West Virginia Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

No matter how careful you are on the roads, you cannot control the actions of other road users, especially motorists. Unfortunately, when an accident occurs, the impact is usually devastating. With no protection against the impact, pedestrian accidents are potentially severe and may be fatal.

At Miley Legal Group, we understand the implications of pedestrian accidents on victims and their families. If you are looking for a West Virginia pedestrian accident lawyer to help with your case, please reach out to us and let us assist you the best way we can.

But even with minor injuries in low-impact accidents, the damages can be substantial. If you got injured in a pedestrian accident in West Virginia or lost a loved one and are seeking justice for their wrongful death, contact us with the details of your case today

Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents

Pedestrian accidents can result from several causes—from motorists’ negligent behaviors to poor weather, road conditions, and pedestrian errors—the list of accident causes is endless.

However, the most common causes include:

• Pedestrian errors such as illegal street crossing, failing to yield, walking in the wrong direction, distraction, etc.
• Left-hand turns
• Distracted driving
• Drunk driving
• Speeding
• Impatient drivers
• Bad weather
• Poor lighting or night vision
• Driving in reverse

Common Types of Injuries From Pedestrian Accidents

Injuries from pedestrian accidents depend on the impact of the collision, which may be determined by the vehicle’s speed, the victim’s height, and other factors. For instance, a high-impact truck accident or car accident can cause more severe injuries than a low-impact motorcycle accident.

Examples of common injuries in pedestrian accidents include:

• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Fractures
• Soft tissue injuries
• Head and neck injuries
• Psychological trauma, etc.

West Virginia Negligence Law

To receive compensation in a pedestrian accident case, you must satisfy the four elements of West Virginia negligence law—duty, breach of duty, causation, and damages. This means you must demonstrate:

1. The defendant owed you a duty of care
2. They breached their duty of care
3. Their negligent actions caused your injuries
4. The injuries have cost you substantial damages

Nonetheless, even after proving the driver’s negligence, your ability to recover damages may be limited if you were partly responsible for the accident. West Virginia follows the modified comparative fault rule, which means you can recover damages less your percentage of contribution, up to 50%.

For instance, if you contributed 30% to the accident, you are entitled to receive 70% of the awarded settlement. But if it is established that your contribution is more than 50%, you may not be able to recover any damages.

Statute of Limitations

In West Virginia, most personal injury claims, including pedestrian accidents, settle before trial. But if the insurance fails to compensate you fairly for one reason or another, you have the option of filing a lawsuit to recover your damages.

Should this happen, West Virginia law allows you to bring an action against the at-fault driver within a specified timeframe. The West Virginia statute of limitations for bringing pedestrian accident lawsuits is two years for personal injuries and wrongful death.

Policy Limits

In addition to negligence rules, your ability to recover damages may be limited to the at-fault party’s policy limits. The state has imposed minimum policy limits at $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident, but some motorists may have more coverage than the minimum.

This means insurance companies can only pay you the maximum coverage held with them. However, if your damages exceed the available motorist coverage, you can sue the at-fault driver and attempt to recover the extra losses from their personal assets.