Pedestrian and Crosswalk Accidents

As a Boston-based personal injury law firm, we at Altman & Altman LLP unfortunately know all too well how common accidents involving pedestrians are. However this experience has also made our team of attorneys extremely effective and knowledgeable in handling pedestrian and crosswalk accidents cases in Massachusetts.

Accidents involving pedestrians are, more often than not, serious accidents that cause long-lasting or permanent damage – both mentally and physically. In the worst cases, injuries can be catastrophic and even fatal. Our personal injury attorneys work in Boston, and many of us live here as well, so we understand how treacherous the city streets can be for those on foot, even when you utilize crosswalks correctly.

Whether drivers simply aren’t paying attention to the road due to the abundance of distractions available to them – cell phones especially – or they fail to yield to a pedestrian’s right of way in a crosswalk, there is no shortage of ways for pedestrians to be victimized by dangerous drivers on the streets of Boston and the surrounding metro area.

The National Traffic Highway Safety Administration reports that there were 5,376 pedestrian fatalities from traffic accidents in 2015, up nearly 10 percent from the 4,910 total fatalities in 2014. Pedestrians also accounted for 15 percent of all total fatalities in traffic accidents, while only 3 percent of all traffic-related injuries occurred to pedestrians.

What these numbers mean is obvious – when pedestrians are struck by vehicles, their chances of perishing are much greater than if somebody is struck by another vehicle while in a car. Not having a shell of metal as a shield makes for a much more deadly situation.

Knowing this, the state of Massachusetts has made it so that motor vehicle operators must have insurance, and not just collision insurance for vehicles if something crashes into you, or if you crash into another vehicle. All drivers must have coverage of at least $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident, personal injury protection (PIP) for at least $8,000 per person in an accident and at least $20,000 in bodily injury coverage (per person) caused by someone driving an uninsured vehicle (at least $40,000 per accident).

Insurance is required so that, if you are struck by a vehicle while walking as a pedestrian, the perpetrator’s insurance company is able to pay your medical bills, which can become extremely expensive, as well as provide for the wages that you will lose by being unable to work and “replacement services,” which means expenses incurred by somebody having to replace the services of an injured family member.

However, if a person lacks the proper insurance or if it such payments are not sufficient to cover your medical treatment, medication, rehabilitation or other costs associated with an accident, you may wish to pursue a civil suit against the driver if you are certain that they were negligent and at fault for the accident.

In such a case, consulting with an experienced personal injury attorney – especially one who is well versed in pedestrian accidents as the attorneys at Altman & Altman are – is the first and most important step in ensuring that you are successful in a suit and can recover a significant and sufficient amount in financial damages.

We will take the time to go over the details of the accident with you, taking note of important details that will help prove your case, and we do not charge for our services unless you are successful in a claim. We will perform our due diligence to ensure that you are successful.

Whether you were struck by an uninsured, negligent or reckless driver, we will work tirelessly to ensure that you receive the compensation you require to get back to living a normal life, and we will handle all the confusing and voluminous work with insurance companies to ensure that all the proper paperwork is filed in a timely and correct manner.

Being struck by a vehicle is traumatic enough without having to worry about working with insurance companies or dealing with a driver who refuses to own up to their responsibility for the accident. Let our experienced pedestrian accident attorneys fight for you, or any loved one today.

Call for a free consultation at 617.492.3000 or toll-free at 800.481.6199. We are available 24/7.