Lake Tahoe Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Pedestrian Accident Attorney In Lake Tahoe, NV

Pedestrian accidents can be among the most dangerous motor vehicle crashes. Unlike the occupants of a car, pedestrians have no protective barrier keeping them safe. No airbags, no seat belts, nothing preventing them from suffering serious harm. If you’ve been injured while walking on the sidewalk or crossing the street, a Lake Tahoe pedestrian accident lawyer from Aaron Law Group can be your trusted ally to guide you through the legal process and recover compensation.

Proving Negligence in a Pedestrian Accident

To prove negligence in a pedestrian accident, you must establish four elements: duty of care, breach of duty, causation, and damages. Establishing the duty of care may be the easiest step, as all drivers on the road have a duty of care to drive safely. Proving they breached that duty is more complicated. A breach may include speeding, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, texting while driving, and ignoring crosswalk signals.

Once you’ve proven a breach occurred, you have to show causation. This means that the breach of duty directly or indirectly led to the accident. If a driver was texting and didn’t see you enter the crosswalk, that would constitute causation. Finally, you must demonstrate that you suffered damages as a result of the accident. These can include medical bills for injury treatment, time missed from work, and other losses.

Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents

Lake Tahoe is a popular tourist destination, with bustling areas all around. In fact, the region sees two million visitors every year. Between the casinos in Stateline and various outdoor attractions, the streets of Lake Tahoe can become quite a hazard for pedestrians. Common causes of pedestrian accidents include:

• Failure to yield at crosswalks
• Speeding
• DUI
• Distracted driving
• Poor visibility

Damages Accident Victims Can Recover

If you’ve been injured in a pedestrian accident, you may be entitled to various economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are your losses that come with a verifiable price. These include the costs of hospital stays, doctor’s office bills, time spent away from work, and costs to modify your home to accommodate your injury.

With 393 pedestrian accident fatalities from 2017 to 2021, it’s important to know that family members may also be able to pursue wrongful death damages.

Non-economic damages, also known as pain and suffering, are compensation for your intangible losses. These include emotional distress, disfiguration, loss of consortium, and loss of enjoyment of life. These damages might not come with a price tag, but that doesn’t make them any less real.

In cases of serious misconduct or egregious behavior, a judge may award a pedestrian accident victim punitive damages. This is meant less as a form of compensation for the injured and more as a punishment for the liable party. If your pedestrian accident claim settles out of court, don’t expect to receive these damages, as only a judge can award punitive damages.

How Aaron Law Group Can Help

Managing a personal injury case while also dealing with the stress that comes with recovery can be physically and emotionally draining for anyone. It’s smart to work with an experienced Lake Tahoe pedestrian accident attorney. That’s where Aaron Law Group comes in.

Our founding attorney, Matthew Aaron, has been practicing personal injury law for over three decades, and he can take the knowledge and experience he’s gained over those years and use it to fight for you. We’ve won numerous multi-million-dollar settlements for our clients, helping make them whole again after their accidents. We know Nevada’s pedestrian accident laws and local courts, and we can put that knowledge to work for you.

FAQs

What Is the Average Settlement for a Car Accident in Nevada?

It’s impossible to give a true figure for the average settlement for a car accident in Nevada. First, compensation varies significantly from case to case, with some accidents settling for thousands and others reaching hundreds of thousands. Second, most settlements aren’t public knowledge, so it’s difficult to give an accurate average. When you first meet with your attorney, they can give you an idea of what to expect in terms of compensation.

Are You Automatically at Fault if You Hit a Pedestrian?

You are not automatically at fault if you hit a pedestrian while driving. Pedestrians have rules they must follow, just like cars. If they violate these rules and an accident ensues, they may share fault. While liability typically starts with the driver, an investigation will uncover negligence and assign fault. Nevada follows a modified comparative negligence system, meaning your share of fault impacts the amount of compensation you can pursue.

Do Pedestrians Always Legally Have the Right of Way?

No, pedestrians do not always legally have the right of way. If they are jaywalking or crossing a street despite traffic signals indicating they should not, they do not have the right of way. Still, drivers are expected to take reasonable measures to avoid hitting pedestrians, even if a pedestrian does not have the right of way.

Can I Claim Compensation for a Pedestrian Accident?

Yes, you can claim compensation for a pedestrian accident if you were hit by a car while on a sidewalk or crossing the street. Accident victims can claim compensation for their economic damages, like hospital bills, property damage, and time missed from work, as well as non-economic damages like pain and suffering. In some cases, you can even be awarded punitive damages.

Hire a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

If you were injured while crossing the street or walking on the sidewalk, hire a pedestrian accident lawyer to help you fight for the compensation you deserve. Aaron Law Group is here to give you peace of mind as our experienced team manages every aspect of your case.

We can collect evidence, evaluate your damages, and represent you in settlement negotiations or trial before a judge and jury. We don’t back down when facing insurance companies or their legal teams.

Contact us today to schedule a free consultation. We can discuss your case and explain your options going forward.

Lake Tahoe, NV Pedestrian Accident Resources

• Can Pedestrians Be At Fault for Accidents in Nevada?
• Nevada Is One of the Deadliest States for Pedestrians