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Great Falls Pedestrian Accident Lawyers

The Advocates are personal injury attorneys based in Great Falls, Montana. We will use our years of experience to help victims of pedestrian accidents.

A Pedestrian Accident Attorney Can Help Your Case  

Injury victims of every kind know the pain of an unjust accident. However, there is something worse about pedestrian accidents. With truck accidents, you at least have a vehicle to protect you from the most severe injuries. That is not the case for pedestrians.   

They are extremely vulnerable, often injured by a car, which leads to wrongful deaths. If you do survive, your injuries will almost certainly result in higher medical expenses, pushy insurance companies trying to force low compensation on you, and a lengthy legal process.  

The Advocates have seen this play out many times. We are accident lawyers living in Great Falls, MT, assisting anyone with a personal injury. This town is filled with hard-working people, and a pedestrian accident will likely take you out of the workforce for a while.  

If that happens, The Advocates can provide you with legal representation to support your physical and financial well-being. The attorney-client relationship is at the core of what we do, meaning we will always have your back after a pedestrian accident.  Contact us today!

The Next Steps in Your Montana Pedestrian Accident Case

Injury

Immediately after your accident, check for injuries and seek medical attention

Hire Attorney

Contact a personal injury lawyer with The Advocates to start your recovery

Treatment

Seek medical treatment for your injuries

Medical Records

Keep track of all treatment you receive during recovery

Completed Treatment

When you have completed treatment, your Advocate will compile your medical records

Demand

Your attorney will send a demand letter to the other party

Frequently Asked Questions

You will pay nothing out-of-pocket when you hire an Advocate. 

Your initial consultation with us is always 100% free. There are never any upfront costs or hidden fees. 

Our attorneys work on a contingency basis, which means that our attorney fees are calculated as a percentage of your settlement. We do not get paid unless we win your case, and you receive a settlement. 

For more information on how settlements and payment work, please see our contingency fee information page.

Not every accident requires an attorney. However, if the accident resulted in injuries or significant property damage, it is a good idea to contact a lawyer. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you navigate the claims process, which can be lengthy and complex. 

Your attorney will build your case, keep track of your medical records, negotiate with insurance companies, and represent you in court if necessary. Studies have shown that accident victims who hire a personal injury lawyer can receive settlements up to 3.5 times larger than if they settled on their own. 

The best way to know if you have a case is to speak with an attorney. The Advocates offer free consultations—you can speak with a qualified legal team to understand what your case is worth without paying a dime. Once you have decided to hire an Advocate, we will investigate your accident to firmly establish liability. 

Every personal injury case is different. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to accident claims. The length of the claims process will depend on the severity of your injuries, the willingness of the other party to settle, the court’s caseload, and more. 

In general, personal injury cases can take anywhere from several months to a few years. It is important to contact an attorney as soon as possible to get your case started. Each state has a statute of limitations for personal injury cases, after which you will lose your right of action. 

When you hire The Advocates, we will begin investigating your accident immediately while you finish medical treatment. Once all evidence and medical records have been compiled, your attorney will send a demand letter to the other party’s insurance company. At this point, negotiations will begin. 

In many cases, a settlement can be reached during negotiations. If the other party refuses to make a fair offer, you may choose to file a suit. In the litigation phase, your attorney will represent you in court in front of a judge, jury, and/or arbitrator. 

A Team of Motorcycle Accident Professionals Assigned to Your Case  

For nearly 30 years, The Advocates have helped thousands of personal injury victims receive fair compensation and care they deserve after their accidents, and we are prepared to do the same for you.  

We can help you with: 

  • Understand the claims process 
  • Investigate your accident 
  • Work together with you towards a full resolution of your injuries 
  • Negotiate with insurance adjusters 
  • Obtain a settlement or judgment against the at fault party 

Talking to a Professional

Talk to a professional

Everything to Know About Pedestrian Accidents

Man walks across a city crosswalk

How to prevent pedestrian accidents in Great Falls 

A few people a year get hit by vehicles while walking in Great Falls. These injuries are often so severe that a loved one must handle the logistics of the victim’s recovery, like seeking out a personal injury law office and dealing with insurance.  

You can never completely prevent pedestrian accidents, but by following these rules, you can diminish the chances while also ensuring you follow the law:  

  • Practice situational awareness: Don’t ever assume that because you are following the rules, drivers are too. Keep your head on a swivel. Look around. Do not be absorbed in your phone while crossing the street.  
  • Obey the laws: Only walk when you get the signal to do so, and use designated crosswalks. It will be very difficult to assign blame to the driver if they were following the rules and you were not.   
  • Make yourself visible: Carry a flashlight at night, try to make eye contact with a driver slowing down at a stop sign to ensure they see you, and never barge into the road without first looking left and right. Small acts like these can make a huge difference in preventing pedestrian accidents.

