This is our first post in our newest series discussing pedestrian accidents in Austin, Texas. We have decided to address this topic due to the fact that many people are unsure of what to do after they have been hit by an oncoming car. This series will discuss what to do after you are injured as a pedestrian, and will cover the following topics:
- Comparative fault in pedestrian accident cases
- Navigating the discovery process
- The importance of medical experts in serious injury cases
- Conducting a trial in pedestrian accident cases
We understand how stressful it is to be hit by a car as a pedestrian. Injuries can be significant and long lasting. It is imperative that you obtain qualified, experienced counsel with the resources to support you through litigation until all of your injuries are compensated. These injuries may include future lost wages or other permanent physical or psychological harms that may not be able to completely heal.
The first step your lawyer will take is to identify all responsible parties to your accident. An accident involving a driver operating his or her own vehicle for personal use makes identifying parties simple. The driver and the driver’s insurance company will be the involved parties. It can become more complicated when someone other than the registered owner drove the car that hit you, if the driver is operating the vehicle in the course of their employment, or if a company owns the vehicle itself. Your attorney will need to investigate the registered owner, the driver and any other entities that may be responsible for the accident. This can take time, but is important to ensure your injuries are fully compensated.
After the initial determination of responsible parties your attorney will seek to discover other background information and will investigate to determine whether or not the driver was engaging in distracted driving. Your lawyer will seek phone records, social media accounts, and eyewitness accounts of the accident to aid in proving distracted driving. After counsel has all necessary information about your case he or she can begin negotiations and determine whether or not a trial is in your best interest.
Dan Christensen is an Austin personal injury attorney and former JAG officer. He has tried many jury trials and is able to assist you after you are injured in a pedestrian accident. Contact our office today to schedule an initial consultation. We also service Travis County cities which include Rollingwood, Round Rock, Elgin, Jonestown, Manor, Bee Cave, Lago Vista, Sunset Valley, Lakeway, Creedmoor, the Williamson County cities of Georgetown, Cedar Park, and Leander, as well as other areas of Texas.