Pedestrian Accident Lawyer in Baton Rouge, LA

In 2017, 1,491 pedestrians were injured in traffic in Louisiana, and 113 lost their lives. The number of pedestrian injuries has been rising continuously since 2014. As a result, more residents find themselves in need of a pedestrian accident lawyer in Baton Rouge, LA as well.

Pedestrians are the ones who incur the most severe injuries in traffic accidents. To understand why that happens, just imagine the force with which a car can hit the frail human body. Then consider the impact with the carriageway or a nearby curb, and you can see the consequences such injuries can have.

Many pedestrians hurt in traffic accidents need months of treatment. They often need complex surgeries and expensive recovery programs. Since they are unable to work, they lose their wage as well. Some of them never recover completely. Even if they can keep a job, they are no longer able to make the same money they used to.

Their only hope to get by becomes the compensation they can receive from the party at fault for the accident. Unfortunately, many accident victims avoid hiring a pedestrian accident lawyers. Some are overwhelmed by the costs and nature of their recovery. Others think they will save money or they worry that they will not be able to afford a lawyer’s services.

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The experienced accident lawyers at A.L.L. Law Firm know how difficult recovering after an accident and putting up with the related expenses can be. To help out accident victims, we offer free case evaluations and accepts to only get paid after winning cases, from the compensation he obtains for his clients.

With the help of an experienced pedestrian accident lawyer, many Baton Rouge residents have managed to recover the losses and get back on their feet. Victims regularly acknowledge that they would not have been able to obtain the compensation the accident attorney obtained for them. The reasons are numerous, and many of them stem from three big misconceptions regarding pedestrian rights under Louisiana laws.

Misconceptions Regarding Louisiana Pedestrian Accident Laws

1. Obtaining Compensation from an Under/Uninsured Driver Is Impossible

The easiest way to obtain compensation after being hit by a car is to file a claim with the insurer of the driver at fault. Clearly, this is not possible if the respective driver is uninsured. If the driver at fault is underinsured, a Baton Rouge accident attorney should have no problem obtaining compensation. The compensation will be limited to the maximum limits of the available coverage.

An injured pedestrian laying on the ground after being struck by a vehicle.Besides filing a compensation claim with an insurance company, pedestrian accident victims have the right to seek compensation in civil court. Sure, a civil lawsuit takes time and requires the knowledge and skills of an experienced pedestrian accident attorney, but it is an option worth considering. This is especially true if the party at fault’s status and financial situation would enable them to pay the due compensation.

There are also cases when the driver at fault for the accident is working and covered by their employer’s insurance. In this case, a knowledgeable pedestrian accident lawyer in Baton Rouge, LA may be able to seek compensation from their employer. For example, if the driver at fault works with a rideshare company and has accepted a ride, it may be possible to obtain compensation from the rideshare company.

2. If the Pedestrian Is Partly at Fault, The Right to Compensation is Likely Lost

Lousiana laws embrace the pure comparative fault principle, allowing the possibility for all the parties involved in an accident to share liability for it. Unlike other states, where those who are 50% at fault for their accident lose their right to compensation no matter the value of the damages incurred, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, even those 80 or 90% at fault can recover some of their losses.

Louisiana laws see accident liability as 100%. The police investigating the accident, the parties negotiating a settlement (the victim’s pedestrian accident attorney and the insurer of the driver at fault), or the civil court determines the liability share of each party involved in the accident. The parties will then be responsible for the share of damages corresponding to their share of liability.

Therefore, someone 30% at fault for an accident will have to cover 30% of the total damages that accident caused. If they were the only one to incur damages and the damages were worth $10,000, they should still receive the remaining 70% of the damages, namely $7,000.

Those who are not sure what their liability share is or whether they can recover any losses should ask a Baton Rouge accident attorney to evaluate their case. The lawyer will analyze all their case details and estimate total damages and the compensation the victim should be able to obtain. At A.L.L. Law Firm we offer all of this to our clients completely free of cost.

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Generally, claimants who work with a pedestrian accident attorney manage to obtain higher compensations than those who choose self-representation. As mentioned above, A.L.L. Law Firm offers free case evaluations, so those who contact us for advice have nothing to lose.

