Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Greenfield

Pedestrians are the most vulnerable group on Massachusetts roadways. Accidents can leave victims with expensive medical bills and a long road to recovery. The dedicated personal injury lawyers at the Law Offices of John P. DiBartolo, Jr. possess a deep understanding of pedestrian injury laws and can help you hold the at-fault party accountable to seek the compensation you deserve.

Photo of Pedestrian Accident Scene

Why Do You Need a Pedestrian Accident Attorney?

Pedestrian accident claims are usually challenging with various uncertain components. You should consult with a Greenfield personal injury lawyer that can aggressively fight on your behalf and get you the compensation you deserve. The skilled attorney at the Law Offices of John P. DiBartolo, Jr. can help you:

  • Gather relevant evidence for proving liability, including video surveillance and photographs, eyewitness statements, and accident reports
  • Vigorously negotiate with insurance providers to obtain a fair settlement offer
  • Obtain and review all paperwork involved in the claim
  • Build a solid claim and be prepared to take it to the civil court system, if necessary

Types of Pedestrian Accident Injuries in Massachusetts

Our personal injury lawyer in Greenfield can help you obtain maximum compensation for the following injuries and more:

  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Open head wounds
  • Internal organ damage
  • Internal bleeding
  • Severe lacerations and road rash
  • Spinal cord trauma with paralysis
  • Significant scarring and disfigurement
  • Emotional and psychological damage
  • Broken and dislocated bones
  • Other severe back or neck injury

Our Greenfield pedestrian accident attorney team has experience in helping families of pedestrians that suffered fatal injuries to obtain compensation by filing a wrongful death claim.

Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Greenfield

Most pedestrian accidents occur because of reckless drivers, as per data collected by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. These are a few typical causes of pedestrian accidents:

  • Poorly maintained or designed roadways
  • Negligent or distracted drivers
  • Lack of traffic signals
  • Lack of adequate sidewalks or crosswalks
  • Reckless bike drivers

Pedestrians can also get injured by slip and fall accidents due to:

  • Broken sidewalks and other walkways
  • Obstacles and uneven surfaces
  • Poorly designed or maintained buildings

Why Choose the Law Offices of John P. DiBartolo, Jr.?

It takes a diligent pedestrian accident lawyer Greenfield to get accident victims the compensation they deserve. You should choose our law firm for your pedestrian accident case because:

  • We have helped thousands of personal injury victims obtain fair compensation during negotiations.
  • John DiBartolo, Jr. has dedicated 28 years to representing the injured in Greenfield and surrounding areas.
  • Our commitment to our clients is unwavering. Our attorneys always bring a personalized experience to each pedestrian accident case so that we can focus on individual client needs and goals.

When you choose the Law Offices of John P. DiBartolo, Jr., you can expect our attorney team to bring their extensive experience and employ the necessary resources to your pedestrian accident case.

How to Prove Liability in a Pedestrian Accident Claim?

If you want to receive compensation for your pedestrian accident case, you would need to prove that the driver of the car that struck you was careless or negligent. You need a Greenfield personal injury lawyer that can help you gather the evidence you need to prove this. Our attorneys routinely help prove pedestrian accident cases by showing the driver:

  • Violated traffic laws, such as running red lights, speeding, driving in a reckless manner, or failing to yield the right of way
  • Was driving in an impaired condition
  • Was driving while texting or was distracted in some other way

For injuries that do not involve death, disfigurement, fractures, or  loss of body parts, hearing or eyesight, Massachusetts law also requires the victim and their attorney to prove that medical expenses amount to $2,000 or more for a viable pedestrian accident case.

Who Can Claim Damages in a Pedestrian Wrongful Death Case?

If a pedestrian accident in Greenfield results in fatal injuries, survivors of the decedent may be able to recover damages for:

  • Funeral and burial expenses
  • Final medical treatment
  • Loss of financial support to the family
  • Loss of love and companionship

Notably, only an administrator or executor of the decedent’s estate can bring a wrongful death claim. This is usually someone named by the deceased person in their will. In case there is no will, the administrator will be appointed by the court. The executor is responsible for handling a wrongful death claim, wrapping up the estate, and paying any final debts of the deceased person.

Photo of a Driver Looking at Phone while Driving

Comparative Liability Law in Massachusetts for Pedestrians

Pedestrian accident claims involve various challenges. Insurance companies routinely try to blame victims for the accident and injuries. You should never speak with an insurance adjuster before consulting with an attorney first. The insurance company may argue that you did not exercise reasonable care in protecting yourself.

They may paint your actions in a negative light. They may claim that you should have seen the approaching car and removed yourself from harm’s way. This is true even if you were on the sidewalk or crosswalk when the accident occurred.

Massachusetts follows the doctrine of comparative negligence. Under Massachusetts General Laws Ch. 231§85, pedestrian accident victims are allowed to claim damages even if they were careless or negligent in some way. This means that you may still be able to seek compensation if you were outside a crosswalk. However, your settlement amount will be reduced proportionately by your share of the fault.

You should speak with one of our attorneys even if you believe that you were at fault. You can seek compensation as long as the at-fault party has at least 50% responsibility for causing the accident. Insurance companies are not on your side and will likely be aggressive in avoiding liability.

Attorney DiBartolo has the Experience to Take on Powerful Defendants. Get Strong Legal Representation to Fight for Your Rights.

The experienced and diligent personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of John P. DiBartolo, Jr. will relentlessly pursue maximum compensation for the injured victims and their families. Attorney DiBartolo has a track record of providing successful outcomes for pedestrian accident victims. We have the skills, resources, and experience to take on large insurance companies and powerful defendants and establish strong evidence to prove their liability. To set up your complimentary consultation, call us at (413) 529-2955 or reach us online.