Did you know that car crashes involving pedestrians are 12.7 times more likely to cause a fatality? In 2022 alone, 53 pedestrians died from injuries sustained in Utah roadway accidents. If you were injured or lost a loved one due to a pedestrian accident in Salt Lake City, you deserve justice and a dedicated lawyer to fight on your behalf.
Esquire Law is committed to fighting for your rights and securing maximum compensation on your behalf or the behalf of your loved one. Don’t wait to take the next step. Contact our compassionate lawyers today to start your journey toward justice.
What You Should Know About Pedestrian Accidents in Salt Lake City
Common Causes
It’s easy for drivers to overlook their surroundings. Unfortunately, that leaves nearby pedestrians at risk of getting severely injured. These are some of the top reasons why pedestrians are involved in accidents with drivers.
- Distracted driving
- Driving while under the influence
- Failing to yield the right of way
- Failing to stop at a red light or stop sign
- Reckless driving
- Hit and runs
- Making illegal turns
- Not taking proper precautions in poor road or weather conditions
Common Injuries
While drivers have their vehicles to protect them in the case of an accident, pedestrians are completely vulnerable. Being struck by a vehicle, motorcycle, or bicycle—even one traveling at a relatively low speed—can have devastating consequences. As a result, pedestrian injuries are often more severe than those sustained by motorists and cyclists. Some of the most common injuries include:
- Bruising
- Broken bones
- Lacerations
- Contusions, concussions, skull fractures, and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Soft tissue damage
- Organ damage
- Internal bleeding
- Neck injuries
- Crush injuries
- Amputations
- Whiplash
Pedestrians not only suffer from physical injuries; they can also suffer from psychological trauma like anxiety, memory loss, and PTSD. If you experience these symptoms or others, it’s important to seek mental health treatment.
Pedestrians’ Legal Rights & Responsibilities
Pedestrian Rights
In Utah, a pedestrian is anyone who travels on foot or in a wheelchair. Pedestrians have certain rights to help keep them safe. For example, pedestrians have the right to things like crossing streets safely and having access to pedestrian-only zones.
Pedestrian Responsibilities
Pedestrians also have a responsibility to travel safely. Here are some key duties of pedestrians in Utah to ensure public safety.
- Follow all pedestrian-specific traffic signals or signs.
- Don’t jaywalk. If you do, give vehicles the right of way.
- Don’t walk into oncoming traffic.
- Only walk along the shoulder if no sidewalk is available. If no shoulder is available, you must walk against traffic.
- Don’t use crosswalks while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
The Role of a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
When you hire a pedestrian accident lawyer in Salt Lake City, you have a trusted legal advocate who will act in your best interest. Here are just some of the ways our Salt Lake City pedestrian accident lawyers help clients like you.
- We provide reliable legal advice
- We help you understand your case, your rights, and your legal options
- We maximize your compensation
- We investigate your case and gather evidence
- We file all paperwork
- We negotiate a fair settlement with insurance companies
- We represent you in court, if necessary
- We consult medical and other field experts
- We determine fault
- We calculate your damages
- We help reduce your stress and provide peace of mind
Case Evaluation & Building a Claim
Evaluating Your Case & Building a Strong Claim
Utah is a no-fault insurance state. No-fault insurance—also called personal injury protection (PIP) insurance—protects you financially if you were to get in an accident. This policy type can cover expenses like lost wages, medical bills, and rehabilitative care up to your policy limit.
Additionally, in-state drivers must carry limited liability coverage to pay for any costs caused by an accident they cause. The coverage includes:
- Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person and $65,000 per accident
- Property damage liability: $15,000 per accident
Depending on how severe your injuries are, the at-fault driver’s insurance policy might not cover all your expenses. In that case, you should file a claim with your insurance provider.
How Evidence & Legal Knowledge Help a Claim’s Success
Evidence is the foundation of any personal injury case. It substantiates your claims, confirms liability, and shows the extent of your losses. Sufficient evidence helps you, the plaintiff, demonstrate your side of the story is true—also called the burden of proof.
Legal experience also plays an essential role in a claim’s success. Our lawyers know local pedestrian laws and regulations and have the resources required to stand up against big insurance companies to maximize your compensation. With a skilled Salt Lake City pedestrian accident lawyer on your side, you don’t have to worry about the outcome of your case.
Compensation & Settlements
Types of Compensation Available for Pedestrian Accident Victims
If you were injured in a pedestrian accident, you’re entitled to financial compensation. You can seek compensation, also called compensatory damages, for both economic and non-economic damages.
- Economic damages are calculable losses such as medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and rehabilitative care.
- Non-economic damages are incalculable losses such as reduced earning capacity, permanent disability, scarring and disfigurement, and pain and suffering.
If you lost a loved one in a pedestrian accident, you can seek compensation on their behalf to cover things like funeral and burial expenses, lost wages and benefits, and loss of companionship.
For cases in which the actions of the at-fault party are particularly negligent or reckless, a judge might award punitive damages. Unlike economic and non-economic damages, punitive damages punish the at-fault party rather than compensate the victim.
