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Boulder Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Pedestrians may typically have the right of way around the roadway, but that does not mean drivers are paying attention. If you or somebody you love has been injured in a pedestrian crash caused by the negligent actions of another driver, you need to reach out to an attorney at Purvis Thomson, LLP for help as soon as possible. Our Boulder pedestrian accident lawyers have the resources necessary to fully investigate your claim and help you recover maximum compensation.

Why Choose Purvis Thomson, LLP for a Pedestrian Accident Claim?

  • Our Boulder personal injury attorneys have decades of experience handling complex personal injury claims in Boulder and throughout Colorado.
  • We have no problem taking on well-funded insurance carriers and experienced legal teams to ensure that our clients are properly cared for and that they receive the compensation they need.
  • We handle pedestrian accident claims in Boulder on a contingency fee basis, which means clients will not have to worry about paying any legal fees until we successfully recover compensation for their losses.

Boulder Pedestrian Accident Resources

Pedestrian Accident Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Does a Pedestrian Accident Attorney Cost?

At Purvis Thompson, LLP, we handle pedestrian accident claims in Colorado on a contingency fee basis. This means that your Boulder pedestrian accident lawyer will pay for all of the upfront costs associated with the case so you pay nothing out-of-pocket. Our clients pay no legal fees until after we successfully recover the compensation they are entitled to. If we do not win, clients pay absolutely nothing at all.

What Will a Boulder Pedestrian Accident Attorney do to Help Your Case?

A skilled car accident lawyer in Boulder will have the resources necessary to handle every aspect of your claim from start to finish. This includes conducting an extensive investigation in order to prove exactly what happened. Your attorney will gather the evidence needed to show the other party’s liability to the insurance carriers or to a personal injury jury if that becomes necessary.

Additionally, your lawyer will make sure that you are evaluated by a trusted medical professional and economic experts who can adequately calculate how much compensation you should receive from an insurance settlement.

Finally, you will not have to worry about communicating with any of these parties. That will be the role of your attorney. Your job is to focus on recovering from your injuries and getting back to work,

Who is Liable for a Pedestrian Accident?

There may be various parties who could be held liable for a pedestrian accident. In most circumstances, incidents between a pedestrian and a driver will result in a close examination of the driver and their actions leading up to the incident. Drivers owe a duty of care to others around them when they get behind the wheel, and this duty includes the responsibility to drive safely and follow traffic laws. This duty of care extends to other drivers and passengers, as well as to pedestrians.

When working to establish liability for a pedestrian accident in Boulder, there are various factors that will be examined. The actions of the driver are one of the most important factors, and an investigation into the incident will help uncover exactly what happened. This includes evidence taken at the scene of the incident, such as videos and surveillance footage, as well as statements from eyewitnesses. In some circumstances, vehicle black box data or mobile device data may be used to help establish liability.

There may also be other parties at fault for a pedestrian crash. For example, if the incident occurred due to faulty traffic signals or unclear crosswalks, a municipality may hold liability for the incident. Likewise, if a third party, such as a construction company or a contractor, has temporarily caused an issue that led to the pedestrian incident occurring, then the company or contractor may hold liability as well.

What if There Are Multiple Parties At Fault?

Anytime there are allegations of shared fault after a pedestrian accident, the case becomes more complicated. The reality is that it is not uncommon for there to be more than one party at fault for an incident. This can include more than one driver sharing fault for a pedestrian crash or even the pedestrian sharing some fault for the incident. However, not all hope is lost if there is shared fault involved.

We encourage you to contact your attorney immediately if any other party involved in the case tries to place some or all of the blame on you for the incident. This is a common tactic, and your attorney will use the evidence gathered during their investigation to help determine where the fault lies.

Colorado operates under a modified comparative negligence system, meaning individuals can still recover compensation if there are multiple parties at fault, even if they are partially responsible for causing the incident. Under Colorado law, a person who is less than 50% responsible for an injury incident will be able to recover compensation, while a person 50% or more responsible for causing an injury incident will be unable to recover compensation.

If a person is able to recover compensation but is partially responsible for the incident, they will receive a reduced amount of compensation depending on their percentage of fault, as determined by a jury. For example, if a pedestrian is initially awarded $100,000 for their expenses related to the pedestrian collision, but a jury determines they are 30% responsible for the incident, they would receive $70,000 instead of the full $100,000.

Pedestrian Accident Compensation

Did you know that in 2021, more than 206 pedestrians in Boulder were struck by vehicles? Often, pedestrians throughout Colorado sustain injuries due to the negligence of other drivers, and they should be able to recover compensation for their losses. At Purvis Thomson, LLP, we work diligently to recover both economic and non-economic losses on behalf of each client, including:

  • Full coverage of medical expenses caused by the pedestrian accident
  • Lost income if a victim cannot work
  • Any out-of-pocket expenses a client experiences due to the incident
  • Property damage expenses (phone, computer, etc.)
  • Pain and suffering damages
  • Loss of quality of life damages

The total amount of compensation recoverable in these situations will hinge on a variety of factors, and your lawyer can help walk you through what you can expect.

Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Colorado

Pedestrian accidents occur in a wide variety of ways in and around Boulder and throughout Colorado. The vast majority of pedestrian accidents in Colorado occur in more urban areas of the state. That is not to say they do not happen in rural areas of the state. They do. However, pedestrian accidents are more likely to occur in areas where there is heavy pedestrian traffic around lots of vehicle traffic.

When we examine why these incidents occur, we can see that drivers are often at fault. Some of the most common causes of pedestrian crashes in Colorado include the following:

  • Left-hand turns – An estimated three times as many pedestrians are struck by cars making left turns compared to right turns, even at intersections with traffic signals and marked crosswalks. This is because drivers making left turns often focus on checking for oncoming vehicles while neglecting to watch for pedestrians.
  • Driver distraction – A significant number of pedestrian accidents happen when drivers are not attentive to the roadway. Distractions may arise from activities such as talking on a mobile phone, texting, using a smartphone, adjusting in-car settings, fiddling with navigation systems, or tending to passengers in the vehicle. Even a momentary lapse of focus puts pedestrians at risk.
  • Unmarked crosswalks – While many intersections have clearly defined crosswalks, there are numerous locations without them. The absence of marked crosswalks can lead drivers to overlook the presence of pedestrians, elevating the likelihood of accidents.
  • Impaired driving – Drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol (or both) are significantly less likely to notice pedestrians or react appropriately to their presence in the roadway. Driving under the influence substantially heightens the risk of pedestrian injuries.
  • Excessive speed – Higher vehicle speeds reduce a driver’s reaction time and increase the potential severity of injuries in the event of a pedestrian collision. Speeding is a contributing factor to pedestrian accidents.
  • Incomplete stops – When a vehicle fails to come to a complete stop at stop signs or traffic signals, drivers may not be aware of nearby pedestrians.
  • Traffic law violations – Behaviors like making illegal U-turns, disregarding directional signs, and speeding all contribute to the increased risk of pedestrian accidents.
  • Inexperienced drivers – Novice drivers are often less familiar with areas where pedestrians are likely to be found and may have a limited understanding of pedestrian-related traffic rules.
  • Faulty traffic signals – Since both drivers and pedestrians rely on the proper functioning of traffic signals, malfunctioning traffic lights or pedestrian signals can result in serious consequences.
  • School zone neglect – Ensuring safety in school zones is critical to reducing pedestrian accident risks, particularly since children are more susceptible to such accidents.
  • Pedestrian distraction – Electronic devices, not just hazardous for drivers, can also pose a significant danger to pedestrians. When pedestrians are engrossed in their electronic devices, such as phones, computers, or music players, their attention to the surrounding traffic is often compromised.
  • Pedestrian negligence – In addition to driver errors, pedestrian mistakes can also raise the risk of accidents. For instance, darting into traffic and not using designated sidewalks or pedestrian areas can significantly enhance the chances of a pedestrian-vehicle collision.

Common Injuries in Pedestrian Accidents

Pedestrian accidents often lead to catastrophic injuries. The human body has virtually no defenses from a much heavier vehicle slamming into it. Unfortunately, a pedestrian collision typically ends up with multiple injury-causing impacts for a victim – one impact with the vehicle, and often another impact with a fixed object or the ground. All of these impacts have the potential to cause serious, life-threatening injuries.

Some of the most common injuries associated with pedestrian accidents in Boulder and throughout Colorado include the following:

  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Other severe face or head injury
  • Spinal cord trauma with paralysis
  • Whiplash or other neck or back injury
  • Severe lacerations or puncture wounds
  • Road rash or other soft tissue injury
  • Major sprains or strains
  • Significant scarring or disfigurement
  • Crush injuries or amputations
  • Internal organ damage or bleeding

In addition to the traumatic injuries pedestrian victims often face, our team wants to remain cognizant of any emotional and psychological trauma pedestrian victims sustain. Long after physical injuries heal, or if they leave a disability behind, pedestrian accident victims may sustain long-term feelings of anxiety, fear, and stress. It is not uncommon for pedestrian crash victims to experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

After a pedestrian accident occurs, our team works with trusted medical and psychological experts to help adequately assess all injuries associated with the incident, not just the visible traumatic injuries. The unseen pain and suffering will play a role in the compensation requested from the at-fault party.

Call a Pedestrian Accident Attorney in Boulder Today

If you or somebody you love has been injured in a pedestrian crash caused by the negligence of another driver, reach out to an attorney at Purvis Thomson, LLP for help immediately. We have extensive experience handling these claims, and we know what it takes to stand up to aggressive insurance carriers. We will not hesitate to take your case to trial if needed. When you need a Boulder pedestrian accident lawyer, you can reach us for a free consultation of your case by clicking here or calling us at (800) 200-3120.

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