Pedestrian Accidents

While walking is one of the best things that a person can do for their body, and an undeniably more sustainable way of transporting oneself from place to place, walking in California can be downright dangerous. To be sure, there are thousands of pedestrian deaths across the nation each year, and hundreds in our own state of California. In fact, California holds the title as one of the deadliest places in the country for pedestrians to walk.

One of the most tragic elements of pedestrian accidents is that these accidents are completely preventable, and would never occur but for the negligent actions of parties–often drivers–involved. At the law offices of Wagner Zemming Christensen, LLP, our California pedestrian accident lawyers are passionate about protecting the rights of pedestrians and helping injured pedestrians recover monetary compensation for their losses. Call our law firm today to learn more about how we can help you.

Pedestrian accidents, as stated above, are almost always caused by a party’s negligence – the failure to act with the proper degree of care. While it is true that in some cases, a pedestrian may contribute to or cause the accident–indeed, distracted walking and texting while walking is a large problem that is contributing to a surge in the number of pedestrian deaths–often times, the accident is the result of a careless driver. Acts of driver negligence that often lead to pedestrian collisions include:

• Texting while driving;
• Distracted driving;
• Speeding;
• Failing to come to a complete stop/running a traffic stop;
• Driving while impaired; and
• Failing to yield to a pedestrian who has the right of way.

Pedestrian accidents tend to be much more devastating than are accidents that involve two passenger cars, rather than a passenger car and a human body. This is because the force that the pedestrian’s body sustains is often significant, and with no protections to prevent injuries, a pedestrian struck by a motor vehicle often suffers:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs);
• Spinal cord injuries;
• Internal injuries;
• Back and neck injuries;
• Soft tissue injuries;
• Bone fracture injuries;
• Crushed limb and amputation injuries;
• Lacerations;
• Facial injuries; and
• More.

These injuries are not only painful and disfiguring for the pedestrian, but often permanently disabling, too. In many cases, injuries are so severe that they are fatal. A pedestrian who survives being hit by a car may very well incur long-term harm that forever changes the course of their life.

When a pedestrian is hit by a car, that pedestrian maintains the right to seek compensation for their injuries, particularly when the accident was caused through no fault of their own. Typically, the liability insurance of the responsible driver will be responsible for paying for damages, although other insurance and recovery options are often turned to, too.

An injured pedestrian may seek compensation for the full value of their losses, including all economic and noneconomic damages. Our lawyers can assist you in both establishing the total value of damages you’ve incurred as well as gathering evidence that’s necessary to hold the responsible party liable for your harm.

It can be difficult to think about filing a personal injury claim so soon after suffering a serious injury, or watching a loved one suffer serious harm as a result of a pedestrian crash. However, California law holds that injured parties must bring forth their suit for damages within two years from the date of an accident, which means that you must act quickly. When you call our lawyers, we will handle all elements of your case so that you can focus on your recovery.

Our California pedestrian accident lawyers are experienced in personal injury law, have a history of success, and are passionate about protecting injury victims like you. We work on a contingency fee basis, and never charge upfront legal fees. A consultation with our law firm is 100 percent free of charge – please call us today or send us a message to schedule your free case review today.