How Can a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Help?
Angeleno Accident Lawyers is a Los Angeles legal team specializing in pedestrian accidents and deaths.
Every year, numerous individuals suffer from pedestrian accidents caused by negligent motor vehicle drivers. The aftermath of such incidents can be physically and financially overwhelming. However, there is a silver lining-you have the right to seek significant financial compensation if you or a loved one has been involved in a pedestrian accident due to a negligent driver. Our Los Angeles pedestrian accident lawyer is here to guide you through this process, offering a free consultation to ease your burden.
Rest assured, our personal injury law firm has a solid track record of securing millions in damages for our injured clients involved in pedestrian-related car accidents. We have the expertise and dedication to do the same for you.
If you have any questions about catastrophic injuries you or a loved one suffered in a pedestrian accident or want to learn more about our award-winning law firm, don't hesitate to contact us. We offer a free consultation with an experienced Los Angeles pedestrian accident lawyer, making it easy and convenient to get the legal advice you need. Plus, we operate on a contingency fee basis, so you won't have to worry about upfront costs.
Do I Need an Attorney for My Pedestrian Accident Case?
Injured victims of pedestrian accidents are entitled to financial compensation.
It is their legal right. Unfortunately, recovering financial compensation in pedestrian accident lawsuits can be difficult. This process directly relates to how the other driver's insurance company handles claims. Insurance adjusters make insurance claims difficult on purpose to reduce settlements or reject claims altogether.
Working with a Los Angeles pedestrian accident lawyer is best for recovering fair compensation.
When working with Angeleno Accident Lawyers, we will also help in the following areas:
- Backed with resources, our attorneys can conduct a thorough investigation
- Grant access to an exclusive network of the top medical providers in the Los Angeles area
- Collect supporting evidence that will strengthen the case
- Accurately determine fault and prove liability on the other party
- Utilize previous experience and acquired skill set to negotiate the best settlement
- Work as credible advocates in navigating the legal system
Our pedestrian accident attorneys will also meet critical deadlines, like California's statute of limitations. This deadline is often overlooked for those unfamiliar with personal injury claims, as victims only have two years from the date of the pedestrian accident to file a claim. If you miss that date, you can no longer pursue your case.
Our law firm will assist injured pedestrian accident victims by handling negotiations with insurance adjusters and ensuring all filing deadlines are met. This alleviates stress and allows our clients to focus on what matters most: their health. Should a personal injury lawsuit need to be pursued to get the compensation our client deserves, our Los Angeles pedestrian accident lawyer is fully prepared to represent you in court.
Common Reasons for Pedestrian Accidents
Like most traffic accidents, there are several reasons why pedestrian accidents occur.
The most common contributions to pedestrian accidents include the following:
- Distracted driving from the use of smartphones, talking to passengers, or other forms of multitasking
- Drunk driving or driving while under the influence of drugs
- Reckless driving and disobeying traffic laws, like speeding or not yielding to pedestrians
- Lack of pedestrian visibility due to the time of day
- Pedestrians failing to exercise caution and follow traffic laws
Driver error is typically behind most pedestrian accidents in Los Angeles. Ultimately, motorists who lack pedestrian awareness threaten anyone sharing the roadways, whether with a jogger, bicyclist, skateboarder, or anyone else traveling on foot.
Proving Negligence
When presenting a pedestrian accident claim, the outcome of the personal injury case will be based on effectively proving negligence. If your attorney can prove negligence, the defendant will be liable for the pedestrian accident and legally bound to compensate the injured victim.
Notable components include:
- Duty of Care Owed - People have a legal obligation to act in a reasonably safe manner while operating a motor vehicle
- Duty of Care Breached - Defendants failed to adhere to their duty of care
- Cause of the Accident - Breached the duty of care that led to causation for the accident
- Overall Damages - The accident led to an injured victim suffering losses, like serious injuries or trauma
Proving negligence on the driver's part is necessary to recover full financial compensation for the injured pedestrian.
Who Is Liable for a Pedestrian Accident?
Because California is an at-fault state, the responsible party is legally liable to compensate the injured victim for all damages they caused.
However, it must be proven that the accused's reckless or careless conduct led to the pedestrian accident. This can get complicated when multiple parties are involved.
Occasionally, pedestrian accident victims are sometimes blamed for causing the car accident, either partially or entirely. If the other party can prove this, the courts will proportionately reduce the plaintiff's compensation, per the comparative negligence law.
The courts will also deduct the settlement amount based on the plaintiff's role in causing the car accident versus the defendant's contribution. With the help of our skilled Los Angeles pedestrian accident lawyers, the accident will be thoroughly investigated, and we will accurately determine fault on the liable party.
Other potentially liable parties who have caused pedestrian accidents include the city of Los Angeles, contracted rideshare drivers, and business delivery drivers.
The city where the accident occurred is responsible for maintaining safe roadways and sidewalks. Therefore, due to their unsafe nature, defective street signals, poor road conditions, or other highway hazards can be attributed to pedestrian accidents.
