A pedestrian accident can leave you with life-altering injuries and their attendant costs: expensive medical bills, lost wages, and incidental expenses. If the driver who hit you is to blame for the accident, you shouldn’t be left paying the price for their negligence. Instead, you can work with an experienced Baton Rouge pedestrian accident lawyer from The Thibeaux Firm to demand the money you need to rebuild your life.

Turn to attorney Omar Thibeaux and our team to take on the insurance companies for you, giving you time and space to focus on other aspects of your recovery. We’ll manage the legal details — from negotiating with the insurance carrier to representing you in court if they refuse to pay you full and fair compensation — so you can concentrate on putting your life back together. Plus, as home to “The 25% Attorney,” you’ll never be subject to excessive and unfair legal fees.

Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a hardworking pedestrian accident lawyer in Baton Rouge.

Benefits of Hiring a Baton Rouge Pedestrian Accident Attorney

A devastating pedestrian accident in Baton Rouge can leave you on a long and expensive road to recovery. You may be owed compensation for what you’ve suffered, but getting it means filling out forms, calculating the fair value of your case, and negotiating with insurers who’d like to pay you as little as possible. Fortunately, you don’t have to do any of that yourself. Instead, you can have a Baton Rouge pedestrian accident lawyer handle those tasks for you.

When you hire from The Thibeaux Firm to pursue your case, you’ll have the freedom to devote your time and energy to your recovery, while we do the heavy legal lifting. Our understanding pedestrian accident law firm can fight for the financial resources you need by:

  • Investigating the accident and identifying the party or parties liable for your losses
  • Evaluating avenues to recover the compensation you need, including potential insurance claims
  • Documenting your injuries and calculating your ongoing and future expenses
  • Understanding your needs, goals, and concerns, and explaining your legal options
  • Filing your insurance or legal claims and negotiating with insurance adjusters and defense counsel
  • Vigorously pursuing maximum compensation for you, whether through an out-of-court settlement or an award at trial
  • Never charging you anything unless we win compensation for your pedestrian accident claim

Are you worried that you cannot afford to hire legal representation? With Attorney Thibeaux on your side, you need not stress. He is known in Baton Rouge and throughout Louisiana as “The 25% Attorney.” He earned that moniker because he only charges a flat and fair 25 percent fee for accident cases he wins — not the 33 to 40 percent that’s industry standard. You pay nothing upfront for Attorney Thibeaux to take on your accident claim, and you’ll get more money back in your pocket if and when he wins for you.

What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident

Knowing what to do in the moments, days, and weeks after a pedestrian accident in Baton Rouge can help you protect your rights and effectively pursue fair compensation. Here’s what to do:

  • Report the accident to law enforcement and obtain a copy of the police crash report in the days after the collision.
  • Seek immediate medical attention to get checked for injuries you may have sustained in the crash.
  • Follow your treatment plan and request copies of your injury treatment and rehabilitation medical records.
  • Keep records of your recovery costs, including bills, invoices, or receipts for medical treatment and other services.
  • Gather your pay stubs or income statements to calculate lost wages from missed work or reduced earnings in a modified duty role.
  • Notify your auto insurance provider (if you have a policy) that you were hit by a motor vehicle while out walking.

Finally, contact a pedestrian accident lawyer from The Thibeaux Firm. The sooner you do, the sooner “The 25% Attorney” can start pursuing the financial recovery and justice you deserve from the driver who hit you.

Who Can Be Held Liable for a Pedestrian Accident?

The driver who hit you may be the person most immediately to blame in your pedestrian accident case. However, other parties may also bear liability depending on the circumstances of the crash, such as:

  • The At-Fault Driver’s Employer – If the driver who hit you was on the job at the time, you may have a claim against their employer under the concept of vicarious/employer liability. This legal doctrine holds employers responsible for the negligent or reckless actions their employees commit while performing work activities.
  • The Owner of the Vehicle That Hit You – The owner of the at-fault driver’s vehicle may bear liability for your injuries and losses if they negligently entrusted their vehicle to the driver. Negligent entrustment may occur when the owner knows or should know that the driver they’ve lent their vehicle to poses a substantial risk of causing an accident, such as the driver’s intoxication, history of accidents, or lack of licensure.
  • A Bar, Restaurant, or Social Host – Unlike other states, Louisiana has adopted an “anti-dram shop law,” which limits liability for an establishment or social host who furnishes alcohol to an adult who subsequently causes an accident that injures others. However, the law only limits liability to establishments and social hosts who furnish alcohol to persons over the legal drinking age. An establishment or social host may still bear liability for a pedestrian accident caused by a driver under 21 who becomes intoxicated by alcohol furnished they furnished.

