Risk Factors for a Pedestrian Accident
Anyone can be struck while walking.
Nevertheless, certain risk factors increase your chances of suffering an injury in a traffic accident:
- Age. Both children and pedestrians older than 65 are at particular risk for a serious accident.
- Alcohol and drugs. Alcohol and other drugs impair reflexes, judgment, and motor control. As a result, alcohol was involved in about half of all fatal crashes.
- Speed. The faster a vehicle goes, the greater the likelihood of a serious injury.
- Congestion. Most pedestrian fatalities happen in urban areas.
- Time of day. A large number of pedestrian accidents occur at night.
Pedestrians should always cross at identified crosswalks to reduce the likelihood of collisions with motor vehicles.
Your own safety precautions cannot prevent carelessness in others, however, and accidents can still occur.
Over $50M Recovered in the Past Seven Years
At the Tenge Law Firm LLC, our goal is to achieve the best possible result for our clients as soon as possible. Each case and each client is different, so we work directly with clients to meet their needs for medical care and personal situations. We have enjoyed great success, with exceedingly high client satisfaction, using this approach.
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$3,250,000 Rollover auto accident involving defective roof and serious injuries
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$1,475,000 Auto accident with head, neck and back injuries
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$950,000 Car accident with brain injury and orthopedic injuries
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$750,000 Policy Limits – Low speed auto accident leading to minor stroke
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$533,000 Trial Verdict - Client hit by airborne patio umbrella with facial scar and concussion.
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$450,000 Pedestrian hit by car
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$300,000 Four-car accident resulting in vertebral fracture and facial injuries
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$200,000 Auto accident with facial injuries
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$120,000 Slip-and-fall at fast food restaurant
Hundreds of 5-star Reviews. Exceptional Results
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"Everyone is extremely nice & very efficient"
I highly recommend this law firm! They take care of everything in a timely manner & alleviate any harassment while you recover from injuries. Everyone is extremely nice & very efficient...if you need an attorney, Tenge Law is the place to go!
- Betty C. -
"Would highly recommend to anyone!!"
Tenge Law Firm helped me out when I was in a accident that involved my whole family. They were great and fast with the entire process, and were awesome at keeping me updated throughout the entire process. Would highly recommend to anyone!!
- Zack K. -
"They treated me like family"
Todd, Liz and Nina were amazing. They handled my case very professionally. I recommend this law firm to anyone looking for a great firm. They treated me like family
- Jenn K. -
"They were extremely responsive and answered my questions very well."
Paige and Nina were a delight to work with. They were extremely responsive and answered my questions very well. They made me feel like I was in good hands and could trust them!
- Rachel V. -
"Definitely made it a stress-free experience"
Brenda was my attorney. She was amazing, helped me through the whole process. Definitely made it a stress-free experience, especially after going through something so traumatic! Was extremely attentive and always kept me updated on how my case was going! I would 1000% recommend them to everyone and anyone!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!
- Zitlaly O.
What Are Common Causes of a Pedestrian Accident?
Few motorists intentionally try to strike anyone, but a combination of carelessness and recklessness can cause them to take risks that endanger the lives of pedestrians.
Common causes of Boulder pedestrian accidents include:
- Speeding
- Driving while distracted, such as while texting or talking on the phone
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Misjudging distance
- Paying poor attention to surroundings
- Exercising poor judgment
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Reviews
When our clients are happy, they say so. Whether we’re being described for how well we communicate, our responsiveness, or the quality of our service, we’re consistently rated 5.0 out of 5.0 by those we represent.
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Ratings
As an industry leader in the field of personal injury, we're proud to maintain a superb 10.0 out of 10.0 rating on AVVO.com, have a preeminent AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, and have recently been awarded Client Champion Platinum status from Lawyers.com.
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Results
In the last ten years, we've recovered $50 million on behalf of our clients. Our motto is simple - You do what you need to do physically recover, and we'll handle the rest.
Liability in a Pedestrian Accident
If you or a loved one has been the unfortunate victim of a pedestrian accident in Colorado, you’ll rightfully be wanting to look for someone to blame.
Steep medical bills lost earnings, and the emotional pain and suffering that comes with a car accident can make the experience even more difficult.
But before you can receive the necessary financial compensation to cover these costs, you’ll first have to work with your insurance provider and the courts to establish liability for the accident.
Under Colorado law, every driver has a responsibility to take a proper amount of care while out on the road. This is called “duty of care,” and it is often at the heart of most pedestrian accident cases.
Drivers must exercise the same caution toward pedestrians as everyone else.
