Shreveport Pedestrian Accident Attorney

Injured as a pedestrian? Call us today at (888) 492-5532!

Car accidents, truck accidents, and motorcycle accidents involving pedestrians can be extremely devastating and cause serious personal injury to those involved. When a pedestrian is involved in an accident with a vehicle, the results are often catastrophic, and are often fatal or cause permanent injuries. A pedestrian has little to no protection from the power and force of a vehicle of any sort. If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident, contact an injury attorney from Morris & Dewett Injury Lawyers today to discuss your case and your options. We can assist you to seek compensation for your medical bills and other damages.

Louisiana State Laws on Pedestrian Accidents

In Louisiana, the law states that pedestrians have the right-of-way while in marked crosswalks and with green lights or walk signals. They also have the right-of-way over a vehicle making a right turn against a red light. However, even if the motorist claims it was your fault, all motorists are supposed to drive defensively and slow down when pedestrians are present. It is every driver's responsibility to look before proceeding in order to keep the pedestrians safe from harm's way. No matter what the circumstances were, a car is much more powerful and faster than a human being, and you may have been unable to avoid the accident.

While the law is looking out for the safety of pedestrians who use the crosswalks, what about the areas that do not have them? In that case, they are not technically as protected because the pedestrian is then required to yield to the cars instead of vice versa.

As stated by Louisiana Revised Statute 32:212, in the event there is no crosswalk in the intersection, they must yield to all vehicles. These laws are implicated to keep both drivers and pedestrians aware at all times, to provide guidelines and keep them safe. Whatever the case may be, if you were a pedestrian and hit by a car or other motor vehicle while crossing the road the likelihood of your being injured is great, leaving you with extensive medical bills and lost wages.

Speaking with a Shreveport pedestrian accident attorney will help you determine the cause of your accident, and help you seek compensation as the victim. Most pedestrian accidents occur because a driver is going too fast to stop in time, or don't see pedestrians because they are not driving attentively. You deserve to be compensated for your pain and suffering, especially if you or your loved one suffered a catastrophic injury and needs ongoing care and treatments as a result of the injuries sustained.

For example, in 2013 a local man filed a lawsuit against a truck driver and the company that owned the vehicle, saying that he was seriously and permanently injured when a truck pinned him to a loading dock. According to his claim, the man said he had been waiting by a loading dock in order to deliver paperwork to an employee, when a truck backed up toward the loading dock, pinning the man between the vehicle and the concrete. The plaintiff alleges that among other devastating injuries, he suffered a ruptured bowel because of the accident. He is suing for costs related to his medical treatment, such as medicine, hospital care, and drugs, and he is seeking compensation for lost wages, loss of earning capacity, rehabilitation, and more. The plaintiff is accusing the defendants of violating their duties of care, including failure to be alert and for being reckless.

Pedestrian accidents are almost always serious. Even with a standard sized car, the motorist has a windshield, a metal frame, a seat belt—all manner of protection. A pedestrian, on the other hand, has nothing to shield them from the impact of a multi-ton vehicle ramming into them. The injuries sustained can be devastating, even lethal. Even if someone sustains fractured bones, this can be enough to keep them from being able to work, while saddling them with astronomical medical bills. More serious injuries, such as head trauma and spinal cord damage can cause severe, even lifelong injuries that require extensive medical care, and may permanently reduce your ability to work the same position as before.

Assisting Pedestrian Accident Victims in Shreveport, LA

If you have been the victim of a pedestrian accident due to the negligence of a motorist, you need to contact an attorney from Morris & Dewett Injury Lawyers. We have experience handling personal injury cases, and we are ready to fight for you. Personal injuries are traumatic, not just for the person who was injured, but for their family and friends as well, and we aim to offer the support and legal aid each of our clients will need while going through this difficult and trying time.