Our Approach to Protecting Your Rights
When it comes to representing victims of pedestrian accidents, we go above and beyond. Here’s the process you can expect when working with us.
Types of Pedestrian Accidents We Handle
We represent pedestrians who have been involved in a variety of accidents, including:
Intersection Accidents
These occur at crosswalks, traffic signals, or intersections where drivers may fail to yield to pedestrians crossing the street.
Sidewalk Accidents
Drivers may lose control, drift into sidewalks, or hit pedestrians crossing the sidewalk at a designated crosswalk.
Hit-and-Run Accidents
In these tragic events, the driver responsible flees the accident scene. We work diligently to gather evidence and identify the at-fault party to pursue your claim.
Understanding the Challenges of Pedestrian Accidents
It’s important to remember that pedestrian accidents often involve unique legal complexities that may not be familiar to attorneys who primarily focus on car accidents.
Pedestrian Vulnerability
Unlike people who are driving, pedestrians have little protection in an accident. The consequences of a collision are often severe and can even be fatal.
Understanding Pedestrians' Rights
When a driver hits a pedestrian under certain circumstances, the driver is presumed to be negligent, as pedestrians have a legal right to safely walk along sidewalks, cross streets at designated crosswalks, and travel in a reasonable manner.
Proving Negligence
In pedestrian accident lawsuits, we must prove that the defendant owed a duty of care to the injured pedestrian, breached that duty, and that the defendant's breach caused the pedestrian's injuries. We have extensive experience in proving negligence in pedestrian accident cases.
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents and Why They Matter
It’s crucial to understand that these collisions can be caused by many factors — often ones that involve negligence on the part of the driver. Common examples we see in San Fernando include:
-
Distracted Driving
The driver was using a cell phone, texting, eating, or engaging in other distractions instead of paying attention to the road and pedestrian safety.
-
Speeding
Driving over the speed limit significantly increases the likelihood of a dangerous crash.
-
Failing to Yield
A driver might fail to yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian in a designated crosswalk.
-
Ignoring Traffic Signals
Drivers who run red lights, stop signs, or disregard other traffic control devices can cause devastating accidents.
-
Driving Under the Influence of Drugs or Alcohol
It's clear that drunk or high drivers are especially reckless and present a significant danger to pedestrians.
Poorly lit roads, lack of proper sidewalks or crosswalks, or dangerous road designs (like inadequate street lighting, narrow roads, or potholes) could also lead to accidents and may make the city or county partly liable for the accident.
Common Injuries Experienced in Pedestrian Accidents
Being hit by a car can be devastating. The injuries sustained are often serious and can include:
You should not have to pay for medical costs that result from an accident that was not your fault. Pursuing compensation from the at-fault party can help cover the financial burden you’re facing.
The Costs Associated with Pedestrian Accidents
Unfortunately, pedestrian accidents not only cause physical injury but can also leave you struggling financially. You could be facing:
- Medical bills: The immediate medical attention after an accident and the long-term treatment, therapy, rehabilitation, and medications can result in enormous medical bills.
- Lost wages: When injuries prevent you from working, you’re facing lost income that can significantly affect your ability to meet everyday needs.
- Future lost earnings: Depending on the severity of your injuries, your future earning potential might be impacted, leading to ongoing financial hardship.
We’ll fight tirelessly to ensure that you are fairly compensated for these economic damages as well as additional harms, including emotional distress, PTSD, and loss of consortium.
