A pedestrian is any person on foot, whether the person is walking, standing, or running. The fact that the person is on foot makes them a pedestrian. A pedestrian accident refers to one or more individuals being hit by a car.
The possible liability of a pedestrian car accident is that there will be civil and criminal consequences. For instance, the fine for striking a pedestrian may have jail time, a ticket for causing the accident, or a fine and going to jail. The person at fault can be held civilly liable, and the pedestrian can also hold the driver accountable for their injuries. This is possible if the pedestrian can show that the person at fault was the negligent party.
If you or any of your family members or friends have sustained injuries from a car accident, You will want to file a lawsuit related to the pedestrian car accident. Therefore, it is vital to understand the differences between civil and criminal consequences and the laws that govern them.
A successful civil claim results in a monetary settlement, while criminal consequences include driving suspension, probation, fines, or facing jail time.
Civil Penalties
If a pedestrian is hit by a car driver and gets injured. They can file an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit when seeking compensation for their damages after the accident.
To determine the driver’s civil liability or fault for the accident, the person should first collect statements from witnesses, check police reports, and have a reconstruction of the accident. The pedestrian who has suffered injuries will claim a settlement for all the damage caused by the car accident.
Car-pedestrian accident claims include settlements for medical bills, the pain and suffering after the car accident, the lost time when away from work, nursing injuries, and other losses. Many personal injury cases are settled out of court with the insurance company.
Injury victims who want to pursue a personal injury lawsuit should use the help of a legal professional who understands the whole process of filing for either a civil or criminal suit.
Criminal Penalties
When a driver is involved in a pedestrian car accident or accidentally causes property damage or an injury, The driver should not leave the accident area and should report the accident to the police. If the driver tries to flee after injuring a person, they can face charges for running away and other traffic or criminal charges.
- Hit and run
A driver who strikes a pedestrian and runs away from the scene will commit a hit-and-run criminal offense. It can lead to a felony charge with the possibility of jail time. A pedestrian can hire a hit-and-run accident attorney for the case.
- Driving under the influence
Many pedestrian car accidents occur when the drivers are intoxicated. If one drives under the influence of either alcohol or other drugs, they are likely to face charges if they hit a pedestrian, and this can increase the intensity of the judge’s sentence. Drunk drivers or people driving under the influence and causing pedestrian accidents are more likely to face harsh criminal consequences and charges.
- Vehicular homicide or involuntary manslaughter
At least 11% of deaths from traffic accidents are related to pedestrian vs. car accidents. When a pedestrian dies because of an accident caused by a driver, he can face manslaughter charges. People face this type of criminal charge if they were driving the car in a very reckless way before the occurrence of the pedestrian car accident.
Wrongful death lawsuit
If a pedestrian dies after being hit by a car, the family members of the deceased will file a lawsuit. In this case, they will file a wrongful death lawsuit against the responsible driver or the party at fault.
The driver does not need to face criminal charges to go through the process of a civil lawsuit. In this case, the driver at fault will pay for damages to the family of the pedestrian, such as loss of companionship, funeral expenses, loss of income, and other related compensation.
The victim’s family usually uses the services provided by their injury attorney to assist them in this civil lawsuit.
Personal injury lawsuit
Personal injury cases involve disputes that arise when one individual gets into a car accident or injury, and another person may be legally accountable for the injury. When you are hit by a car as a pedestrian, you can file a personal injury claim. The pedestrian can get a settlement for the injuries when they file a personal injury lawsuit.
Even If you doubt whether the other person is at fault in a car accident or not, The recklessness and negligence of the other person or the property owner can demonstrate their liability for your injuries. A reliable pedestrian injury lawyer can help you get compensation for your injuries from a car accident.
Do you want to learn more about pedestrian car accidents; civil and criminal consequences?
If you happen to cause a car-pedestrian accident, Having a lawyer who can help you in both civil and criminal cases is essential. Our lawyers have years of experience in pedestrian car accident cases. They will answer all your questions and also represent you in the case.
If you or your loved one was involved in a car accident that resulted in injuries, whether as a cyclist, pedestrian, passenger, or driver, due to someone else’s negligence, hiring a reliable law firm is beneficial; contact Frischman & Rizza, P.C. We offer a free consultation by phone, either at home or in the office. Our legal team will help you to understand the differences between civil cases and criminal trials.
For more information on pedestrian car accidents and the civil or criminal consequences of car accidents. Visit Frischman & Rizza, P.C at 7300 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15208 or call us at (412) 291-9377 or at 201 Basin St Unit/8, Williamsport, PA 17701 or call [570]605-4126] to book an appointment today.
