Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Since the state of California has numerous dense cities, it enforces many different laws regarding pedestrian crosswalks. While California designed these laws to protect its citizens, the wording can be confusing and might harm you when dealing with insurance companies.

The law states that all vehicles must yield to all pedestrians who cross the street using a marked crosswalk.

While this statement may sound adequate, the same law also says that pedestrians may not abruptly cross a road without a crosswalk when a vehicle is approaching. Because of this restriction, if you cross the road in an unmarked area, your insurance company will likely deny your claim, leaving you with nothing but medical debt.

Accidents happen, and it can sometimes be hard to cross only on the designated crosswalks, especially since some towns only have a few scattered crosswalks. So what is your option? If a car hits you, it is wise to call an attorney immediately to support your case.

Pedestrian car accidents happen frequently for many different reasons, including:

• Distracted driving, like using a cell phone or eating
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Driving recklessly over the speed limit
• Turning without signaling
• Driving in poor weather and visibility conditions
• Falling asleep while driving
• Drivers not yielding at crosswalks

The most important thing you can do after an accident is call the police so they can gather all necessary information from you and the driver. Even if you do not feel immediate pain from the accident, you must immediately receive medical attention to verify any injuries. This evidence can support your case in the future.

Common Injuries

Severe injuries may occur when a pedestrian is in a car accident. The most common pedestrian injuries when hit by a motor vehicle include:

• Spinal cord damage, causing partial or total paralysis
• Head and brain trauma
• Internal organ bleeding and damage
• Bone breaks, fractures, and dislocations
• Ligament and muscle tears, strains, and sprains
• Skin cuts, scrapes, and impalements
• Limb amputation due to crushing

You can potentially receive compensation for these injuries to help you heal and recover with less financial pressure.

Are Pedestrian Fatalities Wrongful Death Accidents?

Unfortunately, many pedestrians injured in motor vehicle accidents do not survive. Losing a loved one to such an accident is traumatic and difficult to handle. The law treats these fatality cases like wrongful death accidents that can provide compensation to the grieving family.

Suppose someone you love recently died from a fatal pedestrian accident. In that case, you can take the accident to court to seek compensation to cover their medical bills, funeral and burial costs, income loss, household services, and your emotional damage.

This is a difficult question to answer without more information about the case. The value of a case depends on a variety of factors, including the type of case, the extent of damages, and even the jurisdiction in which the case is filed. To get a better understanding of how much your case may be worth and what damages you can seek, give us a call at (818) 785-5000.