Pedestrian accidents can lead to severe injuries and life-altering consequences. These events are often overwhelming, with that worry compounded by mounting medical bills, missed work days, the physical and emotional toll, and anxiety about financial challenges ahead. At Wapner Newman, each Harrisburg pedestrian accident lawyer in our team understands the devastating impact these accidents have on victims and their families. We’re here to help you navigate this difficult time and fight for the compensation you deserve.
The Impact of Pedestrian Accidents
When Crosswalks Become Danger Zones
Vehicle occupants are usually protected by steel and airbags in the event of a car accident. However, pedestrians potentially face catastrophic injuries when struck by vehicles or motorcycles. These injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries requiring extensive rehabilitation and long-term care
- Spinal cord injuries that may result in partial or complete paralysis
- Multiple bone fractures, particularly in the legs, hips, and pelvis
- Internal organ damage requiring emergency surgery
- Severe road rash and soft tissue injuries
- Neck and back injuries leading to chronic pain
- Psychological trauma and PTSD.
Each of these injuries can lead to a lot of physical pain and significant financial burdens. Our pedestrian accident lawyers understand how to document and prove the full extent of your injuries to ensure you receive compensation that covers both immediate and long-term care needs.
Every pedestrian accident case we handle represents someone’s life turned upside down. We’re committed to helping you put the pieces back together.
Why Choose Us?
Your Advocates When You Need Them Most
When you choose Wapner Newman for your pedestrian accident attorney, here’s what you should expect.
Attorneys With Experience Fighting for Pedestrian Rights
You gain a team with extensive experience representing injured pedestrians throughout Pennsylvania. We understand local traffic laws, insurance regulations, and how to build winning cases for our clients.
Affordable Legal Representation
Our contingency fee structure ensures that our interests align perfectly with yours, meaning we succeed only when you do.
Extensive Resources at Your Disposal
We work with leading accident reconstruction experts, medical professionals, and economic analysts to prove liability and document damages. Our network of specialists helps build the strongest possible case for maximum compensation.
Personal Attention
Our attorneys maintain direct communication throughout the legal process, providing regular updates and answering your questions promptly. We handle all insurance company communications so you can focus on recovery.
A Team That’s Ready to Fight
Many cases settle through negotiation. However, we prepare every case as if it will go to trial. This thorough approach often leads to better settlement offers and ensures we’re ready to fight in court if needed to secure fair compensation.
Don’t face this challenge alone. Contact Wapner Newman at (215) 569-0900 for a free consultation about your pedestrian accident case.
Recovering Your Financial Losses
Pennsylvania laws allow pedestrian road accident victims to pursue the following types of compensation.
Economic Damages
After a pedestrian accident, you may be entitled to compensation for all financial losses directly related to your injuries. Our Harrisburg accident attorneys help victims recover:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Emergency room and hospital bills
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation costs
- Lost wages from missed work
- Reduced future earning capacity
- Medical equipment and home modifications
- Transportation to medical appointments
- In-home care services
- Property damage.
These economic damages form the foundation of your claim, and our team meticulously documents every expense to ensure nothing is overlooked in your pursuit of full compensation.
Non-Economic Damages
The impact of a pedestrian accident goes beyond monetary costs. We fight for compensation for:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium or companionship
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Depression and anxiety
- Sleep disorders
- Impact on personal relationships.
These damages are harder to quantify than medical bills or lost wages; however, they often represent the most significant impact on a victim’s life. Our attorneys have extensive experience helping juries and insurance companies understand the true value of these profound personal losses.
The Claims Process
Here’s a look at your path to justice when you work with our pedestrian accident lawyers in Harrisburg.
Initial Investigation
After you contact our Harrisburg pedestrian accident lawyers, we immediately begin gathering and preserving vital evidence, including:
- Police reports and accident scene photos
- Traffic camera footage and surveillance video
- Witness statements and contact information
- Vehicle damage documentation
- Cell phone records and driver history
- Weather and road condition reports.
A thorough investigation in the early stages strengthens your case and often uncovers additional liable parties.
