Pedestrian Accident Injury FAQs
If you are involved in a pedestrian accident, one of your first calls needs to be to a personal injury attorney in Orange County. He can help you through the aftermath of your accident and make sure that your rights are protected, and you get the compensation to which you are entitled. Russell & Lazarus has been helping the people of Orange County for nearly 30 years, representing their interests with every type of personal injury. Few other accident attorneys Orange County are willing to go to the lengths that Russell & Lazarus will to look after their clients. The firm will help with medical expenses, if necessary, as well as other costs arising from the accident. Here are a few of the common questions that come up after a pedestrian accident:
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I WANT TO FILE A CLAIM IF I’VE BEEN HURT IN A PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENT?
These are some of the things you should do that will greatly assist your attorney in preparing your claim:
- make detailed notes about as much as you can remember about the accident and your injuries;
- if you have conversations with other people involved or who see the accident, make detailed notes about these too;
- if you don’t have any conversations at the time of the accident, try afterwards to find people who saw it;
- take as many pictures as possible of anything that you think relates to the accident;
- tell the person you think is responsible for the accident that you are going to file a claim; and
- contact a firm of accident attorneys Orange County to talk with about your claim.
WHAT IF THE ACCIDENT WAS PARTLY MY FAULT?
Your claim will be reduced by the percentage that a court decides that you were responsible. If a jury decides that you were responsible for 1/3 of the accident, then your compensation will be reduced by 33%.
HOW SOON DO I HAVE TO FILE A CLAIM?
In California, you have 2 years from the date of the injury to file a claim. If the injury wasn’t noticeable right away, you have 2 years from the date you become aware of the injury. Preparing a claim takes time, so it is important to see an attorney as soon as you can.
WHAT COMPENSATION CAN I GET?
If you get injured, compensation can include medical expenses, loss of earnings, money for pain and suffering. If the defendant’s behavior was particularly bad, punitive damages will be added to these. If the injured person dies as a result of the accident, his or her family can pursue a claim as well.
DO I NEED A LAWYER?
Absolutely. A personal injury claim can be very complicated, requiring specialist knowledge and expert evidence. Having your claim prepared by an expert personal injury attorney is essential.
WHAT SHOULD I GIVE MY LAWYER?
In short, everything you have that relates to the accident and your injury. Examples of the things you should try to have are police reports, medical reports, all of your notes and photographs, the driver’s insurance company information, and the names and contact details of any people who saw the accident. Don’t worry if you don’t have any of these things. Your attorney will be able to get them for you.
CALL A PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY IN ORANGE COUNTY
Call Russell and Lazarus APC at (888) 699-2605 as soon as possible for a free consultation with an attorney to discuss your claim and how they can help. A personal injury attorney in Orange County who is knowledgeable and experienced in dealing with these often complex and difficult claims is essential to making sure that you get the compensation you deserve.