What Compensation Can I Recover After a Pedestrian Accident?

Pedestrian accident compensation can provide you with the money you need for your:

  • Costs of medical treatment and rehabilitation, including emergency care, surgeries, hospitalization, medical equipment purchases, pain management care, doctor’s visits, and ongoing therapy
  • Costs of long-term care for prolonged disabilities, including home health services or home renovations to install accommodations
  • Lost wages and other income from missed work or reduced earnings in a part-time/light-duty role
  • Lost future earning capacity and employment benefits if you become disabled from your job or other work
  • Physical pain and anguish
  • Emotional trauma and distress
  • Reduced quality of life caused by visible disfigurement or permanent physical disabilities
  • Property damage, if applicable

How Long Do I Have to File a Pedestrian Accident Lawsuit in Louisiana?

The Louisiana statute of limitations on accident claims typically requires you to file a pedestrian accident lawsuit within one year of a collision with a motor vehicle. If you file after this deadline, the person who hit you can move to have your claim dismissed as untimely, which the court will likely agree to do, costing you your right to compensation.

Because the law imposes a strict deadline for filing a pedestrian accident claim, it’s important to talk to an attorney from The Thibeaux Firm as soon as possible after a crash. Otherwise, you may lose the opportunity to seek financial recovery and justice from the negligent driver who hit you.

How Many Pedestrians Are Killed in Baton Rouge and Louisiana Each Year?

State officials keep track of how many pedestrians are killed in Louisiana in collisions with motor vehicles. According to the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, pedestrian accidents in Louisiana killed over 180 pedestrians and injured nearly 1,230 others in one recent year. Nearly 32 percent of fatal pedestrian accidents in Louisiana involved alcohol.

Further, a study found that Baton Rouge ranks as the fifth most dangerous metro area in the U.S. by average annual pedestrian fatality rate per 100,000 residents (the city is tied with Daytona Beach, Florida). The study noted that the Baton Rouge metro area saw a total of 172 pedestrian fatalities over one recent five-year period.

What Are the Main Causes of Pedestrian Accidents?

Many pedestrian accidents in Baton Rouge happen due to careless or reckless drivers. Some of the top causes of collisions between motor vehicles and pedestrians include:

  • Speeding or traveling too fast for conditions
  • Reckless driving, including excessive speeding, street racing, or swerving around traffic
  • Aggressive driving/road rage
  • Running red lights and stop signs
  • Failing to yield at crosswalks, sidewalks, or intersections
  • Turning without signaling or checking mirrors
  • Backing up without looking behind
  • Distracted driving
  • Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
  • Drowsy/fatigued driving
  • Inadequate brake or tire maintenance
  • Vehicle defects

What Are Common Injuries Someone Can Sustain in a Pedestrian Accident?

Consumers are increasingly opting for larger and heavier SUVs and pickup trucks, and the increasing weight and height of these vehicles puts pedestrians at a higher risk of severe or fatal injuries in the event of a collision. Some of the most serious types of pedestrian accident injuries include the following:

  • Severe lacerations, abrasions, or degloving injuries
  • Broken bones
  • Dislocated joints
  • Ligament sprains/tears
  • Muscle or tendon strains/tears
  • Nerve damage
  • Whiplash injury

Contact a Baton Rouge Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Today

As a pedestrian hit by a car in Baton Rouge, you have the right to seek compensation for the harm and loss you’ve suffered. Don’t make the mistake of pursuing it alone. At-fault drivers and their insurers will do whatever they can to avoid liability, potentially leaving you without the money you need to put your life back together. But as “The 25% Attorney,” Attorney Thibeaux will make sure you get the best value on your case.

Contact The Thibeaux Firm today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a Baton Rouge pedestrian accident attorney. Discover how we can pursue compensation for your medical treatment, lost income, and pain and suffering, and how our 25 percent guarantee means more money for your claim.