Pedestrian accidents can happen due to several reasons. Roads with high traffic and urban areas are common spots for pedestrian accidents. As reported by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), between January and June 2023, approximately 3,373 pedestrians lost their lives in accidents.
If you sustained injuries in a pedestrian accident, then it is necessary to get assistance from a lawyer who has experience handling pedestrian accident cases. Without one, the pedestrian accident claim process could drag on for years.
In this blog post, we are going to discuss what types of compensation victims can recover in a pedestrian accident claim.
What Can Victims Expect?
Compensation is the amount paid to a victim for their injury or losses in a pedestrian accident. Compensation is also well-known as damages under the law.
The following are some losses that victims can recover as compensation:
Economic Damages
Economic damages are the tangible expenses you incur due to the pedestrian accident. Here are some of the economic damages:
Present and Future Medical Expenses
You may sustain severe injuries in a pedestrian accident. The medical expenses required to treat them will depend on their severity. Here are some of the common medical expenses:
- Surgery
- Doctor Consultations
- Specialist Therapy
- Hospital Visits and Stays
- Diagnostic Tests
- Medication
These medical expenses can be recovered as economic damages through a pedestrian accident claim.
Lost Income
Pedestrian accident victims may have to miss work to tend to their injuries. During this time, they may miss out on their daily wages, vacation days, or other benefits. The amount of money the victim might have earned during the recovery period will be considered lost income.
Property Damages
In the aftermath of a pedestrian accident, the victim needs to spend money for the loss or replacement of property that was damaged or destroyed due to the accident. The category of property includes watches, spectacles, or any other items.
The victim can recover compensation for these replacement or repair expenses from the other party.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages refer to intangible or non-monetary losses you sustained in the pedestrian accident. This damage is difficult to estimate because it does not have a direct value. The following are some types of non-economic damages recoverable in a pedestrian accident claim.
Pain and Suffering
As a result of the injury in a pedestrian accident, the victim may suffer physical and emotional discomfort. The victim can recover compensation for the present and future pain and suffering from the at-fault party.
Loss of Enjoyment of Life
Sometimes, the victim’s injuries may force them to avoid activities that they once used to enjoy. This often has a serious emotional effect on the victim’s life.
With the help of therapists or a journal, the victim can prove that their level of enjoyment of life has deteriorated since the accident. This can be used as evidence to prove the loss of enjoyment of life.
Loss of Consortium
Loss of consortium refers to the impairment or loss of the intangible benefits in a relationship. The inability to be intimate with a partner or engage in joyful activities with one’s children are considered valid grounds for loss of consortium damages.
Punitive Damages
The victim can recover punitive damages in some pedestrian accident cases if the other party acted maliciously, egregiously, or recklessly. Punitive damages are awarded to deter others from committing the same action again.
For instance, punitive damages are awarded when the at-fault driver neglects to stop at a stop sign and hits a pedestrian.
Final Thoughts
Keep in mind that seeking compensation is a crucial thing for pedestrian accident victims. This compensation helps the victim fulfill their present and future financial needs. With the help of an experienced pedestrian accident lawyer, victims can acquire fair compensation that covers all the damages and losses they have suffered.
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