FLAGSTAFF, AZ — Flagstaff police say a Phoenix woman has died following a pedestrian crash in northern Arizona. On March 28th, officials said the crash happened around 9:30 p.m. on March 27th. The accident occurred around Beaver Street and Route 66 in Downtown Flagstaff. The victim has been identified as 25-year-old Larilynn Ben.
Ben was attempting to cross between cars of a stopped Amtrak train and came out in front of an eastbound BNSF train. The report claims, “The train engineer repeatedly blew the train’s horn. Ben then tried to turn around and go back through the stopped Amtrak train, but was too late.”
According to officials, Ben was declared dead at the scene.
The AZ Hometown Lawyers sends their condolences to the family and friends of the victim.
Moving Forward After a Pedestrian Accident
Pedestrian cases can be legally quite complex. The defending insurance companies will often raise substantial questions of who was at fault, and the amount the behavior of the pedestrian contributed to the accident itself. Many people are surprised at how difficult their own insurance companies can be when attempting to file UM/UIM claims. This is why it is most important to be represented by an experienced and seasoned attorney with extensive expertise in pedestrian cases. Look for a lawyer with actual trial experience with verdicts in pedestrian cases, which often require expert testimony and accident reconstruction evidence.
While the majority of injury cases are settled prior to trial, insurance companies carefully monitor the record of every injury attorney and use this information to determine the amount of the settlement they are willing to offer. If an attorney has not taken enough cases to trial, the insurance company knows that there is less risk of losing before a jury and they will attempt to offer much less than they are required to compensate by law.
You should ask to see the recommendations of the legal industry including awards and independent rankings. Testimonials from former clients and your attorney’s peers in the legal industry also provide excellent insight into the quality of representation you can expect. Finally, it is important to work with an attorney who is accessible to you personally, who will not push your calls and inquiries off onto a junior associate or staff.
If you’ve been involved in a pedestrian accident in Arizona Call GIL at (602) 495-1005.
Photo Credit: “Metra/BNSF meet late at night at Harlem Avenue” by Donnie Marcos is licensed under CC BY 2.0
