When a pedestrian sustains injuries after being involved in an accident with a vehicle, the results can vary from pain, suffering, financial uncertainty, and a mountain of red tape. You may be dealing with injuries and insurance companies when your focus should be on healing.
Don’t shoulder the burden of dealing with the aftermath of a pedestrian accident alone – an experienced pedestrian accident attorney can protect your rights after a driver’s wrongful actions alter your life, health, and financial future.
Though your injuries can’t be undone, holding wrongdoers accountable provides the resources to move forward and restore what’s possible.
Why Pedestrian Accidents Are Common in Connecticut?
Connecticut can be a dangerous place for pedestrians. We have the most pedestrian accident fatalities in New England. In 2022 alone, Connecticut saw 1.71 pedestrian deaths per 100,000 people. According to a 2023 report, pedestrian accident deaths in Connecticut are the highest they’ve been in 41 years, and Stamford has seen its share of pedestrian accidents.
One reason Stamford is so dangerous for pedestrians is Washington Boulevard, which is also known as Stamford’s “Boulevard of Death,” where two pedestrians were killed in a single month earlier this year. In another incident, a pedestrian was hit and killed while crossing I-95 in Stamford. In another incident in July 2023, a reverend was struck and killed by a police officer while crossing the street in Stamford.
Risk factors for pedestrian accidents in Connecticut include drunk drivers, distracted drivers, speeding, weather conditions, road conditions, and poor visibility. There are many common causes of pedestrian accidents, but one thing most have in common is negligence.
The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) has implemented measures to increase pedestrian safety, and the state introduced Connecticut’s Pedestrian Safety Bill, but it’s not enough. Until more is done to improve safety, pedestrians will continue to be injured through preventable accidents caused by negligence.
How Much You Can Get for a Pedestrian Accident Claim in Stamford, CT?
When considering contacting a Connecticut pedestrian accident attorney, one of the first questions many people ask is how much their settlement may be worth. When you’re injured and your medical bills are mounting, it’s natural to want to know if your compensation will be enough to help you move past this ordeal, especially if you are out of work.
We can’t tell you how much your pedestrian accident case will be worth until we’ve had a chance to examine your damages and your evidence. But we can show you the results we’ve achieved for other pedestrian accident victims:
- $2,000,000 mediated settlement for a client who was hit by a vehicle in the roadway and, despite wearing a reflective vest, suffered serious injuries requiring surgeries
- $1,200,000 settlement for a client who was struck in a crosswalk, broke a leg and required surgery
- $475,000 settlement for a client who was hit in a crosswalk, fractured their arm, sustained soft tissue injuries, and needed surgery
- $325,000 settlement for a client who was struck by a distracted driver in a parking lot
- $300,000 settlement for a client who was hit in a parking lot, resulting in fractures that required surgery and physical therapy
- $250,000 settlement for a client who was hit by a drunk motorcyclist in a parking lot, resulting in leg injuries that required hospitalization and surgery
- $230,000 settlement for a client who was hit at a high rate of speed as she was entering her vehicle, resulting in a head laceration and wrist injuries that required multiple surgeries
These results were based on the unique circumstances of each claim. You may not see the same results, but we will do everything we can to get you the highest possible compensation in your case.
Why Pedestrian Accidents Are so Serious?
Pedestrian accidents often have more severe consequences than crashes that only involve vehicles. Without any protection, people on foot can suffer catastrophic and even fatal injuries when struck. When careless driving causes these accidents, victims have legal rights.
Trantolo & Trantolo, LLC has been helping injured victims for more than 85 years, and we are dedicated to taking on powerful insurance companies on behalf of people like you who were injured through no fault of their own. Our Stamford pedestrian accident lawyers understand how a serious injury can impact your life, and we will work aggressively to protect your rights.
How a Stamford Pedestrian Accident Attorney Can Help You?
Here are some of the key ways a Stamford personal injury lawyer can help after you’ve been injured in a pedestrian accident:
- Assess fault and liability: We thoroughly investigate the incident to pinpoint liable parties and prove your percentage (if any) of fault.
- Navigate the claims process: We handle the complex documentation, legal filings, and negotiations involved in pedestrian injury claims.
- Negotiate with insurers: We advocate for you to insurance adjusters and demand fair compensation.
- Determine your full damages: We help you account for every past, present, and future medical and financial loss relating to the accident
- Maximize your compensation: We use proven tactics to secure the maximum settlement or court award possible in your case.
- Explain your legal options: We help you evaluate your options and guide you in selecting the best legal recourse.
- Relieve stress: We reduce your emotional burden by managing the legal aspects of your pedestrian accident case.
- Pay only if successful: Our pedestrian accident lawyers work on contingency, charging no fees upfront and only collecting our fees if your claim is successful.
- Level the playing field: We square off against wealthy corporations with experienced legal representation
As a pedestrian injury victim, you don’t need to handle your legal battles alone. Let the attorneys at Trantolo & Trantolo, LLC protect your rights.
How Comparative Negligence Laws in Connecticut Work?
According to Connecticut General Statutes § 52-572, the state follows modified comparative negligence rules in determining liability and compensation after a pedestrian accident. Here’s a brief overview of how this law works:
- Each party’s percentage of fault contributing to an accident is assigned based on their actions.
- If a claimant was 50% or less responsible, they can still recover reduced damages based on their percentage of fault. For example, if a pedestrian is 20% negligent, their compensation is reduced by 20%.
- Claimants who are 51% or more at fault are completely barred from recovering compensation.
The defendant’s insurance company will often argue that the pedestrian shared a greater percentage of fault whenever possible to limit payouts. An injury attorney can protect your compensation’s value by ensuring any percentage of fault you share is accurately calculated.
How Long Do I Have To File My Connecticut Pedestrian Accident Claim?
In Connecticut, you typically have two to three years to settle a claim or file a lawsuit after a pedestrian accident. The clock starts running on the actual date the pedestrian crash and injuries occurred. Different rules may apply if the injured victim was a minor under the age of 18 when the accident happened.
Simply submitting a demand letter or insurance claim does not stop the clock – a lawsuit or settlement must comply with the state’s statute of limitations. This deadline equally applies to filing a formal lawsuit and negotiating an out-of-court insurance settlement.
How Do I Know if I Need A Pedestrian Accident Attorney?
There are several clear signs indicating you should hire a pedestrian accident attorney after being struck by a vehicle:
- You suffered injuries requiring medical treatment beyond just minor first aid. Soft tissue injuries, broken bones, head trauma, and other harms that necessitate seeing a doctor warrant a lawyer.
- Your medical bills have exceeded $1,000 or seem likely to escalate as treatment continues. Costs add up quickly after accidents.
- You missed time at work due to your injuries and have lost wages that need reimbursement.
- You are having issues with insurance companies not covering treatment costs or accepting liability and responsibility for the collision.
- The at-fault driver’s insurance company is disputing the fault assigned in the police report or not cooperating fairly.
- The driver or their insurance provider quickly denied your injury claim.
- Your collision involved a commercial vehicle like a delivery truck or semi whose insurer seeks to limit payouts.
If any of these apply to you, speak to an attorney immediately after an accident to protect your rights.
Talk to a Stamford, CT, Pedestrian Accident Lawyer for Free
Whether you’re ready to take the next step or just need information, we can help you. Let Trantolo & Trantolo, LLC guide you through the claims process, whether it involves a truck accident, car accident, or motorcycle accident.
Contact us online or call us to learn more about your legal options if you are a pedestrian who has been injured. We are here for you 24 hours a day, seven days a week.