Common causes of pedestrian accidents  

  • Distracted driving: There is no limit to what can distract a driver.  Nowadays, the common attention thieves are cellphones, GPS devices, and other people in the car.  
  • Speeding: A speeding motor vehicle usually hits pedestrians at yellow lights. High speeds reduce the driver’s reaction time to a sudden pedestrian walking across the road.  
  • Reckless driving: Running red lights and stop signs, ignoring traffic signals, improper passing, driving without lights, and not giving the right of way to others — all are forms of aggressive behavior that could kill a pedestrian.  
  • Impaired driving: Drivers under the influence of alcohol or other drugs have a much higher chance of getting into all types of accidents. DUI laws in Montana are strict. Do not ever drink and drive; the legal consequences are severe, and the potential to accidentally kill someone is worse.  
  • Poor visibility: Bad weather, impending night, low light conditions, and sun glare can prevent motorists from seeing pedestrians, even when they are in obvious crossing places such as crosswalks.  
Close-up Of Woman Typing Text Message On Mobile Phone
Common injuries caused by cars hitting pedestrians

Common pedestrian accident injuries  

Pedestrian accident victims often have much more serious injuries than other personal injury cases. Pedestrians are more vulnerable due to a lack of protection, such as airbags or seat belts. These are the most common injuries pedestrians face, from least to most serious:  

  • Abrasions and scrapes  
  • Bruises and contusions  
  • Sprains and strains  
  • Lacerations  
  • Soft tissue injuries  
  • Dental injuries  
  • Broken bones  
  • Facial injuries  
  • Pelvic injuries  
  • Organ damage  
  • Psychological injuries  
  • Spinal cord injuries  
  • Traumatic brain injuries  
  • Paralysis  
  • Death of a loved one  

Pedestrian laws in Montana 

  • Pedestrians must yield to all emergency vehicles. 
  • Many cities and counties have local laws banning jaywalking. 
  • Sidewalks must be used by pedestrians. If there is not a sidewalk, the pedestrian must walk on the shoulder of the road facing traffic.  
  • Drivers must yield to pedestrians at designated intersections, even if there is not a designated crosswalk.  
  • Pedestrians cannot ask for rides or solicit money in the road.  
Girl walking on the shoulder of a lonely abandoned road

What to Know About Pedestrian Accident Claims

Statute of limitations for pedestrian accidents  

If you are in a pedestrian accident in Montana, you generally have three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim. We recommend you begin the process as soon as possible, given that it takes a fair amount of time to go through the proper legal channels.   

Without first diving into the details, we cannot say how long your case will take. Call us today for a free consultation and we can look into your case and provide you a rough time frame.   

How fault is determined in a personal injury claim  

Before any personal injury claim, the court must determine who is at fault. Montana uses a modified comparative negligence rule to portion out liability to all parties involved in an accident. You cannot recover damages if you are more than 50% at fault. If your fault is less than 50%, you can file a personal injury claim, but the percentage of your fault will reduce your compensation.  

For example, if a pedestrian is 20% at fault, they will only receive 80% of the total settlement the judge grants them.  

Although pedestrians usually have more serious injuries than the driver of the car who hit them, this does not mean the pedestrian cannot be blamed. If you are jaywalking on the Great Falls, it will be hard to show that your personal injury was a result of driver negligence.  

Women speaks into microphone in a court rooom.
Woman calling insurance support after car crash

What pedestrians should do after an accident  

  • Ensure you and any family members are out of danger.  
  • Call emergency services. Police and ambulances should arrive at the scene. Even if you do not think you are hurt, get medical attention.  
  • Exchange contact information with the driver involved and with any witnesses.  
  • Tell the police the facts of the accident and get a copy of the police report.  
  • Keep records of every single communication and bill related to the accident. Write detailed notes on every aspect of the scene.  
  • Notify your insurance provider, even if you are not at fault.   
  • Consult a pedestrian accident attorney.  
  • Do not make statements to the driver or their insurance company. Everything you say and do will be used against you.  

When Should I Hire a Pedestrian Injury Attorney?

Do not amplify the physical pain of your pedestrian accident by taking on the legal system alone. Leave that to The Advocates personal injury law firm. It is what we are best at.  

Our practice areas cover the whole range of personal injuries: dog bites, car accidents, slip-and-falls, you name it. If you are wrongfully injured, we are here for you. We have offices in Great Falls, Missoula, Billings, and Lewistown, but we can help all Montanans.   

Pedestrian accident victims often need a whole team of medical professionals and legal experts to help them recover. Medical bills are usually high, and determining negligence can be lengthy.  

No matter how long it takes, The Advocates will stand by your side until the end, fighting for your well-being, keeping the insurance companies at bay, and getting you the compensation you deserve. You deserve all of this. You deserve an Advocate.   

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