It's crucial to understand that pedestrian accident cases can be highly complex. For instance, any employee operating a company-owned vehicle or working as a contracted driver involved in a pedestrian collision can be held liable. In such cases, their employer can also be held accountable. This complexity can leave injured pedestrians overwhelmed and uncertain about who to file a legal claim against, underscoring the necessity of legal representation.
Remember, you can always contact Angeleno Accident Lawyers for a free consultation. We provide clarity and ease of mind in these challenging times.
Common Pedestrian Accident Injuries
The injuries sustained in a pedestrian accident are, unfortunately, catastrophic and life-altering.
This is why working with an experienced pedestrian accident attorney is crucial. In our experience, it is not enough for accident victims to only be compensated for the damages done. They must also be compensated for their recovery, how they were affected by their injuries, and future expenses to treat those injuries.
The most common pedestrian injuries our firm has been successful in recovering damages for include the following:
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Brain Injuries
- Internal Injuries
- Broken Bones
- Lacerations
- Burns
- Amputation
- Wrongful Death
Wrongful Death
A pedestrian accident resulting in fatal injuries is the worst imaginable outcome. In addition to grieving for their loss, surviving family members are sometimes left with a financial deficit, especially if the deceased was the sole provider.
This is why California law permits civil action from the deceased's estate, allowing wrongful death damages to be recovered from the liable party.
In a wrongful death claim, recoverable losses include:
- Burial costs
- Funeral costs
- All medical treatment
- Loss of income
- Change in quality of life
It’s important to note that we at Angelenos Accident Lawyers understand that absolutely no amount of monetary award can compensate for the loss of a loved one.
Unfortunately, pedestrian deaths occur far too often in Los Angeles, highlighting the need for increased safety measures to protect pedestrians. We hope that the recoverable damages aid in securing a family's financial future while also allowing them to focus on healing during this difficult time.
Southern California Crosswalk Laws and Pedestrian Rights
Southern California residents are all too familiar with the congestion of Los Angeles traffic and the reckless motorists that occupy the city's roadways.
Although all drivers owe a duty of care when operating a vehicle, many breach their obligation to drive attentively and safely. In the event of a pedestrian accident, laws to protect the rights of accident victims have been put into effect. This allows the plaintiff (accident victim) to take legal action against the defendant (motorist who hit the pedestrian).
These laws detail the “right-of-way” and other traffic rules for motorists and pedestrians. However, a motorist can never intentionally collide with someone crossing the street, regardless of whether that person was crossing legally or illegally. Additionally, drivers must always yield to pedestrians.
Under the California Vehicle Code - VEH, other important crosswalk laws and pedestrian regulations are as follows:
- VC 467 - who is considered a "pedestrian"
- VC 275 - what qualifies as a crosswalk in California
- VC 21966 - designated areas pedestrians can legally walk
- VC 21950 - crossing at a crosswalk
- VC 21955 - requirements surrounding using crosswalks at all intersections
- VC 21954 - yielding to the right-of-way of vehicles when crossing a street that does not have a crosswalk
- VC 21970 - prevents drivers from stopping in the middle of a crosswalk and blocking pedestrians from crossing
Compensation in Pedestrian Accident Cases
Recovering losses and being compensated for a pedestrian's injuries can range from a broad spectrum of areas.
Victims of pedestrian accidents can be compensated for past and future damages, such as:
- Medical bills for Hospital/ER visits
- Recovery medical treatment
- Physical therapy
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earnings
- Pain and suffering
- Amputation or disfigurement
- Loss of companionship
- Therapy for trauma
- Punitive damages
Insurance company adjusters are known to bait victims into accepting a less-than-fair settlement. Injured victims are misled into believing the offer is generous and will account for all of their medical needs.
Consult with an attorney before accepting a settlement from the other party's insurance. An experienced pedestrian accident lawyer can evaluate how much a case is worth.
Angeleno Accident Lawyers has helped numerous clients obtain maximum compensation for their pedestrian accident claims. Our success pattern makes us trusted leaders in the field.
Why Hire Angeleno Accident Lawyers?
Most of California’s driving laws appear straightforward.
Our experienced team of pedestrian accident attorneys can fully counter insurers' calculated tactics. We can also litigate a pedestrian accident case to ensure our clients receive the best possible settlement.
An experienced pedestrian accident attorney can assist by compiling sufficient evidence and presenting the personal injury case to the opposing insurance company.
Our pedestrian accident attorneys at Angeleno Accident Lawyers have the pedigree to take on the insurance companies after being injured in a pedestrian accident. We will offer the support needed during this difficult time. Additionally, we can provide legal counsel and assist clients 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Contact us as soon as possible to avoid missing important deadlines. The sooner action is taken, the better your pedestrian accident claim outcome will be.. Schedule a free consultation today.
Client Testimonials
Read what some of our clients have said about working with our law firm and the results we were able to successfully accomplish.
Janet Krup
I absolutely adore this law firm! When researching lawyers in my area I felt like most of them weren’t truly invested in my case. They kept giving me what felt like very generic and robotic responses. But my lawyer at AAL took the time to give me honest advice about my car accident with realistic expectations of a settlement. I can honestly say that I was very satisfied with my experience.
Zoey de la Rosa
I had a wonderful experience