Pedestrian accidents are among the deadliest types of crashes on Tennessee roads, as someone walking has virtually no protection in a collision with a motor vehicle. Fatal injuries are tragically common in these circumstances, and the families left behind are left dealing with the aftermath.
If your loved one was killed in a pedestrian accident caused by a negligent driver in Tennessee, you may have the right to file a wrongful death claim in Nashville. Continue reading to learn about what these claims involve and what your family may be entitled to recover.
When Can a Pedestrian Accident Lead to a Wrongful Death Claim?
A wrongful death claim may be filed whenever a pedestrian is killed as a result of another party’s actions (or failure to act in some cases). Tennessee drivers have a legal duty to exercise reasonable care around pedestrians, including yielding at crosswalks and staying alert for people on foot.
Some of the most common driver behaviors that lead to fatal pedestrian accidents include:
- Distracted driving, including texting
- Speeding through residential areas
- Making turns without checking for pedestrians
- Running a red light/stop sign
- Failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk
- Driving under the influence
- Backing up without looking in parking lots or driveways
Any of these actions could give surviving family members grounds to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit against the at-fault driver.
How Much Is My Family’s Wrongful Death Case Worth?
The value of a wrongful death case stemming from a pedestrian accident depends on a number of factors that are specific to your family’s situation. There is no standard amount, but some of the things that will influence the value of your claim include:
- Your loved one’s age, health, and life expectancy at the time of the accident
- How much income they earned and what they would have earned over their remaining career
- The number of family members who depended on them for financial support
- The emotional impact the loss has had on the surviving family
- The strength of the evidence establishing the driver’s fault
- Whether the driver’s conduct was reckless enough to justify punitive damages
Cases involving young victims with high earning potential and those with minor children who depended on them tend to result in higher recoveries. An experienced wrongful death attorney can work with financial and vocational experts to accurately calculate the full value of your family’s losses and make sure nothing is overlooked.
Contact a Tennessee Wrongful Death Attorney With Woodard Injury Law
Losing a loved one in a pedestrian accident is a tragedy that no family should have to endure. If this has happened to you in Tennessee, you deserve as much compensation as possible under state law. Woodard Injury Law is here to help you maximize what you recover.
Contact our law offices for legal help today by calling (615) 314-4626 or by reaching out to us online. We offer a free consultation and work on contingency, which means you only pay attorney’s fees if we successfully handle your case.