Feb. 10th, 2012

Pedestrian Accidents

Sometimes it Hurts to be a Pedestrian

You’re walking along, minding your business, humming the tune of a Natalie Cole song. When… flash! Blam! Alakazam! Some driver pulls too far into the crosswalk, throwing you head over heels. Luckily the nice old lady stops her car to ask if you’re okay. Aside from the throbbing pain in your arm, you feel like an El Camino just hit you. As she helps you to your feet, she confesses she doesn’t have insurance. Times are tough she says. “No kidding,” you think. “But someone’s going to pay for my medical bills, and I sure hope it’s not me”….

Pedestrian Motorist Accidents

As you might suspect, not all auto accidents involve other motorists. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in its 2009 Traffic Safety Facts Research Note (Highlights of 2009 Motor Vehicle Crashes, August 2010), over 2 million motor vehicle accidents took place nationally in 2009; but out of this number, 51,000 involved bicyclists, while 59,000 involved pedestrians. The fact is pedestrians and moving vehicles just don’t mix. As long as vehicles are on the road, the possibility remains that anyone could be the victim of a negligent motorist.

Recouping your Losses

It’s been three weeks since the nice old lady who wasn’t paying attention to the crosswalk hit you. Your broken arm is feeling a little better, your bruises have almost disappeared… but the bills from your trip to the ER are starting to pile up. Luckily for you, you have Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage. After surfing the web, you discover that UM benefits might cover you, “the insured member, for bodily/personal injuries, damages, or death caused by an at-fault uninsured or hit-and-run driver.” Just one problem: Every time you call your insurance company, the Claims Adjuster seems to have no idea what you’re talking about. It’s time to speak with someone who does.

UM Coverage for Pedestrians

Uninsured Motorist coverage can be a broad and complex; sorting through all your rights and benefits may be too overwhelming for the average someone who is not versed in hte law. More often than not, insurance companies, seeking to minimize their liability, will gloss over the UM benefits to which a client is entitled, leaving them to cover medical expenses and time missed from work on their own. Speaking with a professional attorney is the best way to access all the benefits and services for which you have been paying.

A Happy Ending

Great news! You just got off the phone with your lawyer at Laylegal, and you’ve been assured your UM coverage does in fact apply to your crosswalk accident. Looks like your medical bills will be reduced, and you’ll be compensated for that time you missed from work. You’ve even learned that your UM insurance would have covered you had you been riding a bicycle, or had the driver fled the scene. Good to know for any future accident, but you’re going to keep your fingers crossed that it doesn’t happen again. In the meantime, you can sleep easier knowing Laylegal is looking out for you.

Contacting A Pedestrian Accident Attorney

REMEMBER: If you or a loved one is hit by a moving vehicle, contact Laylegal to protect your rights. (800) 261-7001.