When they fail to provide that level of safety and an accident occurs, that driver can be held liable.
When an insurance representative is investigating the circumstances of your injury claim, if the driver is clearly at fault, you will be offered a financial settlement.
Because the insurance company wants to minimize the payout, this offer is oftentimes too low.
If you decide to file a claim against the driver, you will need the help of an experienced attorney who can guide you through the legal steps of fighting your case.
Your Boulder pedestrian accident attorney can help you seek the correct amount of compensation by reviewing witness reports, evidence, and other details surrounding your case.
If the driver is found to be wholly responsible for the accident, you will recover your damages.
Pedestrians also need to realize that their own actions can contribute to a collision.
For example, pedestrians who race in front of moving traffic, or who try to weave through traffic on a highway, may contribute to their own accidents and injuries.
According to Colorado Revised Statute 13-21-111, a person bringing a lawsuit can receive compensation so long as he is less responsible for the accident than the defendants.
If you engaged in reckless behavior or if you were distracted when walking (for example, by looking at your phone), you might have contributed to your own accident, and the court may reduce any compensation you qualify for by your percentage of fault.
Defense attorneys will frequently try to blame victims for their injuries to reduce liability for their clients.
The Boulder personal injury team at Tenge Law Firm, LLC, however, knows how to outflank these arguments by using expert testimony and eyewitness accounts, among other things, when appropriate or available.
What If the Driver Who Hit Me Is Uninsured?
If you own a car or live with a relative who owns a car, and the car is covered by an uninsured motorist policy, you can make a claim on the UM coverage, because it follows you wherever you go.
Many people are unaware of this option, but we are excellent at determining the available insurance coverage to make sure you get the justice you deserve.
What Are Common Pedestrian Injuries?
Without any protection, pedestrians can suffer the full brunt of a collision.
As a result, they can suffer devastating injuries, including:
- Broken bones. Any bone on the body could break, but breaks in the ribcage are particularly dangerous since they can spear internal organs. Also, compound fractures (where the bone protrudes through the skin) place victims at risk of infection if not cleaned and treated properly.
- Soft-tissue injuries. Serious sprains or strains can severely damage tendons, ligaments, or muscles. A bad contusion can put pressure on muscles and block the flow of blood.
- Cuts, lacerations, and road rash. These wounds require proper cleaning so that they can heal without infection. Bad cuts can cause permanent scars.
- Burns. Second- and third-degree burns can lead to scars and tissue damage. Many pedestrians need skin grafts.
- Brain injuries. Any blow to the body can damage how the brain operates. Many people suffering from traumatic brain injuries suffer from impaired mobility, speech, sensation, memory, and thought processes.
- Spinal cord injuries. Victims can suffer a partial or total loss of sensation or mobility. Many patients can become permanently paralyzed.
According to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, patients with a partial loss of sensation or mobility as a result of spinal cord injury spend an average of $42,000 a year. It is not unusual for someone with even partial loss of mobility to spend far more than $1 million in medical treatments during the rest of his or her life.
What Compensation May Be Available for Injured Victims?
When the accident is the fault of a careless or reckless driver, our clients have received compensation for:
- Medical expenses (hospital visits, surgery, doctor’s visits, prescription drugs)
- Medical equipment, such as crutches, braces, and wheelchairs
- Future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Lost future earning capacity
Injured pedestrians can also receive money for injuries that are harder to calculate in dollars and cents, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium
- Physical impairment
- Disfigurement
The amount of money you can receive depends on many factors, including the seriousness and permanency of your injuries, as well as the amount of insurance the defendant has.
To fully analyze your case, schedule a consultation with an experienced Boulder pedestrian accident lawyer.
Handling Hit and Runs
Some pedestrians, unfortunately, do not know who struck them because the driver takes off in clear violation of the law.
Compensation for a hit-and-run can prove challenging to recover, but you do have options:
- Security cameras from nearby businesses might have caught the driver on video.
- Witnesses might have noticed the vehicle that struck you and can provide a description of the vehicle and the driver.
- Police may have arrested the driver after the accident for another, unrelated offense, such as DUI.
Our investigation might identify the driver who injured you—then we can make a claim for compensation. We can also assist with uninsured motorist claims.
Contact a Boulder Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
To protect your rights, immediately contact the Tenge Law Firm, LLC.
Our team of pedestrian accident lawyers in Boulder can move quickly to preserve evidence and seek full and fair compensation for your injuries.
To schedule your free, no-obligation case evaluation, please call (303) 219-7377 or reach out to us online.
