Augusta Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

One of the joys of living in or visiting a town is the number of walkable things to do and see. Sadly, this also leads to thousands of people being struck by a vehicle while walking around. Many of these accidents result in serious injury or even death. Of course, it’s important to be safe while walking around cities like Augusta, but even if you follow the signs and pay attention to what’s happening around you, there’s always the chance a driver won’t see you. A vehicle hitting you can be catastrophic. These types of injuries can stick with you for life and require years of medical attention or therapy. If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident, the first thing you’ll want to do is speak to a pedestrian accident lawyer. The next few years could be very difficult, and a good pedestrian accident attorney will at least ensure you and your family are protected.

If you or a loved one suffered injuries after being hit by a car in Augusta, our legal team can seek compensation. An Augusta pedestrian accident lawyer from our firm can review your legal options today. We can often help victims recover money to pay their medical bills, lost income, and other related expenses.

We work based on contingency fees. We do not charge our clients any upfront expenses or fees. Instead, we take our attorney’s fees as a portion of the payout when we close the case. If our clients do not get paid, we do not get paid. We can answer your questions and discuss our fees in detail during your initial consultation with our team.

Contact us for more information. You do not have to fight the insurance company and recover compensation on your own. Our injury attorneys handle these claims for clients from start to finish. Call us to get started.

What Determines Fault in a Pedestrian Accident?

A lot of people are under the impression that the pedestrian always has the right of way, but that’s not actually the case. Trying to decipher who was at fault after a pedestrian accident is actually more challenging than you might think. Sadly, pedestrian accidents don’t usually end well, and you may have been in such a bad state you couldn’t even make a statement at the scene of the accident. If this happens, the driver’s statement may have a major influence on the court’s decision. Driver’s have a responsibility to drive with caution and stay focused on the road, but often they are distracted by a text message or someone else in the car. That said, pedestrians also have a responsibility to protect themselves. If the pedestrian ran into traffic or crossed illegally, it could be considered negligence and remove eligibility for compensation.

How Much is My Claim Worth?

Every situation is different, but if you’re a pedestrian struck by a vehicle, it could easily result in severe injuries or death. Medical bills, lost wages, and emotional turmoil all add up to a huge cost you shouldn’t have to shoulder. If a driver’s negligence is what caused your accident, they very well might owe you for both economic and non-economic damages. The best, and really, the only way to determine how much your claim is worth, is to sit down with an Augusta pedestrian accident lawyer who can look at your claim and break down exactly how much it could be worth.

The Hawk Firm: Your Augusta Pedestrian Accident Attorneys

At The Hawk Firm, our team knows how to navigate the insurance claims process and pursue legal action for our clients in the courtroom. We believe traffic accident victims deserve compensation for the injuries they suffered and the financial damages they incurred. You should not have to pay for expenses and losses due to someone else’s carelessness or recklessness.

Firm founder Jacque Hawk has served Augusta, GA, and the nearby areas for almost 35 years. His name is one of the most recognized in the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA), as his success in getting settlements and verdicts speaks for itself. He is a trial lawyer, unafraid to litigate a case when necessary to get a fair outcome for his clients.

We want to ensure you feel empowered and confident when you trust our team with your case. We know this peace of mind is invaluable. Knowing you have an advocate on your side throughout the legal process allows you to fully focus on healing. You can trust us to make the right call based on what is best for you.

We Offer Comprehensive Legal Help to Injured Pedestrians in Augusta, GA

A pedestrian accident can derail your plans for the future and affect your quality of life. Our team knows this all too well. When you entrust us with your legal case, you can focus on healing and moving forward. In the meantime, our lawyers intend on:

Determining Your Injury’s Severity

We’re not healthcare professionals. However, knowing the details of your condition helps us move forward with a solid injury claim. To learn more, we may consult

with your medical team to learn about your estimated recovery period, mobility, and physical limitations.

