Accidents in which a pedestrian was killed recently reached a forty-year high in the United States, with the CDC estimating one pedestrian death on the roads every seventy-five minutes. Drivers have a duty to look out for pedestrians, but unfortunately, many drivers in Alaska and elsewhere fail to fulfill that obligation, and innocent pedestrians pay the price.

In addition to the 7,000 accident deaths involving pedestrians in the U.S. in 2020, there were over 100,000 emergency room visits for injuries to pedestrians in a motor vehicle accident. Alaska ranks 21st out of the 50 states for the number of pedestrian fatalities per 100,000 residents.

All of these are just statistics—until you or someone you love is seriously injured in a pedestrian accident. The driver of the car that hurt you will be represented by the army of lawyers employed by their insurance company. But the insurance company is not on your side; their focus is paying out as little in claims as they can manage. To get what you are entitled to, you need an experienced pedestrian accident attorney whose priority is your needs and your rights.

How Accidents with Pedestrians Happen

Licensed drivers in Alaska should be paying attention to conditions around them, including the presence of pedestrians, and operating their vehicles in accordance with the law. Unfortunately, drivers do not always act as they should, and many accidents are the result of things like:

  • Distracted driving or driver inattention
  • Driving while intoxicated
  • Failure to obey traffic signals and signs
  • Reckless driving
  • Failure to properly maintain brakes and other vehicle equipment

If you were injured in a pedestrian accident, the driver of the vehicle may try to allege that you were at fault for the accident in some way. Determining fault is highly fact-intensive, and it is important to work with an injury attorney who knows how to analyze the circumstances and is proactive in gathering evidence that can prove your case.

Damages in Pedestrian Accidents

As you know if you have been injured, a pedestrian is no match for a moving vehicle. Even a bicycle can do serious damage to a pedestrian; a large car or truck may be lethal. If you were injured as a pedestrian, you may be suffering not only physical pain, but inability to work, loss of physical function, and of course, stacks of medical bills.

Pedestrian accident attorney Eric Derleth can help you recover for the damages you have suffered, including payment:

  • Emergency medical treatment
  • Rehabilitative therapy, medication, and other medical care
  • Medical equipment, such as wheelchairs
  • Modifications to your home and vehicles necessitated by your injury
  • Loss of present and future income
  • Pain and suffering

If your loved one was a pedestrian who was killed by a negligent driver, you may be able to recover not only for their medical care from the accident and their funeral expenses, but the loss of income they would have earned had they lived, and even for the loss of their companionship.

Why You Need an Experienced Pedestrian Accident Attorney

No matter how nice the representative from a driver’s insurance company may be, remember that they do not work for you. Their job is to keep the company from paying you any more than it has to. They know that you are in pain and worried about the future, and they may take advantage of that to get you to accept a lower settlement than you deserve.

Before you say a single word to an insurance company, talk to attorney Eric Derleth. Eric is an Alaska native, and has over 25 years’ experience representing injury victims in courts across Alaska—including victims of pedestrian accidents. He is known as “the Trial Guy” because of his thorough investigation of cases and preparation for trial. Eric is skilled in connecting with and persuading juries at trial, but his meticulous pretrial preparation means that his cases often settle favorably before a trial becomes necessary.

There is no risk to you in consulting a pedestrian accident attorney; our office offers no-obligation consultations and only receives an attorney fee if your case is successful. To learn more about Alaska pedestrian accident law, and how an attorney can help you, call Eric Derleth at 907-262-9164 or contact our law office. From his office in Soldotna, Eric Derleth serves clients in Anchorage, the Mat-Su Valley, Juneau, and throughout Alaska. Call today for a free, confidential consultation.