Determining a single average payout for a pedestrian hit by a car can be difficult. Payouts in these cases vary widely, depending on the severity of the injuries involved and the facts of the accident. Cases involving minor injuries may settle for several thousand, while those involving catastrophic injuries could be worth more than a million.
Keep reading below to learn more about how to determine the payout for a pedestrian hit by a car in Austin, Texas.
How Common Are Pedestrian Accidents?
Pedestrian accidents in Austin are an all too common occurrence. While Austin sees fewer overall car accidents than many other major cities in Texas, the percentage of accidents involving a pedestrian is higher in Austin than anywhere else in the state. Additionally, around 28% of pedestrian accidents in Austin result in serious injury or death.
Factors Affecting the Value of a Pedestrian Accident Claim
There are many factors that are used to determine the value of a pedestrian accident claim. Comparing the value of one claim to another can be challenging because each claim must be evaluated based on its own facts.
Some of the factors that will have the biggest influence on the case’s value are:
- The severity of your injuries
- How much time you missed from work
- The total cost of your medical treatments
- Your future medical care needs
- Your expected future employment outlook
- The amount of insurance available
- Whether you share any fault for the accident
- How your daily life and relationships have been affected
Cases involving more severe injuries will usually see higher payouts than those involving only minor or moderate injuries. The best way to determine the value of your claim is to seek help from an experienced personal injury lawyer who can review your case and help negotiate a full and fair recovery.
Common Injuries Resulting From Pedestrian Accidents
A pedestrian is no match for a motor vehicle, and these accidents often leave pedestrians with serious injuries. Many pedestrian accidents are unfortunately fatal.
Some of the most common injuries that result from these accidents are:
- Brain injuries
- Fractures and broken bones
- Back and spine injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Internal organ damage
- Severe bruising and soft tissue damage
- Lacerations
- Road rash
Many of these accident victims require significant medical care and months of recovery. Some victims never fully recover from their injuries.
How the Texas Statute of Limitations Can Affect Your Pedestrian Accident Claim
After a pedestrian accident, your time to file a claim for damages is limited. The Texas statute of limitations allows most accident victims two years from the date of the accident to file a claim. Missing the deadline may completely bar you from recovering any compensation for your injuries.
This is why it is so important to seek help from an experienced personal injury lawyer as soon after your accident as possible.
What To Do After a Pedestrian Accident
If you want to protect your legal rights and maximize your recovery, here are the steps you should take after being hit by a car.
- Seek immediate medical treatment for your injuries
- Get names and contact information from witnesses
- Notify the police so that they can create an accident report and preserve evidence
- Continue to follow your doctor’s orders throughout your recovery
- Take pictures of your injuries and keep all your medical bills and receipts
- Do not post about your accident on social media
- Do not talk to the insurance company without a lawyer
- Get help from an experienced lawyer who can handle your claim
The steps you take after a pedestrian accident can have a significant impact on both your health and your ability to recover compensation.
Contact McMinn Personal Injury Lawyers To Schedule a Free Consultation With an Austin Pedestrian Accident Attorney
There is no standard payout for a pedestrian accident claim because every case is different. Factors such as the severity of your injuries, medical expenses, lost income, and the impact on your daily life will all affect the value of your claim in Texas.
The team at McMinn Personal Injury Lawyers has over 40 years of experience helping injury victims recover the compensation they need. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with an Austin pedestrian accident lawyer and learn how we can help.
We proudly serve clients throughout Austin, TX in Travis County, as well as Salt Lake City, UT in Salt Lake County.
McMinn Personal Injury Lawyers – Austin, TX Office
502 W 14th St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 474-0222
McMinn Personal Injury Lawyers – Salt Lake City, UT Office
650 S 500 W Suite 290, Salt Lake City, UT 84104
(385) 462-7630