We advocate for pedestrians who want compensation after suffering:

• Head injuries, including traumatic brain injuries and concussions
• Back and neck injuries, including spinal cord injuries and paralysis
• Traumatic amputations and other serious limb injuries
• Fractures
• Joint injuries
• Internal injuries and bleeding
• Cuts, contusions, and abrasions

Establishing Negligence

To recoup your losses via an insurance claim or lawsuit, we must show that the driver acted negligently. This means they didn’t act as another reasonable person would have in the same situation.

Negligence involves showing these four elements:

• Duty of care. As a motorist, the other party had a civil obligation to follow traffic laws.
• Breach of duty. The motorist didn’t follow traffic laws.
• Causation. Because the other party didn’t act with reasonable caution, they caused your accident and injuries.

Damages. You have damages stemming from your injuries, such as medical bills and lost income.

Supplementing Your Case With Evidence

We need to prove these four factors above are present in your case to recover money damages.

This requires us to investigate the collision and gather evidence such as:

• The accident report filed by responding police officers
• Your relevant medical records
• Eyewitness statements
• Videos or photos
• The accident scene survey
• Accident reconstruction data
• Damage to the vehicle
• Expert witness testimony
• Documentation of your damages

Using this evidence, our team develops a strong argument to show the insurance representatives, judge, and jury that the driver caused the crash and your injuries. This is imperative if we want to recover fair compensation to cover your medical bills and other related expenses.

Filing Your Insurance Claim

Following a pedestrian accident in Augusta, you can file a claim with the at-fault driver’s liability insurance. All motorists must carry liability insurance, and this coverage pays for injured people’s losses in a crash. Filing an insurance claim requires us to understand your damages’ value, the liable policy, and how the accident happened.

The Hawk Firm resolves many cases through insurance settlements. Yet, you have options beyond an insurance claim, depending on your situation.

Litigating Your Case

Sometimes, we need to sue. Our trial attorneys do not back down from this situation just because it can be expensive or arduous. We know how to navigate the process and litigate these cases when necessary.

We may file a civil lawsuit if:

• The deadline for starting a lawsuit approaches.
• There are unanswered questions about negligence and liability.
• The insurance company will not offer a fair settlement.
• Other circumstances lead our attorneys to make the recommendation.
• There are other unsettled disputes.

Usually, Georgia law gives us up to two years to begin a lawsuit based on a traffic accident injury. This generally applies in most cases, although there are exceptions. Missing this deadline could jeopardize your case, so we must meet it.

There are other good reasons for getting started quickly, too. Some evidence disappears with time, so the sooner we begin investigating the crash, the better. This could mean a stronger case and a fair settlement offer.

When our attorneys work on a pedestrian accident case, we manage it from start to finish. We want you to focus on healing. We strive to provide peace of mind about your case, and you can contact us anytime for an update or with questions.

Our Lawyers in Augusta Aim to Recover These Injury-Related Losses

We help our clients recover compensation that includes:

• Medical care expenses and related costs
• Future and ongoing treatment needs
• Lost income from all sources
• Reduced earning ability because of lasting injuries
• Property damages
• Miscellaneous expenses related to the accident or injuries
• Pain and suffering and inconvenience
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Disability
• Loss of consortium

A fair settlement should account for your past, present, and future injury-related hardships. During our partnership, if the insurer directly offers compensation, run that offer past our team first. We can determine whether it constitutes a fair deal and move forward from there.

Our Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Support Wrongful Death Claimants

Unfortunately, some pedestrians hit by cars pass away from their injuries. When this occurs, Georgia law allows the immediate family to pursue compensation in a wrongful death case. Essentially, if the victim could have had a pedestrian accident claim if they lived, their family can likely pursue wrongful death-related damages.

Georgia law generally limits who can act on behalf of the family to:

The spouse and/or minor children

• Any adult children, if no spouse or minor children exist
• Either surviving parent, if no spouse or children exist
• A sibling, if no other surviving immediate family exists

If there are no surviving family members, Georgia law allows a personal representative—generally the party named by the probate court—to file a wrongful death action. Our attorneys work with families to determine who should act for them in their insurance claim or lawsuit.

