A pedestrian accident in Carmel can cause serious injuries, emotional distress, and financial stress. With decades of legal experience, a Carmel pedestrian accident lawyer from our law firm will provide the legal representation you need to secure fair compensation, allowing you to focus on healing. Call us for a free case review.
What Indiana Laws Protect Pedestrian Safety?
The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute states that drivers must yield to pedestrians at crosswalks, and pedestrians must use sidewalks and obey traffic signals. If no sidewalk is available, they should walk facing traffic. Drivers are required to exercise due care, especially around vulnerable pedestrians in school zones.
Do I Need an Attorney for an Indiana Pedestrian Accident?
Pedestrian accident victims can take legal action against liable parties when they suffered harm. A Carmel pedestrian accident attorney can help. They gather evidence (medical care records, eyewitness statements, traffic camera footage), consult with experts, identify negligent parties, prove liability, and negotiate with insurance companies (and insurance adjusters). Most personal injury claims are resolved through fair settlement offers during negotiations. If yours isn’t, your Carmel injury lawyers can file a personal injury lawsuit in court to pursue full compensation against the at-fault party.
Common Causes of Carmel Pedestrian Accidents
Many pedestrian accidents happen due to driver negligence. This includes distracted driving (such as those guilty of cell phone use), not paying attention to traffic signals, failure to yield the right-of-way, not noticing pedestrians crossing, exceeding speed limits, reckless driving, not following traffic laws, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and hit-and-run incidents. Other contributing factors can include malfunctioning traffic signals and poor visibility due to bad weather.
Pedestrians suffer injuries like severe lacerations, internal bleeding, traumatic brain injuries, head trauma, broken bones, spinal cord injuries, and emotional trauma (like post-traumatic stress disorder).
What to Do When Pedestrian Accidents Occur in Carmel
When pedestrian-car accidents happen, follow these steps:
- Call 911 and, if possible, stay at the accident scene until the responding officer arrives.
- Seek medical attention and keep all records of your medical treatment.
- Obtain a copy of the police report.
- Don’t admit fault or post about the accident on social media.
- Obtain the driver’s contact info and insurance company information.
- Contact us to discuss how a pedestrian accident claim can protect your legal rights.
Who Is Liable for Pedestrian Crashes in Carmel?
In pedestrian accident cases, the driver is typically held responsible for the pedestrian’s injuries. Pedestrians can share responsibility if they act recklessly, such as crossing outside crosswalks or stepping into traffic. Government agencies or private property owners could share blame if they failed to maintain safe conditions, and those conditions caused the accident.
Indiana’s comparative negligence laws (Indiana Code § 34‑51‑2) allow you to recover damages if you’re partially at fault. Compensation decreases by your fault percentage, but no recovery is allowed if you’re 51% or more at fault.
Can an Injured Person Recover Compensation for a Carmel Pedestrian Accident?
Injured pedestrians can seek compensation for serious and catastrophic injuries caused by negligence. Settlements can include medical bills (hospital, doctor, and physical therapy costs), lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. In cases of fatalities, eligible family members can file wrongful death claims.
How Much Is My Carmel Pedestrian Accident Case Worth?
An experienced Carmel attorney from our legal team assesses the worth of a serious accident case by examining losses like the severity of injuries, medical expenses, and lost income.
How Much Time Do I Have to File a Pedestrian Accident Lawsuit?
According to the Indiana Office of Court Services, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases in Indiana is typically two years from the accident date. There may be some exceptions to this time limit, so contact an injury attorney quickly to pursue compensation and determine liability.
Contact Our Experienced Pedestrian Accident Attorneys Today
If you or a loved one suffered severe injuries in an accident caused by a negligent driver, contact our pedestrian accident lawyers in Carmel for legal guidance. Our law office can help if a victim suffered serious harm in a motor vehicle crash or motorcycle accident involving a pedestrian.
Free Initial Consultation
In a free consultation, our law firm can review your case, explain Indiana’s legal process, and answer your questions. Additionally, our Carmel personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, so you don’t pay out-of-pocket costs, and you don’t pay legal fees unless we win financial recovery for you.
(312) 223-1700