Traffic laws keep pedestrians safe when crossing the road or walking down the street. However, pedestrian accidents still happen due to driver carelessness. If you have suffered injuries in a pedestrian accident in Bridgeport, CT, you might have the right to pursue financial relief from the motorist who hit you. A pedestrian accident can have devastating consequences for your life, so don’t let the insurance companies pay you less than the maximum value for your injuries.
Reach out to the Bridgeport pedestrian accident lawyers of The Flood Law Firm for a free initial case evaluation. For over a decade, our firm has advocated for the rights and interests of injured victims across Connecticut. We work tirelessly to help our clients seek the compensation they need and deserve. Our experienced legal team can navigate the legal system while you focus on healing from your injuries.
- Why Choose The Flood Law Firm for Help After a Pedestrian Accident in Bridgeport?
- What Will Our Bridgeport Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Do for Your Case?
- Bridgeport Pedestrian Accident Statistics
- Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents
- Common Injuries in Pedestrian Accidents
- What Compensation Options Might You Have In Your Pedestrian Accident Claim?
- Financial Recovery for Your Pedestrian Accident Losses
- Proving Fault for a Pedestrian Accident
- What Steps Should You Take After a Pedestrian Accident?
- Frequently Asked Questions About Pedestrian Accidents in Bridgeport
- Contact The Flood Law Firm to Speak With Our Pedestrian Accident Lawyers About Your Options for Recovering Compensation
Why Choose The Flood Law Firm for Help After a Pedestrian Accident in Bridgeport?
You deserve compensation for injuries you suffer in a pedestrian accident, but getting the at-fault driver and insurance companies to pay can become a complex process.
Victims of pedestrian accidents throughout Connecticut turn to the Bridgeport pedestrian accident lawyers of The Flood Law Firm for legal advocacy because:
- We provide responsive communication and keep clients updated on their cases at all times
- Insurance companies know that we have a track record of success inside and outside the courtroom, and we have recovered millions in settlements and verdicts for our clients
- Unlike some personal injury lawyers who have never filed a lawsuit or tried a case, we have a team of seasoned litigators who won’t hesitate to take a case to trial when necessary
- We take care of all the details so that our clients can spend their time and energy on medical treatment and rehabilitation
- Our resources and firm size enable up to take on the big insurers and corporations and stand firm when cases get complicated
- We represent accident victims on a contingency fee basis, so they don’t pay any money upfront to hire us, and we get paid if we win compensation for them in a settlement or trial verdict
What Will Our Bridgeport Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Do for Your Case?
After suffering injuries in a pedestrian accident, you may need to focus on healing. But you also deserve to seek financial relief for the losses you incur due to the accident. Turn to the Bridgeport pedestrian accident lawyers at The Flood Law Firm to handle every step of pursuing compensation.
Our attorneys can help your case by:
- Investigating the accident to secure evidence we can use to build your case
- Identifying liable parties and sources of compensation, such as applicable insurance coverage
- Documenting your injuries and losses to help you pursue the total compensation you need
- Discussing your options with you and answering your questions to prepare you for the claims process
- Drafting and filing legal and insurance claims or demand letters to start the process of seeking compensation for you
- Handling communications and negotiations with insurers and other parties so you can focus on your physical and emotional recovery
- Vigorously pursuing maximum financial relief in your case, whether through a settlement or by taking your case to trial if necessary
Bridgeport Pedestrian Accident Statistics
According to the Connecticut Crash Data Repository, there were more than 1,300 pedestrian-involved accidents statewide during one recent year.
These accidents included:
- Over 40 accidents resulting in fatalities
- More than 200 accidents resulting in suspected severe injuries
- Nearly 600 accidents resulting in suspected minor injuries
There were 132 pedestrian-involved accidents in Bridgeport that same year. These accidents included two resulting in fatalities, 18 resulting in suspected severe injuries, and 63 in suspected minor injuries.
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents
Some examples of driver behaviors that often cause pedestrian accidents include:
- Speeding
- Reckless or aggressive driving
- Distracted driving
- Drowsy driving
- Driving while intoxicated
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Disregarding pedestrian crossing lights
- Failing to yield the right-of-way
- Unsafe or illegal turns, including failing to use turn signals or failing to check mirrors before turning
- Backing up without turning around to look for pedestrians
Common Injuries in Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrians can suffer a wide range of injuries in collisions as they lack protection from the force of impact.
These injuries include:
- Cuts, abrasions, or degloving injuries
- Dislocated joints
- Broken bones
- Ligament sprains or tears
- Muscle and tendon strains or tears
- Whiplash
- Burns
- Crush injuries
- Herniated spinal discs
- Internal injuries and bleeding
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Facial and head injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Amputation or dismemberment
What Compensation Options Might You Have In Your Pedestrian Accident Claim?
You may have several avenues for pursuing compensation after a pedestrian accident, such as:
- Filing a medical payments claim. If you have an auto insurance policy, you may have optional medical payments coverage. This coverage provides compensation for medical bills and, in some cases, lost wages from a pedestrian accident, regardless of who is responsible.
- Filing an uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) claim. You may have a claim if the driver who hit you lacks insurance, doesn’t have enough insurance coverage, or flees the scene. UM/UIM coverage allows you to seek compensation for your injuries up to policy limits.
- Filing a claim against the at-fault driver. You will likely file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurer to seek compensation for your injuries from the pedestrian accident.
- Filing claims against other liable parties. Additional parties may be responsible for your injuries depending on the circumstances of the accident, such as whether the accident occurred while the driver was on the clock or whether the accident happened due to a defect or mechanical failure in the vehicle that hit you.
Financial Recovery for Your Pedestrian Accident Losses
You may have sustained significant financial and personal losses because of the injuries you suffered in a pedestrian accident.
Let The Flood Law Firm seek compensation for your:
- Medical care and rehabilitation, including hospitalization, surgeries, prescriptions, physical therapy, and doctor’s appointments
- Long-term care and support for permanent disabilities, such as home health services or purchases of mobility and medical equipment
- Lost wages or income from taking time off work during your recovery
- Lost future earnings and job benefits if your injuries lead to a permanent disability and you can no longer work
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma or distress
- Lost quality of life caused by physical disabilities or visible scarring and disfigurement
Proving Fault for a Pedestrian Accident
Pursuing compensation for a pedestrian accident requires proof that the driver who hit you or another party is liable for your injuries.
To prove fault, your attorney might gather:
- Police accident reports
- Accident scene photos and videos depicting details such as vehicle damage, visible injuries, skid marks, road markings, and traffic signs/signals
- Eyewitness testimony
- Surveillance/traffic camera or dashcam footage
- Traffic light timing and road sensor data
- Computer data logs from the vehicle that hit you
- Driver cell phone records
- Post-accident drug/alcohol test results
- Post-crash vehicle inspections
- Accident reconstruction reports
What Steps Should You Take After a Pedestrian Accident?
To preserve your legal rights after a pedestrian accident:
- Obtain the driver’s insurance information
- Get the contact information for any eyewitnesses to the accident
- Report the crash to law enforcement by calling 911 or contacting the local police department
- Notify your auto insurance provider about the accident as soon as possible. Your insurer may require notification within a short deadline, particularly if you carry a PIP policy. Our pedestrian accident lawyers can notify your insurer for you, ensuring you don’t say anything that could reduce the benefits you deserve. When you notify your insurer, they may invite you to submit a claim. Do not do this without consulting our pedestrian accident lawyers. Your PIP carrier may try to shortchange you, but our pedestrian accident lawyers can ensure you get the PIP benefits you deserve.
- Seek prompt medical attention to diagnose and document injuries you suffered in the crash
- Follow your doctor’s treatment recommendations and instructions, and do not put off starting treatment for your injuries or end rehab early
- Keep documents related to your injuries, such as records of expenses you incur and pay stubs or income statements to calculate your lost wages if you miss work or earn less after the accident
- Start a journal to record the pain and physical limitations you experience during and after your medical recovery
- Avoid discussing the accident or your injuries on social media, as insurers sometimes use accident victims’ social media posts to undermine their credibility and undervalue or deny their claims
Finally, reach out to a pedestrian accident attorney from The Flood Law Firm to pursue compensation and justice from the driver at fault for the accident.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pedestrian Accidents in Bridgeport
Some of the most common questions that victims of pedestrian accidents have about their rights and the legal process include the following:
How Long Do I Have to File an Injury Claim After a Pedestrian Accident?
The statute of limitations in Connecticut General Statutes Section 52-584 gives you only two years to file a lawsuit after suffering injuries in a pedestrian accident. If you file a lawsuit after the statutory deadline, the trial court can permanently dismiss your case.
If your accident involved a government-owned vehicle, you must notify the government agency or entity of your intent to sue. The notification deadlines can vary depending on the relevant government agency. You should speak to a Bridgeport pedestrian accident lawyer from The Flood Law Firm as soon as possible to ensure you protect your rights to pursue compensation.
How Long Will It Take to Recover Compensation in My Pedestrian Accident Claim?
Accident claims can take anywhere from a couple of months to a couple of years to resolve.
Multiple factors can affect the timeline of your pedestrian accident case, including:
- The severity of the injuries you suffered in the accident
- Whether your injuries result in permanent disabilities
- The duration of your medical recovery
- Whether you miss time from work or can no longer work due to your injuries
- Whether the accident also injured other people
- The number of at-fault parties and whether they contest their respective shares of liability
- Whether you bear any fault for the accident and your injuries
- The extent of applicable insurance coverage
- Whether your case ends up in court or goes to trial
Will I Have to Go to Court to Obtain a Financial Recovery for My Injuries?
Sitting in a courtroom or testifying on the stand can cause anxiety and stress for many people, especially those with no experience with the legal system. Fortunately, most pedestrian accident claims settle rather than going to court or trial.
At The Flood Law Firm, we will vigorously pursue maximum compensation for you through a settlement. But our experienced attorneys will advise you when we believe filing a lawsuit or going to trial gives you the best option for securing complete financial relief.
Do I Still Have a Claim if I Bear Some Fault for the Pedestrian Accident?
Connecticut’s comparative negligence law allows you to pursue compensation after a pedestrian accident even if you bear some share of responsibility for the crash. You still have the right to bring a claim if your percentage of fault does not exceed the fault or collective fault of the driver or other parties responsible for the accident.
Do I Need a Lawyer to Get a Settlement From the Insurance Company?
Legal counsel can make the insurance claims process less stressful and may maximize your compensation.
A Bridgeport pedestrian accident lawyer from The Flood Law Firm has extensive experience dealing with insurance companies and knows the tactics insurers use to undervalue or deny injury claims. A lawyer can help you navigate the claims process by communicating with adjusters on your behalf and aggressively negotiating for full reimbursement of your losses.
Contact The Flood Law Firm to Speak With Our Pedestrian Accident Lawyers About Your Options for Recovering Compensation
Get the legal help you need to seek accountability and justice from the driver who hit you in a pedestrian accident.
Contact The Flood Law Firm today for a free, no-obligation consultation to learn more about your legal options. Call us at (475) 273-4100 or fill out our contact form to discuss your case with our knowledgeable Bridgeport personal injury attorney.
The Flood Law Firm - Bridgeport Office
1087 Broad Street
Bridgeport, CT 06604
P: 475-273-4100