When most people think of auto accidents, they think of accidents involving two or more cars. Perhaps it’s because we’ve had it drilled into our heads in driver’s ed that pedestrians have the right of way that we default to such images. But pedestrian accidents can and do happen, and knowing your rights as they pertain to them is important; it can save you heaps of legal trouble in the future and perhaps even help you to land a settlement.
JD Haas, your Minneapolis team of personal injury lawyers, is here with the scoop on pedestrian-involved car crashes—everything you need to know to begin to seek legal help.
What Needs to Happen for a Pedestrian Injury Case to Be Viable?
In Minnesota, there needs to be a direct relationship between the operation of a motor vehicle in order for you to get a settlement with the help of a personal injury lawyer. In other words, a person cannot trip on the sidewalk, injure themselves and blame a car that was already a quarter-mile away; the operation of the vehicle must directly cause the injury.
If this occurs and is proven, pedestrians may recollect what’s known as BELs—basic economic loss benefits. Like other cases involving an injury attorney, these benefits can cover funeral expenses and lost income.
Additional Benefits That Can Be Recovered by an Injured Pedestrian
In addition to the basic economic loss benefits mentioned above, injured pedestrians may—if certain conditions are met—receive additional noneconomic benefits. Pain and suffering, both past and future, fall under this umbrella, as well as future medical expenses and the foreseen lost ability to earn what money you once did.
How Can I Get the Largest Settlement Possible?
Simple: you hire a personal injury attorney. Regardless of if you settle with insurance, take it to court, or pursue arbitration—a process that we cover in our blog “All you Need to Know About Arbitration in Car Crash Cases”—the process can get long, hard, and complicated. There’s a reason lawyers must school extensively to practice; the legal system is one best navigated with the help of an experienced guide.
When it comes to pedestrian accidents, a car crash injury lawyer can help establish liability and better assess the fairness of an insurance company’s offer. They don’t just go to court—though that’s something that any injury lawyer would be more than willing to do.
JD Haas: Compassionate Minneapolis Injury Attorneys at Your Service
We’re here with you through the thick and thin of your car crash case to see you through to the other side. Give our Minneapolis office a call today at 952-345-1025. We also serve Bloomington, Rochester, and Saint Paul.