Our Pedestrian Accident FAQ

Fairfax County, along with the rest of the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area, is among the most walkable regions in the entire United States. However, in spite of local governments’ heavy investment in a pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly infrastructure, enjoying the outdoors is not without risks. Accidents can and do happen with alarming regularity.

In any collision between an automobile and an individual, the motor vehicle usually avoids damage and the driver avoids injury, while the walker, cyclist, or jogger sustains serious and even life-threatening injuries. Although local traffic safety advocates have aggressively campaigned for better-marked crosswalks and bicycle lanes, Fairfax County still has a number of dangerous roads and routes. 

The Most Dangerous Roads in Fairfax County

Virginia tries to protect pedestrians and bicyclists by affording them the right of way over motor vehicles in all crosswalks and intersections, as well as granting bicyclists the same rights as automobiles on public roadways. However, even stringent laws cannot prevent every accident. Fairfax County has several areas that witness unusually high incidences of automobile collisions, pedestrian accidents, and bicycle crashes. While many accidents are caused by reckless motorists, sometimes a combination of poor driving, heavy traffic, and flawed road design can increase the risk of collisions, and there are many dangerous roads in Fairfax County, including:

• Route 7, especially between Baileys Crossroad and Seven Corners. This high-traffic commercial area adjoins several closed-access motorways but lacks numerous crosswalks and bicycle lanes.
• Route 1, between Alexandria and Dumfries. Similar to Route 7, this road passes through a number of high-traffic commercial areas.
• Route 29, between Centreville and Fairfax.
• Route 50, a heavily trafficked route that passes through commercial areas as well as densely settled residential neighborhoods.
• Backlick Road, a major multi-lane road plagued by fast-moving traffic and hazardous intersections.
• Telegraph Road, which receives heavy commuter and city bus traffic, despite passing through predominately suburban and semi-rural areas.
• Shreve Road at the Washington and Old Dominion Trail, a particularly hazardous blind turn across a popular suburban hiking trail and bicycle path.
• Old Keene Mill Road and Franconia Road, between Franconia and North Springfield.
• The Columbia Turnpike, especially the eastbound portion near the Virginia-Washington, D.C. border.

What to Do After a Virginia Pedestrian or Bicycle Accident

If you were injured in a Fairfax County pedestrian or bicycle accident that was not your fault, you could be entitled to significant compensation through an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit. However, proving that a motorist was at-fault could be difficult.

Building Your VA Legal Case if You Were Struck by a Vehicle

• Seek immediate medical attention. You should always visit a physician after a pedestrian or bicycle accident, even if you do not believe you sustained severe injuries. Some common, seemingly minor injuries, such as road rash, could become more serious if not properly treated. Additionally, seeing a doctor shows the insurance company that you have serious concerns about your physical well-being and are not simply trying to make money from a settlement.
• Call the police. While calling 911 after an accident might seem inconvenient, a police report can assist your attorney and the insurance adjuster in determining whether the motorist should be held liable for your injuries. Even if law enforcement cannot determine who or what caused the accident, their report could still be used as evidence in negotiations or at trial.
• Collect evidence. If you do not need emergency medical treatment, you could collect evidence from the accident site. You could take pictures of your visible injuries, your damaged bicycle, and any nearby crosswalks and traffic control signals.
• Speak to eyewitnesses. If another person witnessed your accident, ask them for their name, phone number, and other contact information. Their testimony could help you at trial.
• Contact an attorney. You stand your best chance at making a full legal recovery when you have an experienced attorney on your side. Kearney, Freeman, Fogarty & Joshi, PLLC have years of experience fighting for the rights of pedestrian and bicycle accident victims in court. We can help you construct a compelling, evidence-based claim to help you get the compensation you need and the justice you deserve.

Contact Our Virginia Car Accident Attorney Today!

If you have been injured in a Fairfax County pedestrian or bicycle accident, send Kearney, Freeman, Fogarty & Joshi, PLLC a message online today, or call us at 877-652-1553 to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation.

Related links: How Fitness Tracker Data Could Help Your Personal Injury Case Your Legal Recovery After a Hit-and-Run Bicycle Accident

 

If you are a pedestrian injured in an accident and you have no health insurance, you may wonder how you can get the medical treatment you need and who will pay for it. You may also wonder why the person who was responsible for your injuries isn’t required to pay for your medical care. However, the only thing the law requires is that the at-fault party pay any damages you are owed as a result of a lawsuit. 

Options for Covering Medical Bills

Even if you do not have health insurance, it’s crucial that you get medical treatment after you’ve been injured in a crash. This creates documentation of your injuries, which will be useful when filing auto insurance or other claims.

There may be options available for you to get at least some of your medical bills paid, including:

• Medicaid coverage. This is a federal health insurance program that provides insurance to low-income recipients. If you are injured in an accident and lose your job because of your injuries, you might qualify for Medicaid. Go to your state’s website to find out if you are eligible.
• A payment plan arranged with healthcare providers. Some doctors who treat accident victims with no health insurance are willing to work out a payment plan. Some providers might agree to treatment based on getting paid out of the victim’s settlement. The providers will have to sign a personal injury lien, which will be sent to the victim’s lawyer. The lawyer will pay the healthcare providers before the victim gets any money from the case.
• Your own automobile insurance. Even if you were not driving when the accident occurred, you might still be able to collect from your own automobile insurance policy.
• Filing a case against the negligent driver. If you were injured in a pedestrian accident and you believe that you were not at fault, you should meet with an experienced attorney to help build a strong case, so you can get the compensation you deserve.

To schedule your free initial consultation, contact us online. All personal injury cases are taken on a contingency fee basis. We collect no fee unless we secure compensation for you.

Related links: College Student Struck in Crosswalk Understanding Injury Insurance Procedures Where can I learn more about pedestrian accidents?

 

Most accidents involving a motor vehicle tend to be between two or more different motor vehicles. Car accidents, truck accidents and motorcycle accidents certainly make up the majority of motor vehicle accidents, but pedestrian accidents are still common enough to be concerning. When a pedestrian is struck by a vehicle, that pedestrian is often lucky to survive, and will almost certainly suffer serious injuries.

Understand The Rights Of A Pedestrian

Because pedestrian accidents are less common than other types of accidents, they are understandably less understood. Few people know the rights of pedestrians in such accidents, and they certainly do not know common causes and how they can prove fault in the incident. Fortunately, there are many resources available online for victims of pedestrian accidents to learn more about these awful accidents.

Having a great understanding about pedestrian's rights when walking along or across the road can give you a better idea of what might have caused the accident and who was truly at fault. Learning more about the common causes can help you identify what contributed to your accident, and it may even help you develop a complete series of events, which you can then use to prove to the courts how the accident occurred and who was at fault.

Fairfax Pedestrian Accident Attorneys Can Help

Of course, this is a great deal of effort for someone who was recently involved in a pedestrian accident to go through. If a pedestrian accident victim is too injured or too distraught to do the legal legwork, they should know that they can find other forms of legal assistance. Consulting with the pedestrian accident attorneys of Kearney, Freeman, Fogarty & Joshi, PLLC can also help you understand legal information about pedestrian accidents, and a thorough investigation can help make a solid case to prove that you were not at fault in the accident. This can see you compensated for your injuries. If you have any questions, call 703-691-8333 today to schedule your free consultation.