Negligent motorists pose a significant risk to everyone else on the road, especially pedestrians. If you or a loved one were hit by a car or truck, you are likely dealing with significant physical, financial, and personal losses. In these situations, comprehensive civil litigation may be your best means of obtaining the resources you need.
Let a Bangor pedestrian accident lawyer handle your case while you focus on healing from your injuries. Guidance from an experienced Bangor pedestrian accident lawyer at Mann Law could be key in demanding restitution for your losses and holding the negligent person(s) accountable.
Because you as a pedestrian have next to no physical protection from external impact, the force of a vehicle hitting you can cause permanent and debilitating harm, even if the incident occurs at relatively low speeds. Soft tissue injuries, such as ligament tears, and bone fractures are the most common types of injuries in these types of accidents. Sadly, many pedestrian collisions result in lifelong damage due to spinal injuries or brain trauma.
The specific losses that a pedestrian accident claim could demand restitution for depend on the nature of the injuries. A local attorney at Mann Law could assess the short-term and long-term impact of a pedestrian’s injuries and demand compensation for various damages as a result of the accident, such as:
Punitive damages are potentially available in every injury case. These may be appropriate if the defendant engaged in malicious conduct either expressly or implicitly. Punitive damages are imposed by a court against a defendant as punishment for their actions rather than to compensate a plaintiff’s losses.
Pedestrians almost always suffer the brunt of the damage in collisions involving motor vehicles. However, drivers who hit pedestrians are not automatically at fault for ensuing losses. To hold someone else financially accountable for your losses, you as a pedestrian and your attorney must show that a specific reckless, careless, or wrongful act by a named defendant was the direct cause of your accident and subsequent injuries. Additionally, you must demonstrate that the incident likely would not have happened if not for the driver’s irresponsible actions.
Defendants often argue that injured pedestrians are partly or even primarily to blame for their own injuries. If a court agrees with this argument, Maine Revised Statutes Title 14, §156 allows for a proportionate reduction of your compensation as the pedestrian, based on your percentage of total fault. If you as the pedestrian are found primarily at fault for the accident, you will be barred from recovering any compensation. It is essential for injured pedestrians to work with an experienced lawyer, like those at Mann Law, to avoid this outcome.
To best support your case, we suggest following these steps, below.
The Mann Law team will help you put the pieces of your life back together. We are personal injury lawyers focused on you. Plus, we deal with insurance companies and adjusters so you don’t have to. Having previously worked for insurance companies, we have the insider knowledge to successfully navigate this process for you. With over 50 years of cumulative experience, we have valuable insight into navigating the personal injury claim process. More often than not, navigating the legal system and fighting for your rights, is a process that is typically difficult to explore independent of a Maine pedestrian accident lawyer.
Mann Law’s aggressive advocates can help you push back against insurance companies that may try to suggest you’re at fault. Mann Law consults with Maine experts and performs thorough investigations into your personal injury claim. We can help you determine the full impact of the pedestrian accident from injury to financial implications.
As your Maine pedestrian accident legal representation, Mann Law will also communicate with your healthcare providers to ensure bills are taken care of and that the settlement or lawsuit process is clearly understood by those involved.
Mann Law relationships and experience are invaluable. While you work on your health, we take care of everything else.
Mann Law is a Maine statewide firm with satellite offices for easy accessibility. Contact us for a free consultation to learn how we can advocate for you.
