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How Long Does It Take to Settle a Pedestrian Accident?

If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident, you may be eager to see your case resolved quickly. Paying for medical care and needing time off work to tend to your injuries can take a chunk out of your paychecks.

You will want to see compensation for the damages you have suffered as soon as possible. So how long does it take to settle a pedestrian accident? 

In many cases, the quickest way to obtain compensation for your injuries from a pedestrian accident is through a settlement. A settlement is an agreement to resolve your claims against the party who injured you.

In a settlement, you receive money and, in exchange, you sign a contract that releases the other party from liability now and in the future for your injuries and losses.

So, how long does it take to settle a pedestrian accident claim? The answer is that it will likely depend on the specific facts of your case.

In Maine, a pedestrian accident claim can take weeks, months, or even years to settle. Some cases do not settle at all. In this post, the Mann Law’s pedestrian accident lawyer will help you understand more about pedestrian accidents and what makes a claim likely to settle.

What Is a Pedestrian Accident?

What is a pedestrian accident? Pedestrian accidents occur when pedestrians are injured while walking, whether by a car, a truck, a motorcycle, a fast-moving cyclist, or even a stationary hazard.

This can happen when pedestrians attempt to enter highways, cross local streets, or step into bike lanes without looking. 

In 2020, the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) that over 6,500 pedestrians were killed and 55,000 were injured nationwide. Pedestrian accidents are more common at night.

In addition to pedestrian-vehicle incidents, thousands of pedestrians are injured by poor road maintenance, sidewalk defects, and debris on walkways.

Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents

Pedestrian accidents can occur for many different reasons—sometimes because of the pedestrian’s failure to pay attention to hazardous conditions. Some common causes of pedestrian accidents include:

• Aggressive drivers,
• Speeding motorists or cyclists,
• Intoxicated drivers or pedestrians,
• Drowsy drivers,
• Motorists driving in bad weather conditions or with bad visibility,
• Drivers using a car with vehicle defects, and
• Poor road design.

It is important to identify the cause of a pedestrian accident. We will discuss the reason for this below, but you should know that identifying the cause of the accident is an extremely important part of assessing your potential recovery and settlement.

Pedestrian Accident Liability

Either a pedestrian or a driver—or both—may be at fault in a pedestrian accident. Maine is a comparative negligence state, meaning your damages may be reduced if you are found to be partially at fault for your pedestrian accident.

This could be the case if you were intoxicated and walked in front of a car or refused to cross the road at a protected crossing. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you navigate these complex rules and obtain a pedestrian accident settlement faster.

How to Avoid Pedestrian Accidents

While obtaining a pedestrian accident settlement seems like a good way to address your injuries and damages, the best way to truly take care of yourself is to avoid an accident in the first place.

Tips on how to avoid pedestrian accidents and help you get the best recovery if you are in a pedestrian accident include:

• Follow the rules of the road and obey signs and signals;
• Walk on sidewalks and pathways if they are available and maintained well enough to use;
• If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic and as far from the roadway as possible;
• Keep your eyes and ears on the road and away from your electronic devices; 
• If you are using headphones, be sure you can still hear the sounds of an approaching car or cyclist;
• Cross streets at crosswalks, intersections, or well-lit areas where drivers reasonably expect pedestrians;
• Make eye contact with drivers as they approach to ensure you are seen;
• Wear bright clothing during the day and reflective materials at night;
• Carry a flashlight or wear a lightsource if walking at night; and
• Watch for cars entering or exiting driveways as well as on the road.

By keeping yourself safe, you can avoid future accidents. You can also help ensure that you can get the greatest recovery possible if you are injured in a pedestrian accident.

Pedestrian Accident Injuries

Common pedestrian accident injuries include:

• Broken bones, especially arms, hands, wrists, legs, and backs;
• Soft tissue injuries such as ligament tears, bruising, cartilage tears, and muscle strains;
• Whiplash, which is a painful injury to the neck when it is whipped back and forth, usually upon impact;
• Spinal cord injuries, which can temporarily or permanently limit your mobility or even cause paralysis; and
• Traumatic brain injuries, which can affect your cognitive abilities for life and even cause death.

This is not an exhaustive list of injuries you may experience during a pedestrian accident. If you have been injured by a motor vehicle, a bike, or even sidewalk conditions when you were out walking, contact the team at Mann Law today.

We can help you get the care you need and assist you in taking your case from the beginning stages all the way through a pedestrian accident settlement. We will fight for your right to compensation at every stage of the process.

Where Can I Find the Best Pedestrian Accident Attorney?

Where can I find the best pedestrian accident attorney? At Mann Law, our pedestrian accident attorneys give our clients highly personalized service to help them achieve the best outcomes for their cases.

Whether that means negotiating a well-crafted settlement or fighting for your rights in court, Mann Law is prepared to handle your case.

Our Maine attorneys have nearly 20 years of experience upholding the rights and championing the needs of personal injury victims.

We are award-winning attorneys who are uniquely positioned to protect you against the tactics that reckless vehicle operators and insurance companies will use against you.

Please call us or contact us online for a free consultation.

Christiana E. Mann Christiana “Chrissy” Mann has specialized in civil litigation for 21+ years as a savvy and creative litigator, and she’s regarded as a fair, compassionate, and zealous advocate on behalf of her clients.