3. The Other Party Can Claim They Had Right-of-Way and Refuse to Pay Compensation

Indeed, almost all the parties involved in accidents in Baton Rouge and throughout Louisiana try to blame one another. This is done in order to avoid paying compensation or diminish the amount they have to pay. However, the outcome depends not on what the parties claim, but on what they can prove.

An experienced Baton Rouge pedestrian accident lawyer will always look at the facts and at the available evidence. Additionally, they also conduct their own investigation and gather their own evidence. They do this to prove how the accident occurred and support the client’s claim.

Depending on the case detail, the claim substantiation process can be as simple as citing the applicable Louisiana laws and presenting a video recording as evidence. It may also involve gathering more complex evidence, bringing witnesses and expert testimonies, requesting technical expertise, estimating costs and outcomes, and citing case precedents.

Before accepting a case, any experienced pedestrian accident attorney will want to know how the accident took place. They will ask questions and request details in order to identify the applicable pedestrian laws and any instances in which the parties violated them. It is vital that potential clients are honest with their accident attorney from the beginning.

At A.L.L. Law Firm, we have relevant experience in defending pedestrians and thorough knowledge of Louisiana laws. We are able to thoroughly evaluate cases and determine the odds of success, even during the preliminary meeting. Our clients always leave our Baton Rouge office happy that they know where they stand. They find out what Louisiana laws stipulate regarding their case, and what steps they need to follow.

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Louisiana Pedestrian Laws Explained

The most important laws for pedestrians in Louisiana refer to the right of way. According to them:

  • Drivers should stop and yield right of way to pedestrians crossing the roadway they are on or the one onto which they are turning at crosswalks where there are no traffic-control signals in place or operation
  • Pedestrians should never leave the curb or another safe place and run or walk in front of a vehicle so close to them that the driver cannot stop safely to yield right of way
  • Drivers are not allowed to overtake and pass vehicles stopped in front of them to allow pedestrians to cross at marked or unmarked intersection crosswalks
  • In areas where overhead pedestrian crossings or pedestrian tunnels are available, pedestrians should use those, or yield right of way to any vehicle before crossing the roadway at unmarked crosswalks.

Lawyer’s Tip: Always Use Pedestrian Crossings If Available

  • When approaching intersections with a yield sign, drivers should slow down, yield right of way to the oncoming traffic, and only cross the intersection when it is safe to do so without disrupting oncoming traffic
  • Drivers turning left should yield right of way to any cars traveling straight through the intersection
  • Drivers entering paved roads from unpaved ones, alleys, private roads, driveways, or yards have to yield right of way to any pedestrians and to the paved road traffic
  • In intersections with no or malfunctioning traffic signals, all drivers have to yield right of way to the vehicles that have already reached the intersection and to those coming from their right. Flashing red lights mean that all vehicles should stop at the crosswalk or stop line and approach the intersection as they would if a stop sign were in place.
  • Emergency vehicles using their sirens and flashing lights always have the right of way, so drivers should pull over to allow them to pass and yield right of way to ongoing traffic before reentering the road unless a police officer directs otherwise.

Of course, pedestrian accidents in Baton Rouge do not always have violations of these rules as their primary cause. In fact, the cases experienced pedestrian accident lawyers handle often have other causes, the most common of which are detailed below:

Common Accident Causes

Driving under the influence

Alcohol and drugs negatively influence reactions speed. This can make it impossible for many drivers to stop safely or avoid pedestrians or road hazards.

Speeding

In their attempt to save time, many drivers don’t pay attention to their speedometer. They end up exceeding speed limits and causing serious accidents.

Distracted driving

Louisiana laws only prohibit texting while driving in adult drivers. But other activities, from phone calls to radio channel switches and conversations with passengers, can cause drivers to take their eyes off the road and lose control of their vehicle as well.  

Man crossing in the street in front of a moving vehicleTailgating

Many drivers neglect to maintain a safe distance from the cars in front of them and, when those cars stop to yield right of way to pedestrians, they end up rear-ending them and pushing them over the pedestrians.

Reckless driving

Many drivers neglect to adjust their speed to traffic conditions. They make dangerous traffic maneuvers that make it impossible for them to stop when they have to yield the right of way to a pedestrian or a pedestrian gets in their path.

