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DC Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

As Washington, DC’s premier pedestrian accident lawyer, Regan Zambri Long understands the devastating impact of a pedestrian collision on your life. Our capital city’s walkable streets make it a pedestrian-friendly destination, but drivers’ negligent actions can also create opportunities for catastrophic accidents. Our experienced DC pedestrian accident attorneys have secured multi-million dollar settlements for injured pedestrians, including landmark cases against WMATA and private transportation companies.

Don’t let insurance companies minimize your suffering. The experienced pedestrian accident attorneys at Regan Zambri Long understand how to build strong cases that secure fair compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. We handle the legal complexities while you focus on recovery.

Take action to protect your rights. Contact Regan Zambri Long today for a free consultation and learn how our DC accident law firm can help you get the compensation you deserve.

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Understanding the Legal Complexities of a DC Pedestrian Accident Claim

Washington DC ranks among the most walkable cities in America, with thousands of residents, commuters, and tourists navigating its streets daily. However, this pedestrian-friendly environment comes with significant risks. In 2023, data from District of Columbia Vision Zero reported over 700 pedestrian accidents in Washington, DC. Of those accidents, 84 resulted in major injuries and there were 19 fatal pedestrian accidents.

The layout of our nation’s capital—with its mix of wide avenues, complex intersections, multiple traffic circles, and areas of heavy tourist foot traffic—creates heightened danger zones for pedestrians. Popular areas like the National Mall, Dupont Circle, and H Street Corridor have seen recurring pedestrian accident patterns.

Unlike vehicle occupants protected by airbags, seatbelts, and the car’s steel structure, pedestrians have no buffer against a crash. This vulnerability frequently results in catastrophic injuries, such as:

  • Traumatic brain injuries that require lifelong care
  • Spinal cord damage leading to partial or complete paralysis
  • Multiple fractures requiring surgery and extended rehabilitation
  • Internal organ damage which can result in emergency medical care

The financial impact of these injuries extends far beyond initial medical bills. Many pedestrian accident victims face extended hospitalization, ongoing rehabilitation, lost income, and diminished future earning capacity. The average economic cost of a serious pedestrian injury in DC can exceed $100,000, with catastrophic cases reaching into the millions.

DC law adds another layer of complexity for injured pedestrians. As one of the few remaining jurisdictions that follows contributory negligence principles, even a small percentage of fault could potentially bar recovery—making expert legal representation essential from day one after your accident.

At Regan Zambri Long, our DC pedestrian accident lawyers understand these unique challenges and have secured multi-million dollar settlements for pedestrian accident victims throughout the District. We know how to navigate DC’s complex insurance and legal systems to maximize your compensation. Contact us today for a free consultation.

$77M Wrongful Death Settlement
$20M Brain Injury Verdict
$19.5M Wrongful Death Verdict
$16M Premises Liability Settlement
$15.2M Wrongful Death Settlement
$15.2M Wrongful Death Verdict
$15M Car Accident Settlement
$15M Medical Malpractice Settlement
$14M Car Accident Settlement

Why You Need a Pedestrian Accident Attorney in Washington, DC

Dealing with the insurance company, getting better after a severe injury, taking time off work, and even taking care of estate issues can all be stressful and complicated to understand. Because of these things, you must find a pedestrian accident lawyer near you to help you with your accident claim.

The pedestrian accident attorneys at Regan Zambri Long can help you in the following ways:

  • Determining who is at fault: A personal injury lawyer can help determine who is at fault in an accident. They can examine the accident scene, gather proof, and talk to witnesses to determine who was at fault.
  • Maximizing compensation: An attorney can help you get the most money from the accident by talking with insurance companies and other people involved. They can help you get compensation for hospital bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other costs.
  • Representation in court: A pedestrian accident lawyer can defend you and help you understand the law. They can tell you your rights and explain how the law works.
  • Peace of mind: Hiring an attorney can give you peace of mind when things are hard and stressful. When you know you have a skilled and experienced professional on your side, you can feel more confident and less worried about how your case will turn out.

