Chattanooga Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Injured by a Negligent Driver While Walking?

Pedestrians have no protection from the force of a collision with a car. This often results in severe injuries that require long-term medical care.

Our Chattanooga pedestrian accident lawyers help these victims seek compensation for medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. We know many of these victims are unsure of what to do next, which is why we offer a free legal consultation.

Whether you were injured in an accident involving a car, truck, bus or bicycle, our firm has the experience and proven record to guide you through the legal process. Our lawyers do not charge any upfront fees to represent you and are available 24/7 to support you through your road to recovery.

What Types of Pedestrian Accident Cases Do We Take On?

Were you seriously injured in any of the types of Chattanooga pedestrian accidents listed below? Our firm may be able to help you seek compensation:

• Crosswalk accidents at intersections or mid-block crossings caused by drivers failing to yield to pedestrians
• Intersection accidents where pedestrians are struck while crossing at intersections without signals, such as by a vehicle turning right or left
• Sidewalk accidents caused by drivers who lose control and mount the curb
• Backing-up accidents where drivers fail to check for pedestrians before backing up
• Dart-out accidents caused by pedestrians darting out into the road, such as from between parked cars
• Bus stop accidents where pedestrians get hit while waiting for buses
• Drunk driving accidents, which often happen at night in urban areas
• Work zone accidents where pedestrians get hit by drivers who are confused by altered traffic patterns
• School zone accidents involving children, especially when they are getting picked up or dropped off
• Collisions caused by poor visibility, such as from poor lighting, bad weather or simply driving at night
• Multiple-threat accidents where one vehicle stops for a pedestrian, but another does not

What Is Your Chattanooga Pedestrian Accident Case Worth?

There are many factors in the value of compensation for a pedestrian accident case, such as:

• Extent and Permanency of Injuries: Two of the central factors in the value of a case are the severity and lasting impact of your injuries. The worse the injury and the longer it affects you, the more your claim is likely to be worth. For instance, pedestrian accident victims who have paralysis from a spinal cord injury often need long-term care and must make significant adjustments to their lifestyle.
• Impact on Your Ability to Work and Earn: How long will the injury prevent you from working or limit your hours or tasks you can perform? Some victims cannot work during their recovery, allowing them to seek compensation for lost wages. Others may have permanent impairments that prevent them from working or working in the same capacity as before. For instance, if your pedestrian crash injury prevents you from progressing in your career, you can seek compensation for lost earning capacity.
• Medical Expenses: Immediate medical costs following an accident are often just the tip of the iceberg. We must account for future medical expenses, including rehabilitation, surgery and any long-term care requirements so the compensation you receive today safeguards your health and financial well-being tomorrow.
• Pain and Suffering: This refers to the emotional distress and physical pain you have endured and may be likely to endure in the future. These emotional and physical issues can profoundly reduce your quality of life. It is much harder to calculate these damages than it is to evaluate medical costs. Pain and suffering are subjective and based on the victim’s experience. Our compassionate attorneys understand this and we are committed to securing compensation that accounts for the physical and emotional toll of a serious injury.

At Massey & Associates, P.C., we understand that the value of your compensation represents the major impact the accident has had and will have on your life. We evaluate the full picture to ensure the compensation we seek reflects all the damages you have suffered.

How Long Do I Have To File a Claim?

Tennessee gives pedestrian accident victims one year to seek compensation. While this is the deadline for filing a lawsuit, insurance company deadlines for filing claims are nowhere near as long. Victims should reach out to an experienced Chattanooga pedestrian accident lawyer as soon as possible to discuss legal options.

There are several exceptions to the one-year statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit for a pedestrian accident injury, such as:

• Disability: If you, as the injured party, are considered legally “disabled” at the time of the accident (due to minority or mental incapacity), the clock on the statute of limitations may not start running until the disability is lifted.
• Absence of the Defendant from the State: Should the individual responsible for the accident leave the state of Tennessee or conceal themselves within the state, the statute of limitations will stop until the liable party is found or he or she returns to the state.
• Discovery Rule: In certain cases, the one-year timeframe to file a lawsuit may start from the date when you discovered your injury, rather than the date of the accident.

Our attorneys can evaluate your situation to determine if any of these exceptions may apply to your case.  

How Can I Seek Compensation After Being Hit as a Pedestrian in Chattanooga?

Pedestrians have two main options for seeking compensation for their damages:

• Filing an Insurance Claim: Your first option for seeking compensation after getting hit by a car is to make a claim against the driver’s insurance policy. In Tennessee, drivers are required to have a minimum of $25,000 in liability coverage for each injury or death per accident. This claim can cover your immediate medical expenses, lost wages and potentially other damages, depending on your situation and the specifics of the insurance policy. Most drivers purchase more than the minimum required coverage, so the insurance policy may have enough to cover your damages.
• Personal Injury Lawsuit: Most cases settle, but pedestrian accident victims still have the option to file a lawsuit. This often happens when the victim’s lawyer and liable insurance company cannot reach agreement on a settlement. The insurance company may deny the claim or not offer enough compensation. Filing a lawsuit may allow you to recover additional compensation beyond what would be available in an insurance claim, such as compensation for pain and suffering and emotional distress. Juries are often sympathetic to crash victims and may award more total compensation than insurance companies.

You can review your options with an experienced Chattanooga pedestrian accident lawyer at Massey & Associates, P.C. in a free legal consultation. We are always prepared to take cases to court, as our goal is to secure full compensation. Hiring a law firm with a proven track record in the courtroom often provides a strong incentive for the insurance company to increase its offer of compensation.  

What if the At-Fault Driver Does Not Have Insurance?

Even though it is illegal and financially risky, many drivers choose not to purchase insurance. For example, they may have let the policy lapse and not purchased a new one.

Many of these drivers flee the scene of an accident, as they want to avoid the consequences for not buying insurance. Even if the driver stays at the scene, the victim is going to be left questioning how he or she can secure compensation.

Fortunately, you can use the uninsured motorist coverage in your car insurance policy. If you do not have car insurance, you may still be covered by a family member’s insurance policy. You can also use uninsured motorist coverage after a pedestrian hit-and-run accident.

Uninsured motorist coverage pays for medical costs, lost wages and more after an accident caused by a driver who does not have insurance. This coverage is typically bundled with underinsured motorist coverage, which applies to cases where the at-fault driver does not have enough coverage for your damages.