Why You Need a Pedestrian Injury Lawyer
Everyone involved in an accident, whether at fault or not, has the right to legal representation. You are entitled to compensation, medical treatment, and accident benefits. Whether you’re injured in a car accident or as a pedestrian, having an Accident Lawyer ensures that you don’t navigate the complex legal landscape alone. In Ontario, various types of claims are contingent upon your insurance and the accident’s circumstances, making expert guidance indispensable.
What Your Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Will Do
Accident cases often involve complicated laws and insurance procedures that can confuse even the most diligent individuals. Your Accident Lawyer will guide you through these complexities, ensuring that your case is handled with expertise. Ontario alone has six different types of claims based on your insurance type and accident specifics. Your lawyer will strategize the best possible outcome to maximize your financial entitlement.
Speak With an Experienced Lawyer About Pedestrian Accidents in Toronto
In Toronto, pedestrians face numerous risks every day, whether crossing a busy intersection at a crosswalk, walking along the sidewalk, or running for a bus. Unfortunately, pedestrian accidents are a common occurrence, often leading to serious injuries. Drivers may fail to yield to pedestrians at crosswalks, and unsafe conditions on sidewalks or in crosswalks can contribute to accidents. If you or a loved one has been involved in a pedestrian accident, it is crucial to understand your rights and seek experienced legal representation. Our team of personal injury lawyers can help ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve for medical bills, lost wages, pain, and suffering, and other damages caused by the accident.
Common Injuries From Pedestrian Accidents
When a person is struck by a vehicle in a pedestrian accident, it can result in a wide range of injuries. Many times these injuries are severe and life-altering. Pedestrians have little to no protection when they are involved in a collision, which makes them far more vulnerable. Some of the most common injuries from pedestrian accidents include:
- Fractures and Broken Bones: Impact with a vehicle or the ground can lead to broken limbs, pelvis fractures, or injuries to the spine.
- Head Injuries: Concussions, skull fractures, and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are common in pedestrian accidents, especially if the pedestrian is struck by a car or falls to the ground.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: Damage to the spinal cord can result in permanent paralysis or long-term mobility issues, drastically affecting the victim’s quality of life.
Internal Injuries: Blunt force trauma can cause damage to internal organs, leading to internal bleeding or organ failure. - Soft Tissue Injuries: Sprains, strains, and bruising are common, particularly in cases where the pedestrian is thrown from their path or falls after being struck.
- Knee and Joint Injuries: The force of impact can cause damage to the knees, hips, or other joints, leading to long-term pain and mobility challenges.
If you’ve suffered any of these injuries due to a pedestrian accident, it’s important to speak with an experienced pedestrian accident lawyer near you about pursuing compensation necessary for recovery and rehabilitation.
How it Works
Immediately after an accident, it’s essential to notify your insurance company. From there, a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer can help guide you through the process. Our legal team is available to meet with you at your home or hospital if you’re unable to travel. Our smart, ethical, and dedicated lawyers are committed to securing the best care and compensation for you. The best part: you pay no upfront costs. Our fees are only charged after we settle your case.
Types of Cases We Handle:
We take on a variety of accident injury cases in the Greater Toronto Area for our clients. You may need help with one of the following, but please note, our practice is not limited to these options:
- Boating Accident
- Bicycle Accidents
- Car Accident
- Motorcycle Injury Accident
- Train Accidents
- Truck Accidents
- Pedestrian Accidents
- Crosswalk and Sidewalk Accidents
Areas We Serve:
We have law offices in Toronto and throughout the GTA including:
- Brampton personal injury lawyers
- Kitchener personal injury lawyers
- Oshawa personal injury lawyers
- Hamilton personal injury lawyers
- Richmond Hill personal injury lawyer
How We Work With You
When you’re involved in an accident, whether as a pedestrian, driver, or passenger, legal representation is crucial. An experienced Accident Lawyer is essential to ensure that you receive the proper medical care, fair compensation, and full protection of your rights.
- Accident Benefits: We help you with the general application for accident benefits, including completing forms with your employer and physician.
- Building Your Case: Our team of legal and medical professionals works to prove the severity of your injuries, increasing the credibility of your claim and maximizing your settlement.
- Income Replacement: We ensure that your income replacement benefits are paid promptly, allowing you to cover your bills while you recover.
- Rehabilitation: We ensure that you get the best medical and rehabilitation care available.
Our Tort Claims experts, both legal and outside professionals, begin by building the foundation of your case. We are able to properly prove the severity of your injury through medical and real-life evidence. This increases the credibility of your claim and maximizes your settlement.
Our Accident Benefits Claims group focuses on getting you the best medical treatment specialists and rehabilitation professionals available. We understand being injured impacts your earning capability. We make sure that your income replacement benefits are paid on time to allow you to continue to pay your rent and bills and provide your family with the peace of mind that they deserve. Our team ensures that your policy is reviewed with you so that you receive any optional benefits to which you are entitled to. We do this by leveraging our team resources to resolve every case as fast as possible while maximizing your benefits.
Lawyers for Pedestrians Hit by Cars: Special Considerations
Everyone involved in an accident, whether at fault or not, has the right to legal representation. You are entitled to compensation, medical treatment, and accident benefits. Whether you’re injured in a car accident or as a pedestrian, having an Accident Lawyer ensures that you don’t navigate the complex legal landscape alone. In Ontario, various types of claims are contingent upon your insurance and the accident’s circumstances, making expert guidance indispensable.
Common Ways Pedestrian Accidents Occur
Pedestrian accidents are often sudden and tragic, with little warning and through no fault of the pedestrian. Some of the most common causes of pedestrian accidents include:
- Failure to Yield at Crosswalks – Drivers sometimes fail to stop at crosswalks, even when pedestrians have the right of way. This is particularly dangerous at busy intersections.
