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Morrin Law Office

Pedestrian Accident Attorney in Georgetown, Kentucky

Imagine you are walking along the picturesque streets of Kentucky’s quaint city of Georgetown. While crossing an intersection at the designated time, you are suddenly hit by a motor vehicle who was not paying attention. Now what?

Unfortunately, this happens all too often—pedestrians who are under the assumption that they are safe walking get hit by a car, leaving them seriously injured or dead.

Compared to accidents involving two motor vehicles, a pedestrian has little to no protection. This means that if struck, pedestrians are more likely to obtain serious injuries, or even risk losing their life. In cases where the pedestrian survives, their injuries may still leave them with an extensive road to recovery. Injuries often result in high-cost medical bills, long-lasting pain, and psychological or emotional trauma.

A personal injury attorney is always ideal to contact after a pedestrian collision. An experienced attorney can review the details of your wreck and help you determine the at-fault party, estimate the damages caused by your injury, and negotiate or settle with the insurance companies for your well-deserved compensation.

Hire a Pedestrian Attorney with Morrin Law Firm

Hire a Pedestrian Attorney in Georgetown, KY

Were you recently injured in a pedestrian accident in Georgetown, Kentucky? You may have a personal injury case if so. The attorneys at Morrin Law Firm can assist you in all aspects of your potential personal injury claim. Contact our office at (859) 358-0300 and receive a free case evaluation where our personal injury attorneys can determine if filing a claim is best for your case.

What Causes Pedestrian Accidents in Georgetown, Kentucky?

When an individual is involved in a pedestrian accident, it implies that there was a collision between a motor vehicle and a person walking across the road or along a developed area.

Common causes of pedestrian accidents include, but are not limited to:

  • Distracted driving
  • Disregarded traffic laws
  • Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
  • Speeding
  • Fail to yield right-of-way
  • Following too close
  • Improper backing
  • Improper passing
  • Misjudged clearance
  • Operating vehicle without proper control

According to Kentucky’s Office of Highway Safety’s Annual report, there was an average of 83 pedestrian fatalities between 2016-2020. This was a 7.6% increase from the 2015-2019 calendar report, which was an average of 72 pedestrian fatalities. The following lists the estimated pedestrian fatalities in Kentucky for each year from 2014-2020:

  • 2014 – 57 fatalities
  • 2015 – 67 fatalities
  • 2016 – 81 fatalities
  • 2017 – 83 fatalities
  • 2018 – 73 fatalities
  • 2019 – 80 fatalities
  • 2020 – 96 fatalities

Georgetown has an estimated population of 38,780, according to the 2022 consensus. Some of the more dangerous Georgetown roads that have experienced fatal pedestrian accidents include:

  • US-62
  • US-460
  • Scotland Drive
  • SR-1962
  • Kentwood Ave
  • US-25

What Steps Should You Take After a Kentucky Pedestrian Accident?

Getting into a pedestrian accident will likely result in pain and confusion about what to do next. Immediately following a pedestrian accident, you should seek out medical help. Not only is this important for your well-being and recovery, but obtaining medical records will help in building your personal injury claim. The process surrounding a personal injury claim begins when you contact Morrin Law Firm. From there, we advise you to take these steps for a successful case:

  1. Gather evidence to support your personal injury claim;
  2. Establish fault and liability to prove your injuries were caused by the negligence of another person or party;
  3. Contact insurance companies, or let Morrin Law contact the insurance companies on your behalf to ensure you are not taken advantage of with unfair settlement offers; and
  4. Negotiate or settle the damages either before or after a courtroom trial.

As each personal injury case is different, it is in your best interest to consult with a personal injury attorney in Georgetown, Kentucky to discuss your options for litigation.

Possible Injuries

Pedestrian accidents can seriously injure or even kill pedestrians due to the lack of protection compared to motor vehicles, bicyclists, or motorists. Possible injuries resulting from a pedestrian accident in Georgetown, Kentucky include:

Maintaining documentation of any injury is imperative to a personal injury claim. Regardless of how severe you may think your initial injuries are, make sure you prioritize seeking medical help and receiving related medical documentation to use during your pedestrian personal injury case.

Kentucky’s Right-of-Way Law

The term “right-of-way” refers to the legal right of a motor vehicle, pedestrian, or cyclist to proceed priority over others in a particular situation. In other words, it determines who has the right to move first, and who must wait or yield.

Kentucky’s right-of-way law is permitted under the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to explain that pedestrians have the right-of-way in the following locations:

  • On sidewalks;
  • In any zone marked for pedestrian use;
  • A marked crosswalk or intersection when a traffic light indicates pedestrian crossing; or
  • A marked crosswalk or intersection when the traffic light is not working or present.

