Richmond Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

​​If you are injured, you will need the help of a Richmond pedestrian accident lawyer to protect your rights and get the compensation you deserve. Richmond is seen as a very walkable city with easy access to dining, shopping, and entertainment. However, if you are the victim of a pedestrian accident, that perspective changes quickly. The injuries and emotional trauma can be life-altering. Victims of pedestrian accidents underestimate the amount of medical care they may need – and ask too little compensation from the at-fault party.

If you or a loved one was injured in a pedestrian accident in Richmond, VA, you’re first call should be to the pedestrian accident attorneys at Regan Zambri Long. With three decades of experience helping injury victims after a catastrophic accident, we will fight to get you the compensation you deserve. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.

Contact us today to schedule a free consultation

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Representing Victims of Pedestrian Accidents in Richmond

The Richmond, VA personal injury lawyers at Regan Zambri Long regularly represent victims of pedestrian accidents and survivors of pedestrian accident victims. Our resources and experience are extensive, and our clients’ words speak for our reputation. The attorney-client relationship is important to us and we will give you the attention and expertise you deserve.

We understand that you’ve sustained injuries and that this is an extremely difficult time for you. While you’re recovering from your injuries or mourning a family member lost to a pedestrian accident, you should not be burdened with tasks like dealing with an insurance company or managing deadlines. Our experienced pedestrian accident lawyers are here to advocate for you and to help you navigate your pedestrian accident claim.

A consultation with a Richmond pedestrian accident lawyer at our firm is at no cost to you. We work on a contingency fee basis; you do not owe us any fees unless we recover compensation for you.

What to Do if You Are the Victim of a Pedestrian Accident

If you’ve been injured in a pedestrian accident in Richmond, take the following steps:

  • The first thing to do is to call the police if you’re able to. If you are not able to do so, have someone else make the emergency call. It’s essential to have the police at the crash scene so that you can file an official report.
  • Exchange contact information with the vehicle driver, do not conjecture about who you believe was at fault, do take relevant photos at the scene, and do obtain contact information from any potential eyewitnesses.
  • After the accident, seek medical attention even if you think you’re okay. Sometimes you might feel like you didn’t suffer injuries, but your injuries may just not be obvious ones; you may have internal injuries that require immediate medical treatment. Additionally, it will be helpful to have your post-accident medical documentation on record.
  • Contact your insurance company. Even though you were the pedestrian involved in the accident, if you have car insurance, it may cover the injuries you sustained.
  • Reach out to a personal injury lawyer at Regan Zambri Long. Our experienced Richmond pedestrian accident lawyers will assume the stressful task of negotiating with the other party’s insurance company and will help review your damages and determine whether you should pursue compensation under Virginia law.
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How Do You Determine that a Pedestrian Accident Was the Fault of a Negligent Driver?

Following a crash, to establish whether a Richmond pedestrian accident was the fault of the driver of the motor vehicle, an experienced attorney will examine the multitude of evidence, such as eyewitness statements, photographs, medical records, and police reports.

An attorney will use their knowledge of Virginia traffic laws to ascertain whether the cause of the crash was due to driving error; they will investigate your physical injuries in relation to the vehicle’s damages to determine if speed or direction was a factor.

Fair Compensation for Pedestrian Accident Injuries

Pedestrian accident victims endure all kinds of harm from minor scratches to potentially life-threatening injuries. No amount of monetary compensation can make up for the injuries suffered when a pedestrian accident occurs, but a skilled Richmond pedestrian accident attorney can help you recover the funds you used to pay for high medical bills and lost wages.

The different types of damages your pedestrian accident attorney can pursue are as follows:

Economic damages: Being involved in a pedestrian accident exposes you to a multitude of potential expenses. Your severe injuries may have resulted in current medical costs and future medical expenses for rehabilitation or therapy. Due to your injuries, you may be out of work and you’re dealing with lost wages and perhaps a decreased earning capacity in the case of extreme injuries. These measurable financial losses are considered economic damages.

Non-economic damages: It’s impossible to assign a cost to the emotional trauma endured as the victim of a pedestrian accident or the mental anguish that comes along with mourning the loss of a loved one who died from severe injuries. You may be entitled to financial compensation for your pain and suffering, as well as for the loss of enjoyment in activities you once found pleasurable. While it certainly won’t take your sorrow away, it may help to ease your burdens.

Punitive damages: These damages are awarded in pedestrian accidents when a negligent driver maliciously or recklessly caused serious injury to a pedestrian with their motor vehicle. Punitive damages are specifically instituted to punish the at-fault party and deter other people from causing the same irresponsible and avoidable pedestrian accident.

Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Richmond

Pedestrian accidents in Richmond are often the result of a combination of driver negligence, pedestrian behavior, and environmental factors. The most frequent causes include:

  • Distracted Driving: Drivers using mobile devices, eating, or engaging in other distractions are less likely to notice pedestrians, especially at crosswalks and intersections.
  • Speeding: Excessive speed reduces a driver’s reaction time and increases the severity of injuries in the event of a collision. In Virginia, speeding has been linked to a significant number of pedestrian fatalities.
  • Failure to Yield: Many accidents occur when drivers fail to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians at crosswalks or intersections, despite clear traffic laws requiring them to do so.
  • Driving Under the Influence: Alcohol and drug impairment significantly increase the risk of pedestrian accidents. Impaired drivers are less able to react to pedestrians and they are more likely to cause serious or fatal injuries.
  • Running Red Lights or Stop Signs: Ignoring traffic signals and making illegal turns can put pedestrians in crosswalks at high risk.
  • Poor Infrastructure: Lack of sidewalks, marked crosswalks, pedestrian signals, and adequate lighting can force pedestrians into hazardous situations and increase the likelihood of accidents.
  • Pedestrian Behavior: Pedestrians can also contribute to accidents by jaywalking, crossing outside designated crosswalks, ignoring traffic signals, or walking while distracted or impaired.
  • Environmental Conditions: Poor visibility due to darkness, bad weather, or obstructed views from vegetation or construction can make it difficult for drivers to see pedestrians and vice versa.

Pedestrian Laws in Richmond, VA

Virginia law, which applies in Richmond, sets out specific rights and responsibilities for both drivers and pedestrians to enhance safety:

  • Right-of-Way at Crosswalks: Drivers must yield to pedestrians crossing at marked and unmarked crosswalks at intersections. Pedestrians have the right-of-way, but they must not suddenly leave a curb or other safe place and walk or run into the path of a vehicle that is too close for the driver to yield safely.
  • Obeying Traffic Signals: Both drivers and pedestrians are required to obey all traffic control devices, including signals and signs. Pedestrians should only cross when they have the walk signal and must not cross against a red light.
  • Crossing Outside Crosswalks: When crossing outside of a marked crosswalk or at a location without a crosswalk, pedestrians must yield the right-of-way to vehicles.
  • Use of Sidewalks: Where sidewalks are provided, pedestrians are required to use them. Walking along the roadway is only permitted where sidewalks are not available, and in such cases, pedestrians should walk on the left side of the road facing traffic.
  • Prohibition on Jaywalking: Jaywalking, or crossing streets outside of designated crosswalks or against signals, is prohibited and can result in a citation. This behavior also increases the risk of accidents and may affect a pedestrian’s ability to recover damages after an accident.
  • Impairment: Both drivers and pedestrians are subject to laws regarding impairment. Walking or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is illegal and significantly increases accident risk.
Understanding these laws is important for both pedestrians and drivers in Richmond. Compliance helps reduce the risk of accidents and ensures that those injured in pedestrian accidents have a clear basis for pursuing legal claims.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pedestrian Accidents in Richmond

How Long Do I Have to File My Pedestrian Accident Claim in Richmond, VA?

Under personal injury law, Section 8.01-243 of the Code of Virginia directs that there is a two-year statute of limitations for an injured pedestrian to pursue compensation in a pedestrian accident case.
…every action for personal injuries, whatever the theory of recovery, and every action for damages resulting from fraud, shall be brought within two years after the cause of action accrues.

Two years may seem lengthy, but the quicker you contact skilled Richmond attorneys to initiate your personal injury claims, the better off you will be. Your attorney can work with the insurance company and opposing counsel toward a settlement.

How Much Is My Pedestrian Accident Case Worth?

It’s difficult to know how much your case is worth without knowing all the details of your case. To assign financial value to your case, you must meet with a Richmond attorney to review any costs of medical treatment, rehabilitation expenses, therapy costs, lost wages, a decline in quality of life, or mental trauma.

What Do I Do If I Lose a Family Member in a Pedestrian Accident?

If you lost a loved one in a pedestrian accident, you may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the driver. Contact a fatal pedestrian accident lawyer at Regan Zambri Long to learn more.

Contact a Richmond Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Today

For over 30 years, the Richmond pedestrian accident lawyers at Regan Zambri Long have been helping pedestrians following an accident. We understand how difficult it can be to handle your case on top of recovering from your injuries. We will do whatever it takes to make sure you receive compensation for your injuries.

Don’t wait. Contact a Richmond pedestrian accident attorney at Regan Zambri Long today to schedule a free consultation. There is no fee unless we win your case.

Contact Our Richmond Pedestrian Accident Attorneys Today

Schedule a Free Consultation

Have you or your loved one sustained injuries in Washington DC, Maryland or Virginia? Regan Zambri Long PLLC has the best lawyers in the country to analyze your case and answer the questions you may have.

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