Contact a Baltimore pedestrian accident lawyer if you are struck by a motor vehicle while in a crosswalk or sidewalk. Unfortunately, merely walking on the sidewalk is insufficient to avoid serious injury. In 2023, distracted drivers are more prevalent than ever. While drivers know to refrain from texting and driving or doing anything that detracts from their ability to focus on the road, temptation sometimes prevails. As a result, pedestrian accidents in Baltimore occur with unfortunate regularity.
When hiring a Baltimore pedestrian accident lawyer, you can choose one with experience. Finding the attorney who is right for you is crucial. You would like a lawyer who has been through the process before. An attorney who has sued thousands of negligent drivers, such as Roger Gelb, is more likely to know the tricks of the trade better than someone who has only been practicing personal injury law for a few years. Roger Gelb leads a talented legal team and has continued Gelb & Gelb’s tradition of winning since our founding in 1954. Beyond Mr. Gelb’s excellent legal talent, his dedicated team of compassionate legal assistants and paralegals are willing to work with you every step of the way. The close, personal attention to detail from each member of our firm sets us apart from the other firms in Baltimore, in addition to our experience.
Before you can prove your case, there are several things to determine. First, who is the defendant? The defendant is the negligent tortfeasor who caused harm to you, the pedestrian. This is the only thing you need to do yourself. If there is no police report and you do not know who hit you, there is no one to sue for your injuries. Of course, a skilled Baltimore pedestrian accident lawyer can assist you in using your insurance policy to get you compensated for your injuries. We’ll then need to decide whether we can prove the elements of your cause of action. Generally, we will file a negligence claim. A lot of legalese goes into this, but know the general rules. What venue to sue the defendant in?
Negligence is a deviation from the standard of care. In other words, the defendant driver must maintain control of his vehicle and has failed to do so, resulting in injury to the plaintiff. Of course, a car, truck, or motorcycle driver should never collide with a pedestrian. So, proving liability with a Baltimore pedestrian accident lawyer should be relatively easy. However, you and your legal team still need to prove damages. This is the fourth element of your negligence claim. Merely proving liability is not enough to recover financial compensation. I think you must prove that you suffered a lot. Traditional damages include medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. However, you can also receive compensation for property damage and any other reasonable damage related to the accident.
As the pedestrian and victim, you are suing the driver, who is the defendant. The defendant may use a contributory negligence defense, a total bar against your recovery if you are even 1% negligent in the accident. You cannot jump out in front of the vehicle at the last second. The law is also tricky regarding getting hit in the street when not in a marked crosswalk. If you have questions about whether this defense applies to your case, contact a Baltimore pedestrian accident lawyer for a free consultation.
Injuries from a pedestrian accident can be severe and life-altering. You do not deserve to have to suffer a handicapped life without obtaining compensation. For your injuries, you can receive compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages from missing work due to your injuries, and even noneconomic damages, called pain and suffering, with the help of a Baltimore pedestrian accident lawyer. Pain and suffering damages are unique because they are harder to quantify. However, they are genuine. Suppose you lose control of yourself by amputation or nerve damage for the rest of your life. In that case, the right arm, with you, may obtain compensation for the medical expenses and the suffering associated with the loss.
Roger Gelb and his legal team are among the best in Baltimore. Contact our office today for a free consultationif you have a viable claim.