail to yield the right of way to pedestrians or they ride on the sidewalk when not allowed.

Regarding government agencies, government employees who drive government vehicles sometimes hit pedestrians when negligent.

And when the accident is caused by a property owner, it is typically because a part of their property contains an unreasonable hazard.

Damages for Pedestrians

When a pedestrian seeks damages for their losses, they typically have three sources of funds to choose from. Which one they choose depends on the circumstances.

The Pedestrian’s Auto Insurance

If the pedestrian has auto insurance, they can file a personal injury protection (PIP) claim. However, PIP claims cover only certain economic losses, such as:

  • Medical expenses
  • Lost income from days out of work
  • Certain out-of-pocket expenses related to the accident
  • Funeral and burial expenses in the case of death.

PIP does not cover non-economic losses. Non-economic losses are subjective in nature and not financial. They include:

  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Disfigurement.

To seek compensation for non-economic losses, the victim must prove that someone else was at fault for their injuries. However, with a PIP claim, there is no need to prove fault.

Another’s Auto Insurance

If you experience a pedestrian accident but do not have auto insurance, you may be able to claim PIP compensation if someone else claims you in their insurance, such as a parent.

The Negligent Driver’s Auto Insurance

If you are not covered under PIP insurance, you can file a claim for compensation against the other driver’s insurance company. As mentioned, you can only get economic damages from PIP claims. However, if a pedestrian can prove the party that hit them was negligent, they can pursue non-economic damages as well from that driver’s auto insurance.

Time Is of the Essence

Take Quick Legal Action to Preserve Your Claim

If you have been injured in a pedestrian accident, you likely have the right to claim compensation for some or all of your losses. However, there is a time limit to do so, and the longer you wait, the weaker your case is likely to become.

Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Claims

Currently, adult pedestrians have a total of two years from the date of their accident to take action. For minor pedestrians, the two-year clock does not start ticking until the minor becomes an adult.

Additionally, the statute may be tolled if the person you intend to sue has been out of the state for more than four months since the injury occurred. It may also be tolled if the target of your lawsuit is within the state but hides by using a fake name.

Keep in mind that if the target of your legal action is a government agency or body, the statute of limitations is different. Pennsylvania law requires plaintiffs to inform the government agency or body of their intent to sue within six months of the accident.

Evidence Issues with Delays

Without quick action, you may also run into serious evidence issues. You may have trouble finding witnesses — they may have moved away or perished. You may also find it difficult to acquire valuable traffic cam footage after too much time has passed. However, if you do not delay, your pedestrian accident attorney will immediately set out to gather the evidence they need to build your case.

How Our Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Can Help

We Take Care of Everything While You Recover

When you hire Wapner Newman to represent you, we take care of everything related to your compensation claim. Instead of worrying about the law and rules of injury compensation claims, you get to spend your time focusing on your injuries and getting better.

Meanwhile, our team handles all of the essential tasks related to your claim, including:

  • Investigating every aspect of the accident
  • Consulting with accident recreation and medical experts
  • Managing claims-related paperwork and documents
  • Interviewing witnesses
  • Negotiating with adjusters for a proper settlement payout
  • Filing a lawsuit if necessary
  • Conducting depositions
  • Representing you in court if a trial proves to be necessary.

You don’t have to go through this alone. Our team has helped thousands of injury victims obtain substantial judgments and settlements that have enabled them to face the future.

If you are contending with losses and injuries from a pedestrian accident, do not hesitate to contact our team for help. We offer free consultations with experienced attorneys. Call Wapner Newman at (215) 569-0900 today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have questions about pedestrian accidents and claims for compensation in Philadelphia? If so, please review the following Q&A for answers.

What do pedestrian accident lawyers in Philadelphia charge?

Pedestrian accident lawyers in Philadelphia do not typically charge for their services until the case has been resolved. When the case has been resolved, your attorney will take an agreed percentage from the compensation payout. Your attorney will also deduct any upfront costs they have paid out, such as court filing costs and fees for expert testimony.

In other words, it costs you nothing up front to have us get started on your claim.

Do I really need to hire a lawyer for my pedestrian accident claim?

If you are trying to recover full compensation for your pedestrian accident losses, you will hire a pedestrian accident attorney. Without one, you will likely get far less compensation from the insurance company handling your case.

What if I get an offer from the insurance company handling my claim?

If the insurance company handling your case transmits an offer, you should not accept it without first speaking with an experienced pedestrian accident lawyer. The offer may be far below what you could actually recover.

An attorney will give you a proper appraisal of your claim, which will likely be much higher than the insurance company’s offer. If your attorney believes that the offer is fair, they will likely advise you to accept it. In any case, you will be in a better position to decide whether to accept or reject the offer after meeting with a lawyer.

Who pays my medical bills while my claim is processed?

While your claim is being processed, you are responsible for seeking and paying for medical treatment initially. Once your attorney concludes your case, you will be reimbursed for your medical expenses if you paid out of pocket.

How long will it take to settle my pedestrian accident claim?

Your claim could be settled in as little as a couple of months if it is relatively straightforward. However, if your case involves any complexities, such as liability issues, it can take up to and over a year to resolve, especially if it goes to trial.

Please reach out to us any time for more answers to your questions. An experienced pedestrian accident lawyer is ready to take your call.

Speak with a Philadelphia Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Today

We Are Ready to Help

No one should have to worry about crossing the street or taking a stroll. Yet pedestrians routinely experience devastating accidents caused by negligent parties who deserve to pay for their actions.

If you have been injured in a pedestrian accident, contact Wapner Newman for help. A  seasoned pedestrian accident lawyer is ready to review your case and your options for justice. Call (215) 569-0900 for a free consultation today.