Personal injuries resulting from auto accidents do not always involve only the passengers in the vehicles. Cars commonly careen out of control when a driver is not focused on driving or traveling at an excessive speed. Fatalities are common in all pedestrian accidents, and very serious injuries are almost always the result when they are not fatal. The wide range of potential scenarios involving pedestrian accidents sets the stage for complicated legal cases in many instances, especially when the accidents are isolated or may involve hit-and-run circumstances. Regardless of the case particulars, pedestrian accident victims are in great need of legal representation following an accident, and having an experienced pedestrian accidents lawyer is essential for an equitable financial damage settlement.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are expenses that can be submitted in exact dollars. These financially recoverable items include medical bills and lost wages when they apply. They are also called special damages in some courts, and are often used when determining the general damages component of an injury settlement. Additional expenses such as travel to and from medical appointments can also be included in this amount.
Non-Economic Damages
The most significant portion of most pedestrian accident injury claims are the general non-economic damages that are intended as financial compensation for pain-and-suffering associated with long-term effects of the claimed injuries. This portion of a claim settlement is still considered compensatory damages by the court, which means that additional damages can be pursued when an “at fault” driver’s actions can be proven by a pedestrian accidents attorney to rise to the level of gross negligence. This is very common and can be seen in deadly accidents where the driver was intoxicated or driving recklessly.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages cannot be submitted in an original injury claim to an insurance company, but they can be won in a trial when a sympathetic jury finds the defendant was grossly negligent in their driving behavior. Not only can this include driver negligence, but it can include commercial entities such as trucking companies when a company vehicle was involved in the mishap. This component of an accident injury claim is normally what provides the remainder of whole damages when insurance protection is not sufficient to cover all claimable items.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer in Los Angeles
Whole compensation for a pedestrian accident injury always requires the assistance of an experienced personal injury attorney who knows how to craft a claim for a maximum award. In Los Angeles that attorney can be found at Grey Law. Call or click today if you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident.