Pedestrian Accident Lawyer in Centennial, CO
Walking to and from work, school, the store, or simply to get exercise should not endanger you. However, pedestrians are vulnerable without the protection of a motor vehicle.
If you suffer an injury as a pedestrian, you will need an experienced Centennial pedestrian accident lawyer from Varner Faddis Elite Legal to represent you.
We have more than three decades of combined experience fighting for the rights of injury victims throughout Colorado. Recover the compensation you deserve for your injuries by calling us today.
Why You Should Hire Varner Faddis Elite Legal
With so many personal injury attorneys in Colorado, finding the right one for your case can be challenging. However, you can put your trust in the team at Varner Faddis Elite Legal. We vehemently fight for our client’s rights so they can focus on recovering from their injuries and not the legal process. We strive to communicate regularly with you, so you are not left in the dark about the case and its progress.
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents
Drivers owe everyone around them a duty of care when operating their vehicles. This includes other drivers, bicyclists, pedestrians, and their passengers. When the driver breaches their duty of care because of their negligent acts, you can hold the driver accountable for your injuries. The most common causes of pedestrian accidents include walking at night, drunk driving, speeding, distracted driving, and more.
Walking at Night
The law does not prohibit anyone from walking at night under normal circumstances. However, it increases the chances of an accident. A large number of pedestrian accident deaths occur at night. This does not mean you cannot or should not walk at night. It just means that motorists need to take more care to see and avoid hitting you.
Drunk Driving
Drunk drivers cause thousands of accidents every year, some of them involving pedestrians. A drunk driver will have difficulty seeing pedestrians in time to avoid hitting them.
Speeding
Speeding is a significant problem in Centennial. Speeding leaves drivers less reaction time when they come across a pedestrian. Speeding vehicles cause severe and deadly injuries when striking pedestrians. A vehicle only has to travel at 25 miles per hour to send a pedestrian flying 30 feet. Imagine the damage that can occur if the vehicle breaks the speed limit?
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving has become a severe problem in Colorado and the rest of the country. When drivers are using their phones, talking to passengers, changing the radio stations, or doing anything else that turns their attention away from the task of driving, they can wind up in an accident.
Back-up Accidents
Pedestrians are often struck and killed in backup accidents. These can happen in parking lots, driveways, and anywhere else a vehicle operates in reverse. According to the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), 7,904 pedestrians died in 2020 in traffic and non-traffic accidents. A non-traffic accident occurs on private property, in a parking lot, or on a driveway.
Left Turn Accidents
Left-turn accidents are some of the most dangerous accidents for pedestrians at intersections. Many vehicles making left turns often fail to look for pedestrians crossing with the right of way in a crosswalk and instead only look for oncoming vehicles.
Merging Traffic
Vehicles merging into traffic are often concerned about merging safely without striking another vehicle and likely not concentrating on pedestrians approaching them from the other direction. Drivers merging into traffic need to be aware of oncoming vehicles and any pedestrians that might cross paths with them to avoid accidents.
Dangerous Intersections of Centennial, Colorado
Centennial is a great town to live, work, and play in, but it has many dangerous intersections for pedestrians.
Some dangerous intersections for pedestrians in Centennial include:
- East Smoky Hill Road and South Tower Road
- The Peoria Street and Peakview Avenue Roundabout
- East Lake Avenue and South Buckley Road
- S. Cherokee Trail and South Chambers Way
- S. Parker Road and East Arapahoe Road
Injuries Caused by Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrians can suffer some of the most traumatic injuries in an accident with a motor vehicle, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Amputations
- Road rash
- Damage to your internal organs
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken collarbones
- Broken femurs
- Dislocated hands, feet, and shoulders
The severity of your injuries from a pedestrian accident can change your life instantly. You might no longer have the ability to work, provide for your family, walk, or live what used to be everyday life. That is why you need to discuss your case with a Centennial pedestrian accident lawyer from Varner Faddis Elite Legal.