We also identify the recoverable damages and develop a case to show:

• What happened
• Who acted negligently
• Who is legally liable for the victim’s passing
• What losses and expenses the family endured as a result

If you lost a loved one in an Augusta pedestrian accident, we can discuss your options with you for free today. You do not have to sort out the possible legal solutions and handle this on your own. Let us manage your case so you can spend time with your family and take care of what is most important.

Our Augusta Pedestrian Accident Attorneys Want Justice for You

At The Hawk Firm, we fight to recover compensation for our clients and help them regain their financial footing following a pedestrian accident. Because of the way Georgia traffic laws work, drivers must be careful around pedestrians. These laws hold them responsible for the safety of people using crosswalks under many circumstances.

When a driver fails to do so, an accident may occur.

The vehicle may hit a pedestrian:

• On the side of the road
• In a crosswalk
• On the street outside of a crosswalk
• On the sidewalk or paved path
• In a parking lot or garage

We advocate for people in these (and other) situations. During your complimentary consultation, we can discuss your legal options and what you can expect from the claims process.

You Can Get Answers to These Pedestrian Accident-Related Questions Now

Weighing your legal options may seem like an arduous task. Yet, we want you to have all the information necessary to make solid legal decisions, such as whether to hire an Augusta pedestrian accident lawyer. You may ask:

What Should I Do After My Collision?

Getting medical attention should be among your top priorities after being in a pedestrian accident. If you have already sought emergency medical care, it’s vital that you follow your post-visit instructions. This may involve taking certain medications, refraining from physical activity, and attending physical therapy. You want to show the insurer that you’re doing everything possible to reach maximum

medical improvement.

You should also keep track of your losses after the collision happens. This includes keeping receipts for out-of-pocket expenses. These items help your Augusta attorney calculate what you need.

What Should I Avoid After My Pedestrian Accident?

There are many post-accident measures that could make it hard to recover damages.

We suggest that you refrain from:

• Making online posts about the collision. Georgia considers anything you share on social media to be public record. The claims adjuster could use anything you post to deny your claim or offer less than you deserve.
• Forgoing medical care. Don’t try to tough out a serious injury. Doing so could end up causing further complications in the long run. It could also give the insurer reason to discredit your case.
• Accepting the first settlement offer. Many insurers make fast settlement offers as “tests,” seeing if injured claimants will accept compensation without knowing their damages’ actual cost. By referring all settlement offers to your lawyer, you can avoid being left with out-of-pocket expenses.
• Giving a recorded statement. You’re not obligated to give a recorded statement following your collision. Still, the insurer may ask for one, hoping to find something to devalue your case.

What Happens if I Was Hurt at Work?

If you suffered a pedestrian accident while doing your job-related duties, you can file for workers’ compensation. This program allows you to seek recovery for your medical bills and lost wages up to a certain extent. In addition to seeking workers’ compensation benefits, you could file a civil claim or lawsuit against the at-fault driver.

Do I Really Need a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer?

Pedestrian accidents might seem pretty straightforward (for example, the pedestrian has the right-of-way and the driver is typically at fault), but they are actually a lot more complicated than that. There are so many factors that go into determining who was really at fault. When you’re living in a hospital or worrying about how you’ll pay your medical bills, you should be focusing on recovery, not a legal battle. You deserve to have a tough, knowledgeable pedestrian accident lawyer representing you.

Discuss Your Case With Our Team and Get Help From an Augusta Attorney

The Hawk Firm provides complimentary case consultations for those hurt by careless drivers in Augusta. We can help you understand your options and rights after a pedestrian accident. Victims can usually seek compensation through an insurance claim or lawsuit, recovering fair compensation based on the facts of their case. Learn more today by connecting with our team for your free case review.Contact us at (706) 724-8537 to speak with a team member now. For more information, reach out to an Augusta personal injury lawyer.

Client Testimonials

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 Star Review

“Best Law Firm in the CSRA! Thank you Hawk Firm for handling all of my legal needs with outstanding professionalism! Highly recommend The Hawk Firm to anyone in need of legal services!” -Rob W.