San Antonio Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Pedestrians are only a tiny fraction of the people who are on San Antonio streets and highways every day. Yet pedestrians make up a significant proportion of the serious injury and fatal accident victims in the Alamo City. Other than the clothes on their backs, pedestrians have no protection from oncoming cars. They’re completely exposed to danger. Additionally, most streets have short red lights, wide lanes, and other features that are designed to move vehicle traffic as quickly as possible. Crossing the street in such an environment is very dangerous, especially if the victim has any mobility impairment.
For many years, the experienced San Antonio pedestrian accident lawyers at the Law Office of Israel Garcia have routinely handled these matters in San Antonio and nearby jurisdictions. So, we have developed proven methods in these cases. We know what works, and we know what doesn’t work. Therefore, we are well-positioned to obtain maximum compensation for your serious injuries. Typically, we settle these claims out of court and on victim-friendly terms. So, victims have more control over the outcome, and perhaps more importantly, they get their settlement checks sooner.
Common Pedestrian Accident Injuries
As mentioned, pedestrians are at a greater risk for serious injury when they cross the street in San Antonio.
Speed multiplies the risk of a collision even further. At 20mph, after the driver sees a hazard, most vehicles travel about three car lengths before they safely stop. At 40mph, stopping distance usually doubles.
Speed also multiplies the force in a collision. In a pedestrian accident, minor bumps and bruises become serious injuries, such as:
● Head Injuries: When pedestrians fall and land hard, their brains slam against the insides of their skulls. The resulting intracranial hemorrhage usually causes immediate and permanent damage. Brain bleeds often cause strokes, and once these cells die, they never regenerate.
● Broken Bones: The lack of protection doesn’t just make head injuries worse. It also makes other injuries worse, such as broken leg and arm bones. Usually, doctors must use metal parts to surgically reconstruct these shattered bones. The extra intervention on the front end means additional physical therapy on the back end.
● Internal Bleeding: This same motion causes internal organs to grind and bump against each other. The resulting internal bleeding is hard to detect and even harder to stop. By the time they reach a hospital, many victims have already lost about a fifth of their blood and they’re on the edge of hypovolemic shock and organ shutdown.
Because of these serious wounds, the average injury-related hospital bill is over $55,000. To ensure that victims get the treatment they need, as opposed to the treatment an adjuster is willing to pay for, a San Antonio pedestrian accident lawyer can connect victims with doctors who charge nothing upfront for their services.
What to Expect in a Pedestrian Accident Claim
A few pedestrian injury claims settle almost immediately. However, since the issues in these cases are so complex, most settle during mediation.
Basically, mediation is a court-supervised negotiation session. During informal settlement negotiations, insurance companies use delay tactics and make low-ball offers. That’s why most personal injury claims take some time to settle. During mediation, insurance companies have a duty to negotiate in good faith. They must earnestly work toward a resolution. That means they must be willing to compromise on key points.
Thanks to this enhanced obligation, and also thanks to the fact that the insurance company is usually eager to avoid a trial, mediation is about 90 percent successful.
Rely on a Diligent San Antonio Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Accident victims are entitled to substantial compensation. For a free consultation with an experienced pedestrian accident lawyer in San Antonio, contact the Law Office of Israel Garcia. We do not charge upfront legal fees in these matters.