If you have been injured in a pedestrian collision where the driver failed to yield right-of-way, you may be eligible to file a personal injury claim.

How to Determine Fault in a Pedestrian Accident

To have a successful personal injury case, the injured person or party must be able to establish fault. That means clearly showing, through gathered evidence, that another person or party was responsible for your injuries.

In a Georgetown pedestrian accident case, the at-fault party would be considered the driver of the motor vehicle. To prove the driver’s fault, Morrin Law Firm can help when you provide us with the following evidence:

  • Images and videos of the accident scene, property damages, or injuries;
  • The provided accident report by Kentucky Police Department or Georgetown Police Department;
  • Any medical records from after the collision to document injuries and ongoing treatment, medication, medical devices, etc.;
  • Any witness statements, if available; and
  • Documentation of the financial losses and damages caused by the pedestrian accident.

Once you have established fault with the help of a Georgetown personal injury attorney, you can start filing a personal injury claim.

Damages to Seek After Pedestrian Accident in Georgetown, KY

A personal injury attorney will ask you about the “damages” caused by your pedestrian collision. This refers to the financial hardships or losses created by the accident. If you are successful in your personal injury claim, you may be compensated for the damages. Possible damages you can seek compensation for in Georgetown, Kentucky include:

  • Medical bills
  • Medical assistive devices
  • Future projected medical expenses
  • Property damage
  • Rehabilitation
  • Lost wages
  • Pain and suffering
  • Reduced quality of life
  • Punitive damages

As each pedestrian collision case will differ in its circumstances, injuries, and damages, so will the potential awarded compensation. You can receive a risk-free consultation with Morrin Law Firm to discuss your case details.

Kentucky Statute of Limitations

Each state has a limit on how long an injured person or party can file a personal injury claim, which is referred to as the Statute of Limitations.

Kentucky Statute Section 413.125 states that an individual who is injured and plans to file a personal injury claim for an accident involving a motor vehicle has two years to do so, from the date of the accident or the last PIP payment with insurance.

It is important to note here that you should never wait to file. Although the statute says two years, waiting that long to file can result in loss of evidence, missing medical documentation, or even getting your case barred from getting filed. That would mean you would not be eligible to receive any compensation for your injuries.

When you have been injured and plan to file a personal injury claim, it is always best to start the process as soon as possible. Contact Morrin Law Firm today to establish the details of your case and start working on your claim.

Georgetown Example Cases

The following lists example cases of pedestrian collisions with injury that have occurred in Georgetown, Kentucky:

  • August 2022 – Georgetown Police responded to a late-night collision on August 8th, 2022, which resulted in one fatality. The report indicated that Teresa Elam, 50, was driving her vehicle near Champion Way between Lexus Way and This Way Home Drive around 6:30pm. Elam hit a pedestrian, who had been cleaning debris off the road. The victim was taken to the hospital for their injuries but later died. Police recorded that Elam had a distinct smell of marijuana and was charged with operating a vehicle under the influence.
  • March 2020 – The Lexington Police Department responded to a hit-and-run pedestrian collision on March 2nd, 2022. The collision took place around 8:52pm on Georgetown Road between Lima Drive and Keller Court. A female pedestrian was walking when she was struck by a supposed red boxy-shaped vehicle. The driver of the suspected vehicle fled the scene, and the injured woman was struck a second time by another vehicle after she was left in the roadway. Police believed the second vehicle was unaware they hit anyone.

Pedestrian Safety Tips

The Kentucky Office of Highway Safety offers those who plan on walking in Georgetown with the following pedestrian safety tips:

  • Use a sidewalk, if available.
  • Obery signs and signals.
  • Always stay alert.
  • Be visible.
  • Never assume a driver sees you.
  • Always watch for cars.

Contact a Georgetown, Kentucky Personal Injury Attorney

Any pedestrian involved in a collision at the hands of a driver’s negligence should be compensated for the resulting damages. Every day, pedestrians take to the sidewalks and crosswalks under the assumption that they will be safe from harm. If your safety has been compromised and you are involved in a pedestrian accident that left you seriously injured, contact a personal injury attorney. You may be eligible for compensation for the damages caused by the wreck.

The attorneys at Morrin Law Firm pride ourselves on earning back the lives and financial stability of our clients. We will be by your side throughout the entire litigation process, helping you handle strict insurance companies, gather evidence to support your claim, and negotiate for your compensation. We provide completely risk-free evaluations to help potential clients determine whether a personal injury claim is right for them. Contact us today at (859) 358-0300. Morrin Law Offices represent those who have been injured in Covington, Lexington, Bowling Green, and Richmond, Kentucky.