When a pedestrian is involved in an accident, the damages are often catastrophic. In most cases, the pedestrian has no protection against the force of an impact. If you were struck by a car and sustained injuries, you may be entitled to compensation. Fortunately, an experienced pedestrian accident attorney in Lebanon can help get you the money you need and deserve.
At Vaughan & Vaughan, we have a reputation for helping accident victims recover fair compensation after suffering injuries. Our firm has been representing injury victims for over 100 years. Reach out to us today through our website or over the phone to schedule a free case evaluation with one of our Lebanon personal injury lawyers.
Steps Your Pedestrian Accident Lawyer in Lebanon Will Take on Your Behalf
When you hire a pedestrian accident lawyer in Lebanon, there are a variety of actions they will take to help ensure you recover the money you need from the liable party. The first thing your attorney is likely to do is to launch their own investigation into your accident, where they will gather evidence that supports your claim and attempt to prove the liability of another party.
Once this investigation is complete, your lawyer will review the damages you sustained as a result of the accident and calculate how much your claim is worth. Your lawyer will then proceed to file an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit and complete all the steps of the respective process.
As your lawyer prepares your case for a potential trial, they will also be in continued negotiations with opposing counsel, attempting to come to terms on a settlement agreement.
Your Case Will Get
The Attention It Deserves
The Damages Most Often Available Following a Pedestrian Accident
After a pedestrian accident where you suffered serious injuries, there are a variety of damages you will likely be eligible to pursue. To recover the full value of your claim, you must determine all the damages you qualify to collect. While doing so can be challenging on your own, an experienced pedestrian accident attorney in Lebanon can help.
All the available damages after an accident can be split among three main categories.
Economic Damages
All of your losses that have a direct financial impact on your life belong in the category of economic damages. Calculating the full value of economic damages is relatively easy since they all have dollar figures attached. The economic damages most frequently assessed in pedestrian accident cases include:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical bills
- Lost wages
- Lowered earning ability
- Property damage
- Money spent to complete daily tasks you can no longer perform yourself
Non-Economic Damages
Every other loss that results from your accident belongs in the category of non-economic damages. Because there is no monetary aspect to these losses, evaluating the full value of non-economic damages is quite challenging. The non-economic damages most frequently assessed in pedestrian accident cases include:
- Mental anguish
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Permanent disability
- Diminished quality of life
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of consortium
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages differ significantly from the compensatory damages listed above. Instead of being used as a means of replacing losses suffered by the accident victim, the purpose of punitive damages is to punish the at-fault party for the part they played in causing the pedestrian accident.
The judge in your case will not award punitive damages unless certain conditions apply. For your case to qualify, the responsible party must have acted with the express intention of causing harm or been criminally negligent.
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The Benefits of an Out-of-Court Settlement
When you take your case to court, there is the potential that you could recover more compensation than if you settle with the liable party. However, the extra money you may receive is unlikely going to be worth the risk of losing at trial and ending up with nothing. Even if your case seems airtight, anything can happen in a jury trial.
In addition to providing you with assured compensation, reaching a settlement deal will also mean you will get the money you deserve much more quickly than if you went to court. Out-of-court settlements also offer the defendant the benefits of reduced legal fees and avoiding any unwanted media coverage that may come with a trial.
Because settlements are typically in the best interest of all parties involved, the majority of pedestrian accident cases result in settlements. However, there is always the possibility that you will be unable to come to terms on a deal with the at-fault party. That’s why it is critical to hire a Lebanon pedestrian accident attorney with a history of winning big in court.
Submit Your Pedestrian Accident Lawsuit Before Time Runs Out
When looking to recover compensation following a pedestrian accident, it is essential that you are mindful of the personal injury statute of limitations. In Indiana, this statute generally grants accident victims two years to file a lawsuit after suffering an injury. Missing the filing deadline is likely to result in the loss of your right to recover compensation.
While the statute of limitations deadline is usually unyielding, there are certain circumstances that could allow you to file a lawsuit even if the standard cutoff date has long passed. On the other hand, there are also conditions that can shorten the amount of time you have to take legal action.
The best way to ensure you avoid being surprised by an unexpected deadline is to hire an experienced Lebanon pedestrian accident attorney soon after sustaining your injury. Your lawyer can identify the deadline that applies to your case and ensure that all the required paperwork is prepared and filed well in advance.
Get Help from an Experienced Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Serving Lebanon, IN, Today
To give yourself the best chance of recovering the money you need after a pedestrian accident, it is critical that you hire a lawyer with a history of winning big for their clients. At the law offices of Vaughan & Vaughan, our case results speak for themselves.
Reach out to us today by giving us a call or completing our online contact form and schedule your free consultation with a member of our legal team.
