Pedestrian Accident Attorneys in Alexandria, Virginia

The negligent or reckless actions of motorists can result in traffic accidents or injuries to innocent pedestrians. Due to limited physical protections, individuals involved in pedestrian-vehicle crashes can suffer severe injuries, incapacitation, or sometimes even death. It’s natural to feel overwhelmed when faced with an entirely preventable pedestrian accident in Virginia.  

If you or someone you love was injured in a pedestrian accident caused by another person's negligence, you may have a claim for damages against the person whose negligence caused the accident. At Blaszkow Legal, PLLC, we're committed to offering personalized attention and compassionate representation to clients in their pedestrian accident cases. Our Virginia personal injury attorneys can examine every aspect of your unique circumstances and explore your available options to recover all of the compensation that you deserve. 

Our goal is to help you move forward and be made whole, so reach out to us for a free consultation. Blaszkow Legal, PLLC proudly serves clients across Northern Virginia, including Alexandria, Fairfax, Springfield, Arlington, Prince William, Manassas, Woodbridge, Falls Church and more. We also represent pedestrian victims in Maryland and DC.

See what one of our Virginia pedestrian accident clients had to say!

Virginia's Pedestrian Right of Way Law

It’s important to be aware of laws in Virginia regarding pedestrians. According to Virginia law, drivers shall yield the right-of-way to: 

• Any pedestrian crossing the highway by stopping and remaining stopped until the pedestrian has crossed 

• Any pedestrian crossing highways at intersections (when safe to do so) 

• Any pedestrian crossing at clearly marked or unmarked crosswalks 

• Any pedestrian on the adjacent sidewalk 

• Any pedestrian boarding or alighting from a bus

Pedestrian's Responsibilities   

Pedestrians have to follow the laws, however, just like drivers. You have responsibilities—as well as rights—in Virginia, which include the following: 

• Pedestrians must obey all official traffic rules and regulations that apply to them. 

• Pedestrians must obey all pedestrian control signals. 

• Pedestrians must always use the sidewalk when they're available. 

• Pedestrians must not dangerously interfere with traffic. 

• Pedestrians must not step into a highway where they can't be seen by approaching motorists. 

• Pedestrians must not use the roadways for travel except when necessary and must always keep to the left. 

• Pedestrians are prohibited from standing or stopping in any roadway to solicit rides. 

Driver's Responsibilities

Automobile drivers have a tremendous responsibility on the road, including the following elements: 

• Drivers must take adequate precautions, drive carefully, and exercise due care to avoid hitting pedestrians on the roadway. 

• Drivers entering, crossing, or turning at intersections must slow down or stop to allow pedestrians to cross safely. 

• The driver of an approaching vehicle shall not overtake another vehicle that stopped for pedestrians to cross the road. 

Fault Determination  

Virginia is an "at-fault" state for auto accidents. Under the state's at-fault system, the driver responsible for the pedestrian accident may be held financially and civilly liable for injuries, damages, and other accident related-losses sustained by the accident victims. In order to recover damages, you must prove fault by showing the following elements: 

• The at-fault party owed you a legal duty of care 

• The at-fault party engaged in a negligent or careless act that violated their expected duty 

• The at-fault party's recklessness or negligence caused your injuries 

• You suffered bodily injuries, actual harm, or other losses due to the accident 

A Virginia pedestrian accident attorney can handle your claims effectively, seek to prove fault and establish liability, and help you recover the maximum available financial compensation. 

Contributory Negligence in Virginia 

Additionally, Virginia operates using the "pure contributory negligence" system. According to the system, a person injured in a pedestrian accident may only be eligible to pursue damages if the at-fault party was totally (100%) responsible for the accident or injuries. Hence, if the injured pedestrian was partially liable for the accident—even if it was only 1%—they would be completely barred from seeking any compensation. 

Statute of Limitations  

Keep in mind that the statute of limitations for most personal injury cases in Virginia, including pedestrian accident claims, is two (2) years of the accident or injury. This means that you must commence a civil action to recover damages within two years from the date the injury or accident occurred. Otherwise, you might be barred from pursuing your claim.  It is absolutely vital to call a Virginia pedestrian accident attorney right away, after the incident!

Damages Available

Here are some of the available damages that might be recovered through a pedestrian accident claim in Virginia: 

• Medical bills, including the cost of ongoing and future medical treatments 

• Lost wages and benefits 

• Repair or replacement of damaged property 

• Loss of future earnings 

• Pain and suffering 

• Emotional distress 

• Loss of consortium 

• Loss of enjoyment of life 

• Mental anguish 

• Punitive damages to punish the at-fault party for their reckless or willful conduct 

A skilled attorney can help file your pedestrian accident claim and help you seek the financial justice you deserve. 

If You're the Victim of the Pedestrian Accident

To pursue financial compensation as the victim of a pedestrian accident, you can proceed by: 

• Filing a first-party claim with your own insurance provider 

• Filing a third-party claim with the insurer of the at-fault party 

• Filing a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party in civil court 

You should always speak to an attorney before speaking to any insurance company. The insurance companies have skilled adjusters and attorneys reading to defend them, and minimize your claim - you should have a skilled attorney ready to fight hard to maximize yours!

If You're Representing a Deceased Loved One

If your loved one died from a pedestrian accident or due to the resulting injuries, you may be entitled to seek wrongful death benefits. Under Virginia law, only the personal representative or executor of the deceased person's estate may file a wrongful death claim. 

Work With Skilled Personal Injury Attorneys 

Getting hurt in a pedestrian accident can be a difficult and emotional experience. The incident can greatly impact your physical, emotional, and financial health. However, you don't have to face the challenges and financial liability all alone. If you or someone you know was hurt in a pedestrian accident, act quickly and hire a personal injury attorney to advocate for your best interests and seek rightful financial compensation. 

At Blaszkow Legal, PLLC, our attorneys have the resources to help clients achieve the best possible outcome in their pedestrian accident cases. As your legal counsel, we can walk you through the complexities involved in filing injury claims and recovering damages. Above all, we will fight compassionately for your legal rights, hold the responsible party liable, and help you seek fair compensation for your injuries, damages, and losses. Call Blaszkow Legal, the Alexandria Injury Attorney, today: 703-879-5910