As a pedestrian, it can be terrible to be hit in a car accident in Indianapolis. It’s a nice and breezy day in Indiana and you decide to go out for a stroll while also taking your grocery list along to buy some essentials. And suddenly, you don’t know what happened but a car came out of nowhere and you are lying on the sidewalk, hurt and unable to move.
This happens to more people than you think and if you have been hit as a pedestrian by a car in Indianapolis, the first thing you need to do is hire an Indianapolis car accident lawyer to handle your case immediately.
As a victim of a car accident, you can claim a personal injury lawsuit against the driver for the losses you incurred due to the accident. Being in an accident and that too, being directly hit by a car can cause serious injuries and can lead to lost wages due to not being able to work. It is your right as a victim to get fair compensation for these losses.
Who Is Liable When You are Hit by a Car in Indiana as a Pedestrian?
Indiana is an at-fault state. This clearly means that if a negligent driver has hit a pedestrian, they are responsible for paying for the damages. The at-fault driver’s insurance will have to pay for your medical costs and other losses incurred as a result of the accident.
As far as the right of way is concerned in Indiana, the rule is pretty straightforward. Pedestrians have the right of way when they cross a marked crosswalk or an intersection. In other cases, the pedestrians must yield the right of way.
What Rules Govern Pedestrian Behavior in Indiana?
Following are the rules that govern pedestrian behavior when they’re walking on the road in Indiana:
- Each pedestrian has a duty to obey all the traffic devices unless otherwise guided by a police officer.
- Pedestrians cannot leave a curb, sidewalk, or a place of safety to walk or run into a path of a vehicle that is too close to stop in time.
- Pedestrians are not allowed to cross a sidewalk diagonally unless a traffic device advises them to do so.
- If there is a sidewalk present, a pedestrian cannot walk on an adjacent road.
- Pedestrians cannot hitchhike.
These are just some of the rules mentioned in Title 9 of the Indiana code
What Injuries and Damages can Result when a Pedestrian is Hit by a Car?
If you get hit by a car as a pedestrian, the impact is direct. There is no buffer of a car in between you and the other car. This kind of accident can lead to life-altering injuries like a spinal cord injury or a brain injury that can result in lifelong health issues. In addition to these issues, there is also the matter of not being able to work while you are recovering, which means a considerable amount of lost wages.
Furthermore, these physical injuries are not the only pain and suffering that you will go through. There is a trauma attached to being hit by a car that can result in depression, loss of sleep, irritability, and strain on personal relationships.
All these damages require some sort of compensation. The most pressing one is surmounting medical bills after being injured in a car accident. Get in touch with an experienced Indianapolis accident attorney to help you build a strong case against the at-fault driver. Your lawyer will help you gather all the documentation necessary to make create a strong and valid argument on your behalf.
It can take quite some time to gather all the necessary evidence and documents so don’t delay engaging a good lawyer for your personal injury lawsuit.
Hire an Experienced Indianapolis Car Accident Lawyer
Rowe & Hamilton have been helping car accident victims in Indianapolis for over 32 years. We understand that being in an accident can be a traumatic experience for the victim and the time after, should be spent in recovering from the injuries and the mental trauma.
This is why our expert Indianapolis car accident lawyer can help you navigate the legal process and battle the tactics of the insurance agents. The goal is to help you get the maximum compensation for your losses, pain, and suffering. We empathize with our clients and focus on their case needs. We aim to make the process as smooth as possible while making sure we handle the legalities of the matter down to the last detail.
Have you been hit by a car as a pedestrian? Give us a call.