Adverse Weather Conditions

Sometimes, drivers do not realize that the road is wet and slippery. They drive so fast that when they hit the brakes their car either does not stop immediately or skids, running into other cars or nearby pedestrians.  

Technical defects

Many drivers postpone maintenance work or try to cut corners when it comes to repairs. As a result, their vehicles fail them when they least expect it.

Identifying the cause of an accident is the first step a  pedestrian accident lawyer in Baton Rouge, LA will take to identify the party at fault. This also allows them to better decide against whom to file their client’s compensation claim. Depending on the circumstances of the accident and the available insurance coverage, there are several potential defendants to a pedestrian accident claim or civil lawsuit.

Potential Defendants for your Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

The insurer of the party at fault – When the party at fault for the accident is insured, most accident attorneys prefer to seek compensation from their insurer.

The pedestrian’s insurer –If their client has insurance coverage applicable to their particular case that covers medical expenses or various accidents, the pedestrian accident attorney may find it appropriate to seek compensation from their client’s insurer. This can be done instead of or along with seeking compensation from the party at fault’s insurer.

The driver – When their client was hit by an uninsured driver, or the insurance the driver has does not cover their client’s losses, the lawyer may decide to file a lawsuit against the driver in civil court.

The driver’s employer – When the driver at fault for the accident is on the job, their employer may be held responsible for their actions.

The road administrator or property owner – When the accident occurs on private property, or they have evidence that the accident occurred due to the negligence of the administrator, the pedestrian accident lawyers may decide to seek compensation from them.

Thirdparty service providers – Sometimes people or institutions pay for services they never truly receive, or which end up jeopardizing their lives. When that happens, the victims have the right to seek compensation from service providers, no matter if they are a car repair shop, a road maintenance company, or a parts manufacturer or supplier.

In order to determine who the best defendant for their case is, claimants should consult a pedestrian accident attorney. The lawyers will analyze the details of their case, evaluate all available options, and propose the best one. In some cases, it may even be advisable to file several separate complaints or file a complaint against one party and a civil lawsuit against another one.

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A.L.L. Law Firm always weighs all options carefully and recommends the one that guarantees the best results for their client. We are not concerned with the amount of work involved or how long obtaining fair compensation may take, unless that is a large concern for the victim. We always present our clients with all of the options and details available, enabling the victim to make the best choice in their particular situation.

No matter if they decide to hire a pedestrian accident lawyer in Baton Rouge, LA or they prefer to take matters into their own hands, claimants should never wait too long before trying to recover their losses. Louisiana civil code only gives them one year to recover injury and property damages. The procedures involved take time and preparation as well, so action should be taken as soon as possible.

Moreover, benefitting from the advice of a knowledgeable accident lawyer is the safest way for victims to save time, money, and effort. Their attorney will avoid mistakes and work hard to secure the best outcome for their case.

What a Pedestrian Accident Attorney in Baton Rouge Can Do for Clients

The sooner a lawyer starts working on a case, the more helpful they can be. For example, if called in time, the attorney may be able to get to the scene of the accident at the same time with the law enforcement officers and any insurance agents.

There, they can help their client collect the information they need from the other parties involved in the accident. They will also gather evidence on how the accident occurred and who was at fault for it. They will assist their client during the discussions with the authorities and anyone else present at the scene. This will prevent them from saying or doing something that could undermine their interests.

While their client focuses on recovering and moving on with their life, the accident attorney prepares and files the compensation claim or the civil lawsuit. They will take care of all the paperwork involved and keep their client informed of their progress.

When they receive a settlement offer, they will evaluate it and advise their client on whether to accept it or not. They may try to negotiate better terms or decide to defend their clients’ interest in civil court if they do not succeed.

Hire A.L.L. Law Firm as Your Baton Rouge Pedestrian Accident Attorney Now!

Having years of experience in defending pedestrian rights, A.L.L. Law Firm will not rest until we win our client’s case. We are so confident in our skills and knowledge that we only charge clients upon winning their case, retaining our fees from the compensation we secure for them.

If you want to enjoy all the benefits described above and have an experienced and dedicated pedestrian accident lawyer in Baton Rouge, LA handling your case, call our office today or fill in the contact form and schedule a FREE consultation! You have nothing to lose!

 

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