Serious injuries can occur with little warning when a person is struck walking near or across Aurora roadway. This often leads to months or even years of injuries and recovery. The steps you take after an accident are important because they will determine how your case proceeds and whether you’re able to obtain compensation for your injuries. Reliable legal support gives you the help you need during this challenging time. Call our Aurora car accident lawyer today to schedule your free case consultation with an Aurora pedestrian accident attorney.
What Sets Ridder Law Apart When You’re Injured in an Aurora Pedestrian Accident
At Ridder Law, clients are truly heard and understood. We’re dedicated to getting results that truly matter for our clients. Here’s what you can count on:
- Over 14 years of experience securing results for injured clients
- Individualized service, recognizing that no two pedestrian cases are the same
- We work on a contingency fee basis, which means there’s no upfront payments, and no fees unless there’s a recovery
- Over $50 million for previous clients
Your recovery and your questions deserve more than a one-size-fits-all response. Let us help you get back on your feet.
Meet Attorney Theodore “Ted” Ridder
Attorney Theodore Ridder is a lifelong Colorado resident. He knows the roads Aurora drivers use every day and understands the traffic patterns, construction zones, and commercial routes where serious truck crashes are most common.
When a serious truck accident happens in Aurora, you need a lawyer who understands both Colorado law and the realities of driving throughout the Aurora–Denver metro area. Ridder Law is a Colorado-born, Colorado-based firm that has spent more than a decade fighting for injured victims across the Front Range.
Request a Free ConsultationThe Value of Legal Representation in Aurora Pedestrian Accident Cases
After a pedestrian accident, it’s often smart to work with an experienced personal injury lawyer, particularly if injuries and losses are significant. Here’s how they can help.
Preserving Evidence That Supports Your Story
An experienced lawyer steps in quickly after a crash to secure important evidence, such as witness statements, surveillance footage, police reports, and documentation of road conditions that can support your side of what happened.
Communicating With Insurance Companies for You
Insurance adjusters often contact pedestrians soon after a collision, hoping to settle quickly or asking for recorded statements that can harm a pedestrian’s claim. Your attorney takes on all communication with the insurance companies and protects you from unintentionally undermining your right to fair compensation.
Identifying Every Liable Party
Determining who is responsible isn’t always simple. In Aurora, there may be more than just a single driver involved. A skilled attorney reviews all the facts and uncovers sources of compensation you might otherwise overlook.
Accurately Assessing Damages
All consequences of a pedestrian injury should be included in your claim. This means hospital bills, missed income, rehabilitation costs, adaptive equipment, and any effects on the ability to work or enjoy life. Emotional injuries should be included as well. Lawyers ensure that all losses are calculated and given proper weight.
Providing Peace of Mind
Legal representation gives clients space to focus on their physical recovery, knowing an experienced legal professional is handling the legal aspects of the case. This is something many people overlook, but reducing your stress during this time can be very valuable.
Legal guidance after a pedestrian accident is about protecting your rights and making sure your long-term recovery is considered.
How Do Pedestrian Accidents Happen in Aurora?
Pedestrian crashes in Aurora occur in several predictable but preventable ways. Busy intersections, major commercial roads, and increased traffic from business, schools, and shopping all increase the risk. Below are some of the common scenarios:
- Drivers Ignoring Crosswalks: Accidents often happen when drivers fail to yield as people walk legally at crosswalks.
- Unsafe Turns at Intersections: Many drivers turning left or right are watching for oncoming traffic instead of looking for people stepping into the crossing.
- Distracted Driving: Texting, changing the radio, or just simply not paying close enough attention can all result in not seeing a pedestrian crossing the road.
- Speeding: Excessive speed means a car needs longer to stop, and sometimes speeding drivers see pedestrians too late to stop.
- Backing Out Without Looking: Drivers reversing out of driveways or parking spots may fail to check their mirrors or miss people that are in their blind spots.
- Impaired Driving: Alcohol and drugs reduce a driver’s ability to drive safely, and this includes identifying and avoiding pedestrians.
- Delivery and Rideshare Drivers: More frequent in busy commercial areas, drivers looking for passengers or addresses may stop suddenly or make unpredictable moves near pedestrians.
No matter what happened, a pedestrian accident caused by someone else’s negligence can be life-changing, and the victim deserves justice.
Who Is Liable for an Aurora Pedestrian Accident?
Liability for a pedestrian accident depends on the circumstances. Some common parties include:
Driver
Most pedestrian accidents are the result of a driver’s negligence. This may include failing to yield, becoming distracted, ignoring traffic signals, speeding, or backing up without watching for people on foot. When a driver clearly acts carelessly and causes harm, that individual is generally held financially responsible.
Employer
If the at-fault driver was working, like as a delivery driver or operating a commercial vehicle, liability may extend to the driver’s employer. This can be the case even if the employer didn’t do anything negligent. The situation becomes more complicated when the employee is actually an independent contractor.
Vehicle Owner
Sometimes, the person who owns the vehicle can also be held liable, such as when they allow an unsafe driver to use their car.
Government and Roadway Authorities
In less common situations, a government entity could be responsible when hazardous road conditions, poor crosswalk design, bad signage, or improper traffic controls contribute to a collision. Claims against government bodies are subject to special notice rules and legal defenses, so handling them properly is critical, which often means reaching out to a lawyer who has experience with these types of cases.
Vehicle and Equipment Manufacturers
Sometimes, a mechanical defect or a failure in the design or repair of the car or a safety device can play a part. In these cases, the auto manufacturer or a maintenance provider might share financial responsibility with the driver.
What If the Pedestrian Was Partly at Fault?
Colorado uses a rule called modified comparative negligence to address accidents involving shared responsibility. Liability on the part of the victim reduces their compensation but does not always bar their claim.
If a pedestrian is determined to share some blame, such as not using a crosswalk, stepping out where visibility is poor, or disregarding a crosswalk sign, the amount they may recover decreases based on their percentage of fault.
For instance, if you are found 20% at fault, your compensation is lowered by that percentage.
However, if it’s determined that you are 50% or more responsible for the accident, you won’t be able to recover anything.
Talk to Ridder Law Today About Your Aurora Pedestrian Injury
Pedestrian accidents are some of the most severe ones we see because of the lack of protection a victim has compared to a large vehicle. When you’re hit because someone else was negligent, you shouldn’t have to bear this burden alone. Our team truly cares about every case we take on, and we will do everything we can to help you get justice and compensation. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.