Pedestrian Accidents

Jefferson Pedestrian Accidents

Did a driver hit you as you crossed the street or walked through a parking lot in Jefferson, Wisconsin? If so, you may be facing a difficult recovery beset with expensive medical care and lost wages while you cannot work. You could even be coming to terms with long-term or even permanent impairments that might affect your life for years to come.

You should not have to do so alone. A Jefferson pedestrian accident lawyer from LawtonCates can help you hold the driver who hit you accountable for their negligence and demand the compensation you need to rebuild your life. We recognize how important your legal case is to you and will give it the care, attention, and importance it demands.

Since 1958, LawtonCates has provided clients across South Central Wisconsin with seasoned legal representation in a variety of practice areas. Our lawyers have handled many of Wisconsin’s precedent-setting cases, giving us the experience to approach the most complex litigation effectively. Our firm has earned inclusion in the Bar Registry of Preeminent Lawyers and has received an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell. Many of our attorneys have earned top distinctions from legal organizations such as Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers.

Don’t wait another moment to demand the justice you deserve for a collision that wasn’t your fault. Contact LawtonCates today for a free consultation with a Jefferson pedestrian accident attorney. Find out what we can do to protect your rights and seek full and fair compensation for your injuries.

Benefits of Hiring a Jefferson, WI, Pedestrian Accident Attorney

It can be incredibly difficult to deal with the aftermath of a serious pedestrian accident. Consider the injuries and their treatment, the lost income from time off work, and the overall emotional strain from it. Add to it the rigors of effectively pursuing a pedestrian accident case, and it all seems like too much to take.

Fortunately, you do not have to do it all yourself. A pedestrian accident lawyer in Jefferson from LawtonCates can assist with your physical and emotional recovery. We handle all the details of your case, leverage our legal knowledge, and use our firm’s six-plus decades of experience to pursue the favorable results you deserve.

While you focus your time and energy on healing and getting your life back on track, let our firm advocate for your rights and interests by:

• Investigating the accident to secure evidence supporting your claims, including police crash reports, accident scene photos/videos, eyewitness testimony, driver cell phone records, and surveillance/traffic camera footage
• Reviewing the evidence and working with accident reconstruction experts to build a compelling case to show the driver’s fault for the accident
• Documenting your injuries and losses to calculate what fair compensation entails in your case, accounting for your ongoing and future expenses and needs
• Filing your insurance claims and dealing with adjusters so you don’t have to
• Vigorously pursuing a full financial recovery for you, whether through a negotiated settlement or by going to court to demand justice for your harm and loss

What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident

Taking prompt action after a pedestrian accident in Jefferson can help preserve your rights and options to recover compensation for your injuries and losses. Here are some steps you can take to improve your prognosis and safeguard your rights:

• Follow your doctor’s treatment recommendations and recovery instructions. Do not put off treatment and rehabilitation of your injuries.
• Obtain copies of medical records of your treatment and rehab.
• Notify your insurance provider about the accident if you have a car insurance policy to see whether you may have coverage for your accident losses under your policy.
• Request a copy of the police accident report and keep any bills, invoices, or receipts of expenses you incur during your recovery.
• Gather your pay stubs or income statements if you need to take time off work or experience a reduced earning capacity after the accident.

Finally, contact a pedestrian accident lawyer in Jefferson from LawtonCates as soon as possible to begin pursuing the financial resources you need for your recovery.

Who Can Be Held Liable for a Pedestrian Accident?

In many cases, a driver who hits a pedestrian will bear liability for the pedestrian’s injuries and losses. That’s because Wisconsin’s traffic laws usually require motorists to yield to pedestrians and exercise due care when driving around pedestrians, such as in parking lots and at intersections.

However, other parties may also bear responsibility for a given pedestrian accident and have a financial obligation to the victim. For example, the owner of the vehicle that hit a pedestrian may bear liability for their injuries and losses if the owner negligently entrusted their car to a clearly intoxicated driver. The at-fault driver’s employer may also bear liability for your pedestrian accident injuries if the collision occurred during the driver’s work under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior.

What Compensation Can I Recover After a Pedestrian Accident?

The driver who hit you could owe you pedestrian accident compensation for your:

• Medical treatment and rehabilitation, including EMS or emergency care, surgeries, hospitalization, prescriptions, pain management, purchases of medical/orthopedic equipment, and physical/occupational therapy
• Long-term care for prolonged/permanent disabilities, including home health services, housekeeping, home renovations to install disability accommodations, and assisted living expenses
• Loss of wages/income from missed work or reduced earnings on light-duty/part-time work during your recovery
• Loss of future earning capacity and employment benefits if you become permanently disabled from your job or other kinds of work
• Physical pain from your injuries and subsequent medical care (including postoperative pain)
• Emotional trauma and distress from the accident and your injuries/disabilities
• Reduced quality of life caused by physical disabilities or visible scarring/disfigurement

How Long Do I Have to File a Pedestrian Accident Lawsuit in Wisconsin?

Under Wisconsin’s statute of limitations on auto accident injury claims, you generally have three years to file a pedestrian accident lawsuit against the driver who hit you or other liable parties. However, certain extenuating circumstances can change this deadline, and you should contact an attorney at LawtonCates for the filing date specific to your case.

As an example, if a state, county, or municipal government vehicle hits you, state law requires you to send the appropriate government agency written notice of your pedestrian accident claim within 120 days of the accident. Accidents involving federal government vehicles, like USPS trucks, are subject to a two-year deadline.

Missing the relevant deadline could cost you your right to financial recovery. Because you have limited time to pursue a compensation claim after a pedestrian accident, you can best protect your rights by speaking with a Jefferson pedestrian accident attorney from LawtonCates as soon as possible.

How Many Pedestrians Are Killed in Jefferson and Wisconsin Each Year?

According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, an annual average of 1,340 pedestrian accidents occurred statewide over a five-year period. These accidents resulted in an annual average of 1,261 cases of injuries for pedestrians, including an annual average of 274 cases of severe injuries. An average of 56 pedestrians died in accidents with vehicles annually in Wisconsin.

While we do not have data on how many pedestrians were killed in Jefferson, the state reports that 11 pedestrians were involved in reported accidents in the county in one recent year. Past studies suggest about 5 percent of fatal accident victims in Jefferson County have been pedestrians.

What Are the Main Causes of Pedestrian Accidents?

Many pedestrian accidents occur due to negligent or reckless driving by motorists. Some of the top causes of pedestrian accidents include:

What Are Common Injuries Someone Can Sustain in a Pedestrian Accident?

A pedestrian accident injury can result in a wide range of physical trauma. Some of the more common examples of injuries that a pedestrian may sustain in a collision with a motor vehicle include:

Contact a Jefferson, WI, Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Today

Did you suffer catastrophic injuries as a pedestrian hit by a car in Jefferson? Then you need experienced legal counsel from LawtonCates to help you pursue accountability and compensation from the negligent or reckless driver who hit you.

For over 60 years, our pedestrian accident law firm has advocated for the rights of accident victims like you. Let us help you obtain the compensation you need to restore your life. Contact LawtonCates today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a highly experienced Jefferson pedestrian accident lawyer.