The statute of limitations for personal injury victims in Washington, DC, is three years. Although that may seem like a long time, it can go by fairly quickly. The evidence will start disappearing within days, and memories can fade away. The sooner you contact a pedestrian accident attorney in Washington, DC, the greater the chance of getting the compensation you need.

Why Choose a DC Accident Lawyer at Regan Zambri Long?

When dealing with serious pedestrian accident injuries in Washington, DC, you must find a skilled DC pedestrian accident lawyer to fight on your behalf. Dealing with the insurance company on your own can be difficult. The insurance adjuster will often offer a settlement that doesn’t cover all your expenses or find some reason to deny your claim.

At Regan Zambri Long, we have a long track record of helping clients with their pedestrian accident claims. For example, we successfully represented a client who suffered a traumatic brain injury after being struck by a bus while using a crosswalk in Washington, DC. We also obtained one of the highest settlements in the area against WMATA; the case involved the tragic death of a pedestrian crossing the street when a Metrobus struck her. In another case, our office obtained a multi-million-dollar settlement for a woman hit by a private tour bus while crossing the street. We can aggressively pursue your claim from the first client meeting until the case’s resolution.

Our board-certified personal injury attorneys have decades of experience working with pedestrian accident victims throughout Washington, DC. We understand the methods the insurance company uses to prevent you from receiving the compensation you need. Our peers and prestigious legal organizations respect us and are unafraid to go to court. If you or a loved one were seriously injured in a pedestrian accident, do not wait. Contact Regan Zambri Long today to schedule a free consultation. You do not pay unless we win your case.

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Types of Compensation Available for DC Pedestrian Accident Victims

According to Washington, DC law, if you were injured as a pedestrian in a motor vehicle accident, you can initially seek medical coverage with your car insurance policy regardless of who is at fault. If you do not have car insurance or you do not have enough insurance to pay for your medical expenses, you can then pursue legal action against the at-fault driver.

Compensation that you may be eligible for after a pedestrian accident includes the following:

  • Current and future medical bills: Medical expenses include any bills you receive for your injuries. This includes ER visits, ambulance rides, surgery, lab results, physical therapy, medical equipment, and long-term care.
  • Lost wages: You will receive compensation for any time you missed work because of the accident. This also includes any future time lost—for example, if you have an upcoming surgery that requires you to miss work for six weeks, you may be able to receive compensation.
  • Loss of earning capacity: Sometimes, a pedestrian accident can result in catastrophic injuries. These life-changing injuries may prevent you from returning to your current job, and you will need to take a lower-paying job or go on disability. If this is the case, you may receive compensation that will pay the difference between what you would have made and what you are currently making.
  • Pain and suffering: Serious injuries can result in physical, mental, and emotional pain and cause the pedestrian accident victim to suffer.
  • Mental anguish: Any type of accident can be traumatic, especially a pedestrian accident. The injury victim may face anxiety and PTSD and could lose interest in daily activities, resulting in a diminished quality of life.
  • Loss of consortium: Loss of consortium is a legal term referring to losing the ability to provide companionship, love, comfort, or intimate relations with your significant partner.

A DC pedestrian accident attorney can explain what damages you may receive following your accident and help you recover any lost expenses. Call today to schedule a free consultation.

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How Much Is My Pedestrian Accident Case Worth?

Unfortunately, there is no average cost of a pedestrian injury claim. That’s because each situation is different. Your DC pedestrian injury attorney will need to investigate the claim thoroughly to provide you with an estimate of how much your claim is worth.

There are ways to get a general idea of how much your pedestrian accident is worth. You will need to gather all your current bills and get estimates of your future costs. You can multiply by general damages, such as pain and suffering, to get a rough number. However, it’s always best to speak with a DC pedestrian accident attorney after any type of car accident to see what legal options are available to you.