Building Your Case
We collect and organize all medical records and bills, creating a clear timeline of your injuries and treatment. Our team works with your employers to document lost wages and benefits while consulting medical experts to project future care needs and costs. We also help you maintain detailed records of your daily pain levels and how your injuries impact your life. This thorough documentation helps demonstrate the true extent of your damages and supports our demand for maximum compensation.
Negotiations
During settlement negotiations, we present compelling evidence of liability and demonstrate the full scope of your damages. Our experienced negotiators understand insurance company tactics and know how to counter lowball offers effectively. We handle all communication with insurance adjusters, keeping you informed of settlement offers while providing honest advice about fair settlement values.
Trial Preparation
If the insurance company refuses to offer fair compensation, we will prepare your case for trial. This includes filing all necessary court documents, preparing expert testimony, and developing compelling trial exhibits.
When appropriate, we conduct mock trials to refine our presentation and thoroughly prepare you for any court appearances. Our comprehensive trial preparation often leads to favorable settlements, as insurance companies recognize our readiness to advocate for you in court.
Our experienced legal team has recovered millions in compensation for pedestrian accident victims across Pennsylvania.
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents
Who Bears Responsibility?
Our pedestrian accident lawyers in Harrisburg have identified several recurring factors in these devastating incidents:
- Distracted driving, especially texting while driving
- Failure to yield right of way at crosswalks
- Speeding through residential areas and school zones
- Drunk or impaired driving
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Poor visibility conditions
- Backing up without checking the surroundings
- Making turns without watching for pedestrians
- Driver fatigue leading to delayed reactions
- Failure to adjust driving for weather conditions.
When we investigate your pedestrian accident, we carefully examine all potential contributing factors to identify every party who may bear responsibility.
What Steps Should You Take After an Accident?
Taking the right actions after a pedestrian accident can significantly impact your case:
- Seek immediate medical attention, even if injuries seem minor.
- Report the accident to the police and obtain a copy of the report.
- Document the scene with photos if possible.
- Gather contact information from witnesses.
- Avoid discussing the accident with insurance adjusters.
- Contact our pedestrian injury attorneys promptly.
By following these important steps immediately after your accident, you strengthen your legal position and give yourself the best chance at receiving full compensation for your injuries.
Don’t Risk Losing Your Right to Compensation
Pennsylvania law gives pedestrian accident victims two years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit. However, don’t wait too long and risk the disappearance of evidence, fading witness memories, or the erasure of surveillance footage. Important documentation also becomes harder to obtain with the passing of time.
FAQs
Understanding your rights is crucial after a pedestrian accident. Here are answers to some common questions.
How long does a typical pedestrian accident case take to resolve?
Each case is unique, but pedestrian accident cases typically take 6-18 months to resolve. Factors affecting the timeline include the severity of injuries, complexity of liability issues, cooperation of insurance companies, and whether the case goes to trial.
What should I do if the driver left the scene of the accident?
Drivers should stop at the scene of the accident. However, if you’re involved in a hit-and-run, immediately call the police, try to remember any details about the vehicle (make, model, color, license plate), look for surveillance cameras in the area, and gather witness information.
Can I still pursue compensation if I was crossing outside of a crosswalk?
Yes. While crossing at designated crosswalks is safer and can strengthen your case, Pennsylvania law still requires drivers to exercise reasonable care to avoid hitting pedestrians, regardless of where they cross.
What if my accident involved a commercial vehicle or delivery truck?
These cases often involve additional liable parties beyond just the driver, including the company that owns the vehicle, maintenance contractors, or other entities. Our firm has experience handling commercial vehicle cases and identifying all potential sources of compensation.
Will my health insurance cover my medical treatment while my case is pending?
Yes, you should use your health insurance for immediate medical care. Once your case settles, we’ll help negotiate with your health insurance company regarding any reimbursement they may seek from your settlement.
These represent just a few of the questions we commonly address. We’re here to answer all your specific concerns during a free consultation.
Get Help From an Experienced Harrisburg Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
When pedestrian accidents devastate lives, Wapner Newman stands ready to fight for victims’ rights to full compensation. Our pedestrian injury lawyers understand the challenges you face and know how to build strong cases that get results.
Don’t wait to get the legal help you need. Contact Wapner Newman today at (215) 569-0900 to discuss your pedestrian accident case and learn how we can help you move forward.