Various elements cause pedestrian accidents: distracted drivers, disobeying traffic signs, speed, and recklessness. These accidents can happen because of the driver’s negligence or the pedestrian’s fault. Suppose you are involved in a pedestrian accident, and the blame is on the driver. In this case, you will be free to sue. Some of the damages you can sue for will include the following.
Lost Income Damages
Various accidents can leave you unable to work anymore in life. Others will leave you temporarily unable to attend to your everyday tasks, including working. In turn, you’ll lose a significant amount of wages or salary. If this is the case, you will be free to sue the driver or whoever caused the pedestrian accident.
An insurance company is expected to cover various elements under this category, from employment benefits and wages to loss of business. This insurance company should also compensate for decreased income. However, you must provide proof of the same. An experienced auto accident attorney will help estimate the actual value, ensuring that you get justice in the long run.
Medical Expenses
An accident leaves you undoubtedly injured. Regardless of the extent of the injury, you will need fair compensation to cover your medical bills. This amount includes the cost of hiring an ambulance, consultation services, prescriptions, and surgical procedures. The law allows you to recover a reasonable amount from what you spend.
At the same time, an expert will help you approximate how much you will spend on your future medication. This move aims at protecting you against financial losses in the long run. At the same time, suppose you suffered astronomical injuries. In this case, the insurance company is expected to offset the cost of your long-term care.
Non-Economic Losses
Various non-economic losses suffice in a pedestrian accident, from pain and suffering to emotional torment. Physical impairment, disfigurement, lowered quality of life, loss of companionship, and mental anguish are also categorized here. Non-economic losses might not cause injuries to your body. Yet, they could take a toll on you.
You could calculate non-economic losses in multiple ways. For instance, the multiplier method is the most common and reliable. This approach requires you to add up all the damages sustained and multiply them by numbers between 1.5 and 5, depending on personal preferences and legal advice. It is the most straightforward approach.
You could also use the sample multiplier, which requires selecting an incidental expense. For instance, if your medical expenses cost $15000, you can multiply this number by up to 5 to get the proper compensation. The extent of the injury sustained will often determine how big the multiplier should be.
In addition, you might want to ask for punitive damages. These damages aim at punishing the person responsible for the accident, deterring them from repeating the same.
Funeral and Burial Costs
Some pedestrian accidents are fatal, meaning you can lose your loved one immediately or shortly after. In this case, one of the family members can sue for damages. The amount of compensation will vary with the deceased’s role in the family. For instance, if this person was the sole breadwinner, the amount should be slightly higher.
In addition, you can sue for loss of guidance, income, saving capacity, and financial support. An excellent lawyer will help determine the right amount to be compensated for this loss. While it might not fill the hole left by the deceased, it will help you adjust to this new reality.
To conclude, feel free to sue for various damages sustained in a pedestrian accident. The elements mentioned above are worth considering. Yet, you can personalize the list per your preferences and the extent of injuries.
The author, Dr. David K Simson is a trained radiation oncologist specializing in advanced radiation techniques such as intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT), volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) / Rapid Arc, stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT), stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT), stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). He is also experienced in interstitial, intracavitary, and intraluminal brachytherapy.