Establishing Liability
Utah is a modified comparative negligence state. If you’re injured in an accident involving a motorist, and you’re less than 50% at fault for the accident, you can seek compensation from them. If you share any portion of the fault, your compensation will be reduced by the percentage of fault you contributed.
For example, let’s say your attorney secures a settlement of $100,000, but you were 20% at fault for the accident. You would still walk away with $80,000 to cover your accident-related expenses.
Calculating Damages
Your lawyer will calculate damages to determine how much compensation your claim is worth. Factors that influence this calculation include:
- The type and severity of your injuries
- The extent of property damage
- Who is at fault
- Your out-of-pocket expenses
- The amount of evidence available
- Your insurance coverage
- Your ability to work
When calculating your damages, be sure to account for past, current, and future expenses to ensure the compensation you receive covers them in full so you aren’t left with out-of-pocket expenses.
Common Challenges in Pedestrian Accident Cases
Even if your pedestrian accident case seems cut and dry, you’re bound to hit some roadblocks. These are challenges we’ve helped clients overcome in the past.
- Determining Liability: Determining liability in a pedestrian accident case isn’t always straightforward. While drivers are often at fault, pedestrians can be as well. It’s even more complicated when multiple parties are involved. Four criteria must be met to establish negligence.
- The defendant owed a duty of care to the plaintiff
- The defendant breached their duty of care
- The breach caused the plaintiff’s injuries
- The plaintiff suffered some form of identifiable harm—either physical, financial, or both—as a result of their injuries
- Finding Credible Witnesses: Eyewitness statements can strengthen any pedestrian accident case. The problem is that eyewitnesses aren’t always reliable as memories might be faulty or biased. Testimonies might differ, leading to challenges in establishing a clear chain of events.
- Determining Insurance Coverage: Identifying and pursuing available insurance coverage can be complex. The pedestrian might have insurance of their own, and the driver’s insurance might also come into play, leading to disputes over coverage limits and responsibility.
- Assessing Injuries & Damages: Assessing the extent of injuries sustained by the pedestrian is crucial in determining fair compensation. This process involves medical evaluations, calculating future medical costs, and considering non-economic damages like pain and suffering.
Hear From Satisfied Clients
“I spoke with Esquire Law about an accident I had that the police placed me at fault. I wasn’t really expecting it to go anywhere, but they took my case and, in no time, they had a settlement offer for me. The settlement was way more than I expected. They were friendly and actually cared about me. I am grateful for the work they did and will recommend them to everyone.”
-Daniel Engstrom
“Alan and the team in the Esquire Law Salt Lake office were great. I never thought I would have to hire an attorney, but when I had to, I’m glad I went with Esquire Law. He was upfront and his team was compassionate and made me feel like they cared about me and not about settlement fees! You will not be disappointed in how they treat you and what they can and can’t recover for you. I would recommend them to everyone!”
-Jayden Anderson
“I was having the toughest time dealing with the effects of my accident. I went through 3 lawyers, all of which were just out to get a check. The wonderful staff at Esquire Law handled my case like they would if they were the victims. I can’t say enough about how happy I was to have brought them on the case”
-John Kraklio
“I worked with Samantha Wilcox from Esquire Law and she was wonderful!!! An absolute professional and really has her client’s best interest at heart. She did a great job explaining to me how the process worked and kept me in the loop so that I always felt involved. Would highly recommend her. Thank you so much for your hard work!”
-Nathan Phan
“I recently was involved in an automobile accident. My injuries were quite extensive. The hospital bills were mounting. Esquire Law stepped in and relieved the stress of what I should do next. It has been a pleasant surprise at how hard the attorneys at Esquire Law have worked for me to get a settlement. My attorney has helped me every step of the way. Guiding me through the difficult process. I strongly recommend esquire law for personal injuries.”
-Jay Koenig
Why Choose Esquire Law?
Thanks to Esquire Law, hiring the right pedestrian accident law firm is simple. Here’s why Salt Lake City residents choose us over other local law firms.
- We’re Experienced: We have experience handling pedestrian accident cases.
- We’re Successful: Our track record of success with pedestrian accident cases speaks for itself.
- We Care: We support victims during a difficult time with benefits like virtual case evaluations and 24/7 availability.
- We’re Affordable: How to pay for legal services should be the last thing on your mind after getting in a pedestrian accident. We offer free case evaluations and work on a contingency fee basis so you can focus on your recovery.
- We Fight for You: We’ll do whatever it takes to achieve justice and secure maximum financial compensation on your behalf.
Contact The Top Pedestrian Accident Lawyer in Salt Lake City
Our pedestrian accident attorneys are ready to take on your case and achieve the results you want. The first step is to schedule a free case evaluation, which can be conducted in person or over the phone. We’ll take the time to discuss the details of your case and explain your rights and legal options. This is also a great time to address any initial questions or concerns you might have. Contact us today to get started.