If you were injured in a Norwalk, CT, pedestrian accident, you can hold the negligent driver who hit you or another at-fault party accountable. Working with an attorney can allow you to focus on healing while building a robust case for financial recovery.
A Norwalk personal injury lawyer from Trantolo & Trantolo, LLC can handle your claim or lawsuit, seeking compensation for your injuries and other damages. You do not have to fight this alone.
Call us today for a free consultation. Our team will review your case and offer advice on your rights and how to pursue the money you deserve.
A Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Can Document Negligence and Liability in Your Norwalk, CT Case
In most pedestrian accident cases, the driver who hit the victim is at fault. This is because traffic laws that control behavior related to sharing the road with pedestrians generally favor the person on foot. Motorists must stop for pedestrians in crosswalks, yield to them when turning, and pass them with plenty of space to avoid collisions.
When drivers fail to obey traffic laws and cause a collision, they are generally considered at fault. To hold them liable, victims must show the four elements of negligence occurred. These are:
- They had a duty of care, usually created by applicable traffic laws
- They breached this duty, often by violating a traffic law
- Their breach caused the collision
- The victim suffered harm
Imagine a scenario where a driver is turning from Scribner Avenue onto Connecticut Avenue in Norwalk. They have a green light, and there is no vehicle traffic coming. However, they do not yield to the pedestrian crossing Connecticut Ave. In this situation, the driver had a duty of care to yield to the victim on foot. They failed to do so, causing a collision and serious injuries.
To hold them liable, the victim’s Norwalk pedestrian accident attorney must investigate the crash and collect compelling evidence to show how the driver’s careless actions caused injuries.
The evidence used in this case could include:
- Official reports filed by police
- Witness statements and depositions
- Physical evidence from the scene
- An accident site survey
- Video of the crash, often from nearby business surveillance cameras
- Photos of the vehicle damage
- The victim’s medical records
- Documentation of expenses and losses
- Expert opinions from medical specialists, economists, and others
- Support from our property damage expert
- Any other evidence that shows what happened and who caused it
What Pedestrian Collision Damages Are Available with Help From a Norwalk Attorney?
When our Norwalk pedestrian accident attorneys build a case for a client, we gather paperwork, bills, and other evidence to demonstrate the wide range of expenses and losses they experienced because of the crash. This is crucial to recovering fair compensation for their damages.
We must have strong evidence to show how much the accident cost our client before we can pursue a fair settlement since this is the basis for the case value. Some of the expenses and losses we must understand include:
- Economic Damages: Medical bills, lost income, personal property damages, and related expenses.
- Non-Economic Damages: Physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, emotional distress, and other intangible losses.
- Future Damages: Future medical treatment and monitoring, ongoing care and support needs, diminished earning capacity for lasting injuries, and future pain and suffering.
Our Norwalk Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Handle Wrongful Death Actions
When a pedestrian accident victim dies from their injuries, our Norwalk personal injury team can pursue compensation for their surviving loved ones. This could include funeral and burial costs, lost income, and other damages.
Per Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 52-555, only the executor of the estate can file a wrongful death action in Norwalk, CT. This party is named in the victim’s will or estate plan. If they did not leave a will, the courts will determine who will represent the estate during the probate process. We can then work with them to seek fair compensation for the victim’s spouse, children, parents, or other immediate family members.
How Can a Trantolo & Trantolo, LLC Norwalk Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Recover Compensation?
The most common way our Norwalk lawyers recover compensation for injured pedestrians is through an insurance claim and settlement negotiation. However,
recovering compensation is not as easy as demanding money and getting the insurance carrier to cut a check. Developing the case and understanding its value requires many steps. This includes:
- Investigating the accident
- Identifying and preserving time-sensitive evidence
- Documenting and valuing damages
- Working with experts to understand future needs and their costs
- Preparing the claim and outlining a compelling argument
To navigate this process, we can also get a letter of protection (LOP) for our client, ensuring they can get the medical care and therapies they need. This could help you see a specialist or get into a rehabilitation program that will enable you to reach maximum medical improvement (MMI) based on your injuries and current condition.
When the insurance carrier refuses a fair settlement, or there are other reasons why we need to file a lawsuit, our trial lawyers will do so. We will represent you and advocate for your rights through this process, which includes:
- Filing
- The defendant’s response
- Pre-trial motions
- Discovery
- Continued negotiations
- Mediation, in some cases
- Going to trial, when necessary
If your case goes to trial, we will fight for the verdict and payout you deserve by presenting evidence, examining witnesses, and showing the judge and/or jury how the driver’s actions caused your injuries and damages.
When Should I Consider Hiring an Attorney for My Norwalk Pedestrian Injury Case?
If you were injured in a Norwalk collision, contact our team for a free consultation as soon as your injuries allow. If your loved one has catastrophic injuries and is unable to make the call, we will speak with you and help you understand your family’s options.
When you speak to an attorney early on after an accident, we can often build a more robust case because of our quick start. For example, area businesses may only keep surveillance video for a short time before recording over it. If we do not identify this potential source of accident footage and contact them quickly, we could lose access to this crucial evidence.
Per Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 52-584, pedestrian accident victims in Connecticut have two years to begin a lawsuit against the party or parties who caused their injuries. This may seem like a long time, but many steps are necessary before filing a lawsuit.
Why Choose a Norwalk, CT, Pedestrian Accident Lawyer from Trantolo & Trantolo, LLC?
Trantolo & Trantolo, LLC’s team of lawyers has been fighting for the rights of injured victims in Connecticut since 1938. We aim to help victims get the money they need and deserve for their medical care, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages. We will not settle for less than our clients deserve to avoid a lawsuit or trial.
We will take cases to court when necessary to secure the compensation our clients need and hold the at-fault driver responsible. We treat our clients like family, keeping in constant communication and being available to answer questions at any time.
You can count on our Norwalk personal injury lawyers to have the knowledge, skills, resources, and reputation to handle even the most complex and challenging accident cases. Our long track record of success includes millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts recovered for our clients, such as:
- $2,000,000 mediated settlement for a client struck by a vehicle while she was crossing the street, leaving her with serious injuries that required long-term treatment
- $1,200,000 settlement for a client hit in the crosswalk by a driver who failed to yield, causing her to undergo surgery for a broken leg
- $600,000 settlement for a middle school student and his family after he was hit by a car after getting off the school bus
Our clients also provide testimonials that show the compassionate approach our team takes to every case:
- “These guys really do treat you like family. They couldn’t have been more responsive and understanding.” – JK
- “Trantolo & Trantolo was a great choice. They did what they said they would do, and when I called, someone always called back to answer my questions. I would recommend them to anyone who needs representation.” – JM
- “Thank you, Trantolo & Trantolo, for making this process easy and painless. You have a great team! I would definitely recommend you guys.” – MK
We are a contingency fee firm, so there’s no upfront fees or costs for our services. You only pay if we win compensation in your case.
Talk to Our Team About Your Norwalk Accident Injuries for Free Today
Trantolo & Trantolo, LLC can review your case and provide an assessment of your options today. Call us now for a free consultation. Let Our Family, Help Your Family.