Sydney Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Out of all of the province’s road-users, pedestrians are the most vulnerable. Whereas the occupants of commercial, passenger, and transport vehicles can rely on built-in safety features in the event of a collision and motorcycle riders or cyclists have the benefit of wearable protective gear shielding them from the elements, pedestrians are completely exposed. If struck by a motor vehicle, pedestrians can be killed. They can also sustain severe, life-altering injuries.
In Sydney, negligent drivers who accidentally strike pedestrians often flee the scene of the collision. Rather than face the consequences of their negligence, hit-and-run drivers who fail to remain at the accident scene show absolutely no consideration for the person whose life they have just shattered. By selfishly trying to save their own skin rather than reporting the accident or trying to assist the victim of their wrongful conduct, hit-and-run drivers can leave injured pedestrians to die in the street, robbing family members of their loved ones in violent, careless, and tragically preventable circumstances.
All drivers throughout the province have a legal obligation to provide a reasonable duty of care to all other road-users, including pedestrians. If a driver shirks this legal responsibility and a pedestrian is injured as a result, the driver may be considered negligent. A driver may fail to fulfill their duty of care by engaging in a number of different actions, inactions, errors, omissions, and violations of provincial traffic laws, including:
- Speeding
- Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs
- Distracted driving
- Reckless driving
- Ignoring traffic signs or signals
- And more
Pedestrian accidents are almost always the result of driver negligence. In fact, in this province, there is a reverse onus of proof on any driver involved in a collision with a pedestrian. Because of this, pedestrian accident survivors are not responsible for proving that the negligent behaviour of the at-fault driver caused the collision in which they sustained injuries. When identified, drivers who have struck pedestrians with their vehicles and caused them to suffer injuries may be responsible for financially compensating the injured party for damages they have incurred as a result of their negligence.
If a pedestrian survives a serious collision with a negligent driver, their entire life can be impacted. Injured pedestrians may never overcome the physical and psychological turmoil they have sustained as a result of their collision with a negligent driver. Furthermore, injured survivors of pedestrian accidents frequently incur financial losses as a result of their accidents, often related to:
- Medical treatment
- Rehabilitative therapies
- Medical equipment
- Mobility aids
- Prescriptions
- In-home attendant care
- Physical therapy
- Strength-training classes
- Psychological counselling
- Psychiatric treatment
- Accessibility adjustments to their homes
- Mileage expenses to and from medical appointments
- And more
Even though drivers involved in local pedestrian accidents are automatically presumed to be at fault for the collision, during civil litigation, the responsible driver may try claiming that the wrongful behaviour of the pedestrian themself played a role in their accident. Often, at-fault drivers claim pedestrians were jay-walking, ignoring their traffic signals, or engaging in other wrongful behaviour that led them to sustain injuries. By doing so, at-fault drivers attempt to lower the amount of damages they will be required to pay to injured accident survivors.
If you were involved in a collision caused by a negligent driver and sustained injuries as a result, our pedestrian accident lawyers serving Sydney may be able to provide you with crucial assistance in the face of false accusations of contributory negligence. Our Sydney pedestrian accident lawyers are passionate about fighting on behalf of injured community members, and helping them recover the maximum amount of damages to which they are entitled. To learn more about how Preszler Injury Lawyers may be able to help with your case, book a free initial consultation with our pedestrian accident lawyers serving Sydney today.
Free Consultation for Sydney Residents – We Don’t Get Paid Unless We Win
There is no charge for an initial consultation with our pedestrian accident lawyers serving Sydney, and no obligation to proceed after your first meeting. If you have questions about your situation and wish to receive the benefit of our Sydney pedestrian accident lawyers’ advice at no cost, consider calling Preszler Injury Lawyers.
To schedule your free initial consultation with Preszler Injury Lawyers, contact our pedestrian accident lawyers serving Sydney today.