In January, 2016, the Provincial Government implemented the Making Ontario’s Roads Safer Act in an effort to reduce the total number of collisions that occurred along with those that resulted in injuries and fatalities. Suffice it to say, thousands of pedestrians sustain serious injuries every year at the hands of impaired or negligent motorists. The injuries that result from these types of accidents can range from broken bones and soft tissue damage to catastrophic spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries.
Pedestrian accidents can occur just about anywhere including crosswalks, driveways, intersections, parking lots, and roadways. When lighting conditions are poor or the weather turns nasty, the frequency with which pedestrian accidents occur increases significantly. Needless to say, a significant number of these accidents result in very serious or catastrophic injuries, long-term or permanent disabilities, and fatalities. When this happens, the families of the victims have a right to seek compensation by retaining a personal injury lawyer in Kitchener and their legal staff.
Common Injuries and Compensation for Them
When a pedestrian is struck by an impaired or negligent motorist, you typically see a variety of injuries including broken bones (fractures), concussions, head and neck trauma, internal bleeding, and more. In these types of personal injury cases, the victim or their families may be entitled to compensation that pays for:
- attendant care
- emotional distress
- hospital bills and medical expenses
- loss of earning capacity
- lost wages (past and future)
- pain and suffering
- physical therapy
- prescription medications
- rehabilitative therapy
While these types of injuries are oftentimes life-changing and leave the victim physically disabled, it can cause their families to be financially devastated as well. Sometimes it’s a simple matter of drivers not seeing pedestrians while in other cases, they are driving in such a way that the pedestrian is subjected to considerable harm.
The Pursuit of Your Personal Injury Claim
If you were recently injured when crossing the street or when walking on any of the other venues mentioned in the second paragraph above, the general rule of thumb is that the person who hit you has to prove that they were not driving negligently. However, if you are found at fault for your injuries, you are legally entitled to accident benefits that would pay for your loss of income, medical treatment, and rehabilitative therapy. However, you may still need to retain a personal injury lawyer of Kitchener in order to be compensated for your injuries and ensure your rights are protected.
In cases involving pedestrian accidents, some personal injury lawyers offer FREE initial consultation and can usually determine whether or not you have a valid claim, if they operate on a contingency basis as most of them do, you will only have to pay for their services if you win your case. However, there are petty expenses that are charged separately. You might want to discuss it with your lawyers when you hire them.