- Distracted Driving – Drivers who are texting or otherwise distracted may not notice pedestrians crossing the street, increasing the risk of accidents.
- Jaywalking – While illegal, pedestrians sometimes cross outside of designated crosswalks, putting themselves at risk when drivers don’t expect them.
- Poor Visibility – Accidents are more likely in low-visibility conditions, such as at night or in bad weather, when pedestrians are harder to see.
- Obstructed Crosswalks – Blocked or poorly marked crosswalks force pedestrians to walk in traffic, increasing the risk of accidents.
- Speeding in Pedestrian Areas – Drivers speeding in areas with high pedestrian traffic, like near schools or shopping areas, may not have time to stop for pedestrians, especially at intersections.
- Impaired Driving – Drunk or impaired drivers are less able to react to pedestrians, putting them in danger of serious accidents.
Pedestrians are often vulnerable in these situations, and it’s important for both pedestrians and drivers to remain cautious and aware of their surroundings.
What Your Accident Lawyer Will Do
Pedestrians who are hit by cars often experience severe injuries, impacting their quality of life, work, and finances. The recovery process can be lengthy, and medical bills may pile up. If you’re a pedestrian who has been struck by a car, there are steps you need to take to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve:
- Immediate Action: If you’re well enough, call the police to report the accident. The police will document the circumstances of the accident, which can be essential for filing a lawsuit later
- Seek Medical Attention: Even if your injuries seem minor or you’re unsure about the severity, it’s crucial to visit the hospital or a doctor right away. Keep records of your treatments to support your claim for compensation.
- Gather Information: Ensure you get the driver’s contact details and that of any witnesses. This can be vital for your case.
Common Areas Pedestrian Accident Occur in Toronto
Pedestrian accidents can happen anywhere, but there are certain areas of Toronto which are more prone to these incidents due to high traffic volumes, complex intersections, and insufficient pedestrian infrastructure. Understanding where accidents are most likely to occur can help both pedestrians and drivers be more cautious and aware. Some of the most common areas where pedestrian accidents happen in Toronto include:
1. Busy Intersections
Toronto is home to many bustling intersections, especially in the downtown core. Crosswalks, lights, and heavy pedestrian traffic can create confusion and increase the likelihood of accidents. Common areas like Yonge and Dundas, Queen and Spadina, or King and Bathurst are notorious for frequent pedestrian accidents. Drivers may not always yield the right of way, and pedestrians may attempt to cross before the light changes, leading to collisions.
2. Transit Stops and Stations
With Toronto’s extensive public transit system, areas around bus stops, streetcar stops, and subway stations are common locations for pedestrian accidents. People rushing to catch their bus or train often step into the road unexpectedly, especially during peak commuting hours. Accidents can happen as pedestrians dart between moving vehicles or as drivers fail to stop for pedestrians entering or exiting public transit.
3. School Zones and Playground Areas
Children and families are often found in school zones, near parks, and around playgrounds, making these areas high-risk for pedestrian accidents. Reduced speed limits and enhanced caution are required in these zones, but accidents can still occur when drivers fail to slow down, or children cross roads without looking.
4. Commercial Districts
Busy shopping districts like the Eaton Centre, Yorkville, or along Bloor Street often see heavy pedestrian traffic. People crossing streets without paying attention, distracted by their phones, or jaywalking increase the risk of accidents. Additionally, drivers navigating through these areas may have limited visibility due to parked vehicles, crowded sidewalks, and construction zones.
5. Construction Zones
Construction areas are often found throughout Toronto, especially along major streets or near downtown. These zones can create obstacles for pedestrians, such as uneven sidewalks, narrowed walkways, and detours. When pedestrians are forced to navigate through temporary pathways or cross streets unexpectedly, the risk of accidents rises.
Pedestrian Compensation
The compensation you receive after being hit by a car depends on various factors, including the severity of your injuries, the impact on your life, and whether you’re partially at fault. Your injuries’ effect on your future earnings and the type of treatments you need will also influence your compensation. If you’re partly responsible for the accident, your settlement may be reduced.
Working With Your Insurer
If you’re hit by a motor vehicle, you’ll likely need to file a claim with your insurer. However, to ensure you receive the full compensation you’re entitled to, working with a lawyer is key. An experienced lawyer will negotiate with insurance companies, ensuring that your pain and suffering, income loss, and medical expenses are fairly assessed. If you’re not offered a fair settlement, your lawyer will present compelling evidence to secure a higher payout.
Why Choose HIMPRO?
Himelfarb Proszanski is a leading law firm with full-service personal injury lawyers. We have been recognized by Best Lawyers and have the highest rating, AV Preeminent, from Martinadale-Hubbell. We provide a combined century of trial experience which has led to the successful settlement of over 10,000 cases with combined settlement value in excess of ¾ billion dollars. And finally, we’re the only firm to offer you the HIMPRO Advantage™.
We provide unmatched support throughout the entire process, ensuring that you receive the care and compensation you deserve. Our exclusive guarantee includes:
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- A thorough assessment of your injury and options.
- Protection of your legal rights.
- Securement of disability and other benefits.
- Updates throughout the entire process.
- Personalized rehabilitation.
- A complete case management approach from start to finish.
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- Free Case Evaluation
Get a free, no-obligation evaluation of your personal injury/pedestrian case. - Hospital & Home Visits
We offer visits anywhere in Ontario at no cost. - No Fees Unless We Win
We don’t charge fees unless your case is settled successfully.
If you’ve been injured as a pedestrian, it’s crucial to understand your legal rights. Schedule a free consultation with us today or download our personal injury recovery kit to learn more about your options.
Disclaimer: The content of this article is for educational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. To get specific legal advice, we encourage you to book a free consultation with one of our lawyers to discuss your case.