Responsible Parties in a DC Pedestrian Accident

To prove who is at fault for your pedestrian accident, a Washington, DC pedestrian accident lawyer will need to show that the at-fault party had a duty to protect you from injury, and by failing to protect you, they caused the accident, which resulted in injury and loss.

Many parties could be responsible for your accident, including:

Regan Zambri Long has a successful track record of helping injury victims following a pedestrian accident in DC. We successfully obtained a $20 million verdict in DC federal court for our client, an 18-year-old who was struck by a Smithsonian Institution bus after the bus driver ran through a red light while speeding. Our client had suffered a brain injury and paralysis as a result of the bus driver’s negligence.

Contact us today to schedule a free consultation. You do not pay a fee unless we win your case.

Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Washington, DC

When drivers are aggressive or inattentive, pedestrian crashes often occur. The leading causes of pedestrian accidents in Washington, DC are:

  • Distracted Driving: Fiddling with the radio, texting or talking on the phone, eating, reading an article, or talking to passengers in the car are all classic examples of distracted driving. But distracted drivers are not the only ones not paying attention to the road; often, pedestrians are more focused on their phones than the traffic around them or block out the sound with headphones while crossing the street.
  • Impaired Driving: We all know that drinking and driving are not only illegal but deadly. But drunk drivers are not the only cause of pedestrian accidents; according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), 42% of pedestrians killed in nighttime crashes had a blood alcohol concentration at or above 0.08% in 2019.
  • Speeding: Negligent drivers who fail to follow the posted speed limits on the streets of DC can be reckless. For example, when coming to a stoplight or a crosswalk at a high rate of speed, they may not be able to slow down and safely stop in time to let the pedestrian cross.
  • Left-Hand Turns: When a driver makes a left-hand turn at a busy intersection, they may look straight ahead to ensure they are okay to turn rather than looking left. Since the driver is not looking their way, pedestrians are always at risk when crossing at the crosswalk.
  • Not Yielding to the Pedestrian: Washington, DC law states that all vehicles must yield to bicyclists and pedestrians in the crosswalk. Pedestrians also have the right of way over any car turning right on red. Yet an impatient driver may ignore this law and fail to yield, causing an accident.
  • Not Checking for Pedestrians: Drivers often miss seeing pedestrians because they fail to look for them. Backover collisions in parking lots are common because drivers do not check for people behind their vehicles before reversing.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Pedestrian Accidents in DC

Whose Insurance Will Pay My Medical Bills?

If you have auto insurance, your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage will cover the costs of your medical expenses and lost wages, regardless of who caused the car accident. However, pedestrian accidents tend to cause catastrophic injuries. It is possible that your PIP insurance will not cover all your expenses. If so, you can file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver to cover the rest of your expenses.

What Should I Do If I Was Involved in a Pedestrian Accident?

Like any car accident, you will want to get help immediately following a pedestrian accident. Get help immediately for any injuries you may have sustained if you can, document the accident scene, and gather any evidence, such as photographs, witness testimonials, the police report, and medical records. Finally, speak with an experienced DC pedestrian accident lawyer to learn your legal options.

What is the Average Settlement For a Pedestrian Accident Lawsuit?

It’s difficult to determine what the average settlement is for a pedestrian accident. All personal injury cases are different and require a thorough investigation. It all depends on the severity of your injuries, the complexity of the accident, and the number of parties involved. To learn how much your case is worth, speak with a pedestrian accident injury lawyer as soon as possible.

How Our Washington, DC Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Can Help

Don’t fight the insurance companies on your own. Your focus should be on recovering your health following a pedestrian accident, not dealing with paperwork. By hiring an experienced attorney at Regan Zambri Long, we will take care of all the details while you concentrate on your recovery. We are available to speak 24/7 and our office is right in downtown DC.

Call (202) 960-4596 or contact us online to speak to a Washington, DC pedestrian accident lawyer today.

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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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