Who Can Be Held Liable in a Pedestrian Accident?
If you were walking in a marked crosswalk and had the walk signal when a driver hit you, the driver will almost always be held liable in the pedestrian accident. Under Colorado law, drivers generally must yield to pedestrians who enter a road in a crosswalk but without a traffic signal. The driver does not have to stop if the pedestrian is on the other side of the crosswalk, but only when close enough that it will make the pedestrian feel uncomfortable. The law also requires drivers and pedestrians to follow walk and don’t walk signs.
Compensation for a Pedestrian Accident
The injuries suffered in a pedestrian accident can change your life instantly, so you need to speak with an experienced Centennial pedestrian accident lawyer as soon as possible.
A lawyer will calculate the damages you can claim in a lawsuit, including:
- Ambulance fees
- Rehabilitation fees
- Medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of income
- Costs associated with transportation to and from doctor’s appointments
- Punitive damages
What Are Punitive Damages?
Courts do not award punitive damages in every case. However, if the negligent driver exhibited intentional actions, the judge will grant you this type of compensation. The law intends for punitive damages to punish the negligent party for their actions or inaction.
Do I Need a Lawyer for My Pedestrian Accident Case?
You are not required to have legal representation when filing a personal injury claim, but having a lawyer by your side increases your chances of securing compensation for your injuries. A lawyer can answer your questions, provide an honest assessment of the case, and help you understand how the legal process works. A lawyer will also handle communication with insurance companies, defense attorneys, and demand letters.
How to Increase the Compensation You Receive
Even though there is no set amount of compensation you can receive in a pedestrian accident claim, you can do a handful of things to increase what you receive.
Make sure you:
- Collect evidence at the crash scene by taking pictures or videos of the vehicle, your injuries, and the road/intersection
- Never admit any portion of the fault in the accident, even if you were partly to blame
- Do not say anything that might hurt your claim, like “It’s not that bad,” “I’m not hurt,” or “It’s okay.”
- Document every single injury you suffered in the accident and seek medical attention immediately
- Hold onto all bills, records, and receipts related to your medical care so that they can be turned in to your lawyer and added to the compensation award.
- Do not lessen the severity of your injuries or the value of your claim as the insurance companies, defense attorneys, and others might true to persuade you to do
As with any type of accident, you should always talk to an experienced attorney about the case. Injuries caused by someone else’s negligence should be the responsibility of the at-fault party and not fall back on you.
Pedestrian Accident FAQs
How Much Can I Recover in a Pedestrian Accident Claim?
The amount of money you can recover in a pedestrian accident claim will vary based on the crash’s circumstances and the severity of your injuries. The award you receive will be much higher if the judge issues punitive damages.
What Documents Do You Need From Me?
To start, we will need a copy of the police report, your medical records, pictures or videos of the accident scene, and any evidence you have from the crash. We will also need the contact information of the at-fault driver, their insurance company, and anyone who witnessed the collision.
How Long Will My Case Take?
It depends on whether we can negotiate a settlement to your liking or if we need to take the case to trial by filing a lawsuit. If we can negotiate a settlement that you are comfortable with, we can resolve the matter rather quickly. If we need to file a lawsuit and go to trial, it can take more time.
Does Colorado Have a Statute of Limitations?
Yes, and it is just three years. Colorado gives you only three years from the date you suffered an injury to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party. If you file three years and one day after the accident, the judge will throw out your case.
Injured in a Centennial Pedestrian Accident? Contact Varner Faddis Elite Legal Today
You can choose to represent yourself in an injury claim. However, it is almost always a bad idea. If you or a loved one suffered injuries walking to work, school, the store, or the park, you need to consult with an experienced legal team about your case. Do not pay for medical care, rehabilitation, or other damages caused by a negligent driver.
Instead, call our office at 720-710-9073, or submit our contact form for your free consultation with our Centennial personal injury lawyer today.
Office
6025 South Quebec St.
Suite 100
Centennial, CO 80111
Phone: 720-710-9073
