Wyoming Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

These accidents, also called “pedestrian strikes,” can cause great suffering, grief, and financial strain. They can also cause big legal fights. Both sides may genuinely feel that the other party is at fault.

If you are a driver who accidentally strikes a pedestrian in Wyoming, the urge to flee may be strong. You may be tempted to drive away. It is extremely important to stay at the scene of the accident. Call 911 and render aid if you are able. If you leave the scene you increase the danger to the injured pedestrian, and you can be charged with a hit and run.

If you are a stricken pedestrian, if you are able, call 911. Get medical care. When you are stabilized, you will need a lawyer to help you. Determining fault may less obvious than you think. There is a good chance the driver’s insurance company will try to place some or all of the blame on you.

Shafner Law is here to fight for you and defend your rights, all while making sure you have the time and space to heal. Call us today at (307) 277-6956 for your free consultation.

No two accidents are the same. While there can be some overlapping general characteristics, every accident is unique.

Most pedestrian strike accidents occur when a moving car strikes a pedestrian who is walking on the side of the road, the sidewalk, or crossing the street. Pedestrian strikes are more likely to occur in high-traffic areas, but they can also occur in rural spaces where the chance of a pedestrian strike seems so low, people are just not alert to the possibility. Always use care when backing out of driveways. This is how most sidewalk strikes occur.

Common causes of pedestrian accidents include, but are not limited to:

• Bad weather: Weather conditions can fluctuate quickly in Wyoming. Despite this, drivers are expected to always be prepared for adverse weather conditions and to drive accordingly. This is especially true for slippery road conditions, as vehicles are much more likely to slide, putting both pedestrians and drivers at risk.
• Distracted driving: Driving while distracted is unfortunately still a common occurrence despite recent laws and regulations. Taking your eyes off the road for three seconds while traveling at 50 mph equals 220 feet traveled blindly. An unaware driver can very easily hit a pedestrian during even a short flash of time.
• Driver intoxication: This probably isn’t a surprise, but driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol can become a felony for a reason. Drugs and alcohol slow reaction time and impair judgement, making it much harder for impaired drivers to properly identify and respond to road conditions or hazards. An impaired driver is much more likely to strike a pedestrian than that same driver while unimpaired.
• Failing to obey traffic signals: Not obeying the rules of the road puts everyone at great risk. Traffic lights, stop signs, and any other signal exist to protect drivers and pedestrians alike, and not following them can put people at serious risk for injury.
• Reckless driving: There are many different types of reckless driving, and they all put pedestrians at risk. Everything from blowing past a stop sign, running a red light, or turning without signaling has the potential to gravely injure a pedestrian.

Speeding: The faster a car is moving, the more force it will apply to whatever it hits. Collisions with pedestrians at higher speeds have a much higher potential for severe injuries related to the accident.

Some of the most common types of injuries that occur in pedestrian accidents include:

• Bruises
• Broken bones
• Internal organ damage
• Neck and spinal cord injury
• Pelvic injury
• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) and other forms of head trauma

In the worse accidents, injuries from pedestrian accidents are fatal. These incidents are incredibly tragic and devastating for everyone involved.

When it comes to the rules of the road, all drivers must yield to pedestrians on crosswalks. If a driver fails to follow this law, they can be held liable for the accident.

Wyoming’s model for pedestrian accidents is called a “comparative negligence” model. This means that, in certain situations, the pedestrian and the driver can both be partially to blame for the accident.  The facts of the case will determine who is found liable how the judge decides to rule. In a comparative negligence situation, a victim’s compensation is reduced by the percentage of fault they are determined to bear. If a victim is determined to be more than 50% at fault, they cannot recover any damages.

There are many kinds of damages potentially available for victims of pedestrian accidents.

Mainly, they fit into two broad categories:

• Economic damages, which include medical bills, lost wages, lost ability to earn money in the future, and in the event of wrongful death, funeral or burial expenses. These damages are for things with specific and defined dollar values.
• Non-economic damages, which include physical pain and suffering, loss of companionship, emotional pain, mental pain, and more. These damages may not have a specifically defined dollar value, but are no less real.

Wyoming law states that you have up to four years from the date of your injury to file a claim for your case. While this can sound like a lot of time, it actually isn’t. Cases require lots of research and paperwork, so in order to make sure you get compensated for your injuries, it’s important to start early.

For events involving wrongful death, the statute of limitations is only two years. There is much less time to work with in cases involving wrongful death.

If you’ve been in a pedestrian accident, the first thing you should do is take care of your health. Seek medical care.

If possible, take photos of the accident scene. Call the police so that they can make a report. The police report of your accident can greatly help your case.

Once you are medically stable, all that’s left to do is contact a pedestrian accident attorney to evaluate your case.

We here at Shafner Law are here for you. We are ready to fight for the compensation you deserve. Call us today at (307) 277-6956 for your free consultation.

“Thank you so much for being so thoughtful and helpful with my family. We are so happy to have found you and your team.”

-Joanne