Mississippi Pedestrian Accidents Lawyers

Pedestrian Injury Lawyers Serving Mississippi

There is nothing more terrifying than taking a walk and suddenly being struck by a motor vehicle. Not only are pedestrian accidents shocking and horrifying, but they often lead to long-term injuries, permanent disabilities, or loss of life. In the United States, pedestrian injuries are the fifth-leading cause of injury-related death for children. In Mississippi, there were dozens of pedestrian deaths recorded in a single year alone, as reported by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS).

Because Oxford is near the University of Mississippi, pedestrian accidents involving students are frighteningly common. While not all pedestrian accidents are fatal, they often leave pedestrians facing life with the challenges of permanent disabilities. At the law office of Tannehill Carmean, PLLC, our experienced pedestrian accident injury lawyers can help you navigate the claims process if you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian crash. Call our law firm today to discuss your legal rights as an injured pedestrian accident victim.

What Are the Most Common Injuries Suffered in a Pedestrian Accident?

When a pedestrian accident occurs, the victim who was struck by a vehicle can rarely walk away unscathed. They typically sustain serious injuries or lose their lives. Some of the most common injuries in a pedestrian accident include:

• Traumatic brain injuries: A traumatic brain injury, or TBI, is one of the most devastating—and common—injuries. A TBI occurs when the head is hit with force or punctured by an object. A traumatic brain injury can lead to long-term complications in cognition, emotion, memory, reason, logic, sensation, language, and communication. As such, it can be painful and life-altering
• Internal injuries: Internal injuries can result when a pedestrian crash occurs, causing the body to be punctured with an object or struck with force sufficient to cause internal bleeding and badly damage vital organs. When a car slams into your body, it’s usually with enough force to damage your heart, lungs, spleen, kidneys, liver, or other critical organs
• Spinal cord injuries: One of the most tragic types of injuries that result from a pedestrian accident is a spinal cord injury. This type of serious injury happens when the spinal cord, which runs the length of the spine and is responsible for communication between the brain and the rest of the body, is injured. A spinal cord injury can lead to permanent paralysis from the site of the injury downwards
• Bone fractures: A bone fracture is very common and can happen even if other injuries are not serious. If a pedestrian is struck and falls, fractures to the skull, elbow, wrist, clavicle, and hips are common. Fortunately, most, although not all, bone fractures will heal with time and proper medical care
• Scarring and disfigurement: Pedestrian accidents and injuries can cause disabling injuries, but they can also leave permanent physical scars. Scarring and disfigurement can be painful, emotional, and disabling in some cases, making it difficult for victims to work or even feel comfortable in public
• Soft tissue injuries: In addition to the types of other serious injuries a person can suffer, they may suffer soft tissue injuries from falling or twisting when struck by a car. Soft tissue injuries refer to strains and sprains of the body’s muscles and ligaments
• Crush injuries: If a pedestrian is not only struck by a car but also run over by a motor vehicle, they could suffer crush injuries. Such injuries may require the amputation of a limb, depending on the extent of the damage
• Psychological injuries: Physical injuries are not the only types of injuries that someone involved in a pedestrian accident may suffer. Psychological injuries, including post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety, are all common and can change the victim’s life for the worse
• Pedestrian fatalities: In the most tragic cases, the victim cannot survive their injuries and passes away far too soon

If you or a family member suffered these or other severe injuries in a pedestrian accident, you should talk to a personal injury lawyer about your legal options. You may be able to pursue a personal injury claim so you can be compensated for your losses, including medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. Call our Mississippi law firm today to learn more.

Who May Be at Fault in Pedestrian Accidents?

When a pedestrian accident occurs, determining fault is among the most important steps to take before you can seek compensation. Unfortunately, proving fault in a pedestrian accident is often much more complex than it should be. When you work with our Mississippi pedestrian accident lawyer, we’ll work hard to investigate your case and gather evidence to prove that you were not to blame for your injuries.

There is a misconception that drivers are always to blame for pedestrian accidents, often due to ignoring traffic signals, breaking traffic laws, or failing to see pedestrians crossing because of distracted driving. While many pedestrian accidents are caused by negligent drivers, there are some situations when this is not the case.

Pedestrians are required to yield to drivers in many situations and have a duty to walk responsibly. This means walking while sober and distraction-free. Pedestrians cannot legally walk into a vehicle’s pathway or cross when they do not have the right of way. It’s important to recognize this because these arguments could be made against you following a pedestrian crash, aiming to reduce the liability of the responsible driver and place blame on your shoulders.

If you and your attorney can prove that the driver who hit you was responsible for the accident, you can recover damages to ensure you’re not left paying for the devastating consequences of the crash. You may be able to collect compensation even if it turns out you were partly at fault, such as if you crossed the street outside of a designated crosswalk or didn’t have the right of way when you were struck. This is because Mississippi recognizes the rule of comparative fault, which holds that a plaintiff’s recoverable damages amount can be reduced in proportion to their degree of fault.

For example, if you are found to be 10 percent to blame for the accident, you can only hold the driver liable for 90 percent of your total damages. As a result, your compensation will be reduced by 10 percent. Our Mississippi pedestrian accident lawyers can review the facts of your case and advise you how to proceed, so call our law firm today for legal representation before you seek damages.

What Damages Are Paid in a Pedestrian Accident Claim in Oxford, MS?

By bringing a pedestrian accident claim against the at-fault party, you can seek damages for the full value of harm you’ve suffered. The specific damages you can recover will vary based on the impact the pedestrian accident has had on your life, such as the cost of your medical treatment bills and the amount of time you had to take off work. An experienced pedestrian accident attorney can give you an estimate of the amount to expect for your case.

The economic damages you can recover may include:

• Lost wages
• Loss of future earning capacity
• Property damages
• Medical expenses
• Future medical treatment bills for physical therapy, ongoing medication to manage physical pain, and more

You can also pursue non-economic damages, which can include:

• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Disfigurement
• Emotional distress
• Loss of consortium

Additionally, if you lost a loved one in a pedestrian accident, you may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim against the liable party’s insurance company. Skilled pedestrian accident attorneys can carefully review your case to determine what kind of claim you can make and what your settlement will include. Whether you sustained cuts, bruises, and broken bones or suffered injuries that will require extensive medical treatment, you deserve to recover compensation so you don’t have to pay for your medical bills on your own. Call our firm today for guidance through the legal process of initiating a pedestrian accident claim.

What Can a Pedestrian Accident Attorney Do for Injured Victims?

The role of our Oxford pedestrian accident attorneys is to maximize your recoverable settlement amount and improve your chances of achieving the largest settlement possible. At the office of Tannehill Carmean, PLLC, we offer a range of vital services to assist injured pedestrians, including the following:

• Investigate the accident: Our team can gather evidence by interviewing eyewitnesses, reviewing police reports, and examining any available video or images. This can help us prove who was at fault
• Call on respected experts: We can speak with various experts in the medical, financial, or accident reconstruction fields to help guide your case throughout the legal process
• Calculate the value of the case: We will calculate the value of your claim to determine how much compensation should be pursued on your behalf
• Negotiate the terms of a settlement: Our Oxford accident lawyers bring exceptional negotiating skills to every case. We will fight to ensure the settlement reflects the true extent of your injuries
• File a lawsuit: When the insurance company fails to make a fair settlement offer, we are more than willing to take the case to civil court for resolution. Filing a lawsuit can lead to a fair settlement being offered before the case goes to court. Should it go to court, we are well-prepared and professional

If you’re considering taking legal action against the party responsible for your injuries, call our law firm for legal assistance. We’re experienced at determining the causes of pedestrian accidents, calculating fair settlements, and negotiating on behalf of our clients across Mississippi.

Why Should You Choose Us to Handle Your Pedestrian Accident Case in Oxford, MS?

At Tannehill Carmean, PLLC, we’re proud to say our legal team has represented numerous injured pedestrians seeking generous compensation for their injuries. We offer our clients more, including the following:

• Experience: We have been serving the Oxford, MS, area for over 20 years, and our legal team has earned a reputation for legal excellence in personal injury claims, including pedestrian accidents
• Dedication: Our pedestrian accident lawyers are committed to serving clients with superior legal care and are focused on seeking fair compensation, personalized care, and attention
• Legal talent: We take pride in the outstanding skills of our team of attorneys and their notable achievements in personal injury law. We bring true talent to every case, and it shows in the compensation we have recovered for our clients
• Superior personal service: You need an attorney who genuinely cares about you and your future health and well-being. Our lawyers in Oxford, MS, are empathetic and always keep our clients informed as the case progresses
• Supporting students of Ole Miss: The legal team at our firm is often engaged in filing claims for students at Ole Miss who have been injured while walking on campus or in town. We are honored to be considered a trusted law firm for young people and their families in Oxford
• Driven to perform: Our legal team is not only talented but also dedicated to securing fair and full compensation for our clients who have been injured after being struck by a moving vehicle. We take our responsibility to our clients and pedestrian safety very seriously, and we fight to win

To learn more about how our experienced Oxford, Mississippi, pedestrian accident lawyers can assist you, please contact us at 662-200-8734 or send a message through our website to schedule a consultation. We’ve won countless pedestrian accident injury cases for clients over the years, and we’re eager to do the same for you and your family.