Lives are upended when these occurrences take place in Pocatello, Idaho. While some accidents cause minor or no injuries, others result in severe bodily harm and major losses, including expensive medical bills, lost pay, lifelong disability, or even death. The cost of emergency medical care, as well as ongoing therapies, adds up. Getting struck by a car can also be mentally and emotionally taxing. You might be eligible to pursue compensation for your personal injuries if you, a family member, or a friend have recently been hurt in a pedestrian accident due to someone else’s carelessness.
Request a free consultation from a personal injury attorney at The Advocates — a risk-free way to explore your legal possibilities.
Drivers and pedestrians must abide by traffic laws, yet most pedestrian accidents are the fault of careless driving. Here are a few frequent causes of accidents involving pedestrians in Pocatello.
In many situations, a vehicle must yield to pedestrians who have the right of way. The most frequent are controlled intersections and designated crosswalks. Injuries are likely to happen when a motorist disregards a pedestrian’s right of way. When turning right at a red light, many drivers fail to remember that a pedestrian in a crosswalk has priority and needs to be permitted to cross before the car turns. If a pedestrian is struck, the driver is to blame.
In Idaho, going over the speed limit occurs frequently, and driving too fast regularly causes car accidents. Traveling at excessive speeds makes it more difficult for a driver to react safely to a problem, and vehicles take longer to slow down. Speed-related pedestrian accidents frequently result in fatalities and severe injuries.
In Pocatello, drug- or alcohol-impaired driving is another frequent factor in accidents involving pedestrians. It is hazardous for a driver to get behind the wheel after drinking or when under the influence of narcotics. Impaired decision-making and slowed reflexes result in an inability to stop, erratic driving, inadvertent lane changes, and dangerous maneuvers, all of which pose a serious risk to pedestrians.
The most frequent factor in all auto accidents, many of which involve pedestrians, is distracted driving. When a driver is distracted, their awareness of their surroundings is diminished. GPS systems, texting, phone calls, and driving with one hand while eating or drinking are all common distractions for drivers. These circumstances make it challenging to act quickly, particularly while attempting to avoid a pedestrian at a crosswalk or stopping abruptly because a driver failed to notice a stop sign or red light.
Various factors, including nighttime driving, bad weather, sun glare, broken headlights, and dark-clad individuals in low-light situations, can cause reduced visibility. It is the driver’s obligation to drive safely if visibility is poor.
We can assist you with your claim regardless of how complex or how many parties are involved. Our experience and knowledge make us an excellent choice for your legal needs. Here are a few reasons why people choose The Advocates:
At The Advocates, we work on a contingency fee basis. This means your payment is based on our success in resolving your claim or legal matter. If we don’t reach a settlement, you don’t pay for our services. There is no risk in working with a personal injury attorney from The Advocates on a contingency fee. When we do reach a settlement, we will collect a small percentage as payment for our services.
Settlement amounts tend to be much higher when a lawyer is involved in personal injury claims. Attorneys can develop a stronger case than an accident victim can on their own because they are familiar with the legalities, have experience, and are knowledgeable about how insurers function. Additionally, our attorneys can devote more time to a claim than an accident victim can.
The Advocates’ attorneys are capable of filing claims as well as litigating a lawsuit. While it is rare to have a claim go to court, it does happen when an insurance company refuses to agree to a settlement. We can try these unresolved claims because we are a team of attorneys. All attorneys have the ability to represent clients in a court of law. However, personal injury lawyers who are not also attorneys can file a claim on your behalf but cannot represent you in court.
Working with insurance companies can take time and effort. Unless pressured by a lawyer, insurers rarely pay what a claim is worth. Some insurance providers go so far as to try to find excuses not to pay a settlement that is due. By managing the pressure of dealing with insurance adjusters, the Advocates can take the stress off you. Let us handle the insurance companies so you can focus on healing.
Any accident is difficult to recover from, but a motorbike accident might be more traumatic than a car accident. Without a doubt, you don’t want to be forced to pay for pricey medical care for an injury that’s not your fault. This is why many victims of motorcycle accidents frequently put off seeking medical attention — they fear these expenses. The motorcycle accident lawyers at The Advocates strive to get settlements that cover the cost of all medical care.
The Advocates have handled many different types of motorcycle accidents. Our history of dealing with various scenarios means we have experience with all types of property damages and injuries. Our lawyers can assist you, regardless of how many parties are involved or how complex the specifics of the accident may be.
Every accident involving a motorcycle has the potential of being a serious situation. We are aware that having enough time to file a claim is crucial. Our Pocatello motorcycle accident attorneys are prompt in responding and treat every call with extreme care. As soon as we’re hired, we get to work interviewing witnesses and accident participants to learn more about the case.
Your responsibility is to heal; our responsibility is to handle all aspects of your claim and reach a conclusion that holds the responsible party accountable for your losses. We work with insurance providers, handling all their inquiries, so you don’t have to. At any point in time, you can easily get in touch with us — we’ll keep a channel of communication open from the beginning to the end of your claim.
Being hit by a car, even at low speeds, almost always results in injury. If a driver is at fault for an accident, a pedestrian has the right to submit a personal injury claim, no matter what kind of injury they sustain. Injuries to pedestrians caused by accidents can range widely in both severity and type. Here are a few of the common injuries suffered by pedestrians:
Accident victims are entitled to more than simply reimbursement for their medical bills. Settlement amounts are based on the following variables:
Not every pedestrian accident victim is eligible for financial support for their losses and injuries. The legal system in Idaho is based on comparative negligence. The percentage of responsibility helps determines who is to blame for an accident. If a pedestrian is found to be 49 percent or less at fault for an accident, they are eligible to file a claim for damages in Pocatello. Zero fault is compensated at 100% of the claim amount, while 49% is compensated at 51% of the claim. You are not entitled to compensation if you are 50% or more at fault.
Economic damages, such as lost wages, medical expenses, etc., are not subject to caps in Idaho, but non-economic damages are. The Idaho Industrial Commission sets this maximum sum, which is $250,000.
Frequently, those hurt in pedestrian accidents wonder, “Can I file my claim on my own?” Although doing so is not impossible, getting legal counsel is a smart move. This is because personal injuries involve a lot of time and work.
The majority of accident victims think they should receive a sizable payment for their damages. However, not every person hurt in a pedestrian collision qualifies for compensation. An accurate assessment of fault is essential. Just determining fault can be exceedingly challenging and time-consuming.
You will be able to more accurately determine your eligibility for financial compensation with the aid of a knowledgeable pedestrian accident lawyer or attorney.
It can be extremely difficult to establish that a driver is at fault, even if you have the facts and the documentation to back it up to an insurance company or in court. An attorney can guide you through the complex legal processes of a personal injury claim.
Although retaining an accident attorney doesn’t ensure success, it does raise the likelihood of a favorable decision. Lawyers are adept at fighting against the strategies insurance companies employ to lower your settlement amount.
Hiring an accident attorney improves your odds of a larger settlement. Research shows that claims represented by a lawyer are as much as two to three times higher. A lawyer will work toward an out-of-court payment by negotiating with the insurance company.
If the insurance company refuses to settle, your attorney will take your case to court.
Hiring an attorney rather than a lawyer is essential. Attorneys are lawyers who can also represent clients in court. Your personal injury case cannot be tried by a lawyer who is not an attorney.
It can take a lot of time to gather the proof and papers needed to demonstrate that a driver is at fault. Once you have the correct information, it could take months to negotiate a settlement with an insurance provider. Additionally, certain circumstances demand that papers be completed by a specified date.
The pedestrian accident attorneys at The Advocates can expedite the personal injury claim process by managing all the paperwork, working with the insurance providers, and guaranteeing that filing deadlines are reached.
Using an attorney removes the risk of you making mistakes because of a lack of experience.
The lawyers from The Advocates are your allies. They will manage every part of your claim, saving you the stress and hassle. After you retain one of our attorneys, they will:
Following your free consultation, your attorney will begin the claim investigation. They will gather data, review the circumstances surrounding the accident, speak with witnesses, and determine the crash’s cause. This process is the basis for your accident claim and aids in proving the driver’s fault.
Your attorney will create a case file and send demand letters to all participating insurance companies once the investigation is finished.
In the early stages of a claim, few insurance companies will accept a demand letter. The insurer will probably try to lower the settlement sum by placing the blame on the victim and downplaying injuries. They might even contest the validity of the claim.
An experienced pedestrian accident lawyer from The Advocates understands how to communicate with insurance adjusters and steer clear of compromises. Our staff draws on years of expertise working directly with insurance companies.
In the event that your case goes to trial, your attorney will handle all aspects of the litigation. Keep in mind that legal representation by an attorney is necessary for court. You cannot be represented in court by a personal injury lawyer who is not an attorney.
You can take a number of actions that will help support your personal injury claim. Here is what you should do if you are a victim of a pedestrian-related accident.
The most crucial action to take following a collision that involves you as a pedestrian is to get medical help. A licensed medical professional will record your injuries, and you will have a higher chance of recovery if you seek care for them quickly. This is also important because your medical records contain information supporting your personal injury claim.
Early medical intervention also prevents insurers from stating that your injuries have nothing to do with your accident.
You should have your injuries examined by a medical practitioner and document them via photos or video. Images and video footage can be used by your lawyer to demonstrate the severity of your injuries.
After an accident, you should always dial 911 or dispatch. This will ensure that the appropriate emergency services are dispatched to the area. Additionally, it will result in a police report being filed. A police officer will record the case’s specifics, take pictures, and speak with witnesses. A police report is essential for you as a victim because it will likely support your claim.
Accident victims typically have to notify their insurers of the incident within a certain amount of time. To ensure everything is completed promptly and to avoid an insurer turning your testimony against you, we advise involving one of our attorneys as early as possible.
Under no circumstances should you talk to anyone about an accident without your attorney present. This includes the driver, insurance adjusters, and insurance companies. These interactions frequently turn out to be used against the victim and might lower the settlement amount.
After an accident, we advise contacting The Advocates right away.
In Idaho, a victim of a pedestrian accident has three years from the day of the accident to file a personal injury claim for damages. The earlier you file your claim, though, the better. It can be more difficult to gather evidence, interview witnesses, and establish fault if you wait years to pursue a claim.
The Advocates can assist you in every aspect of your claim process. If you’ve been injured in a pedestrian accident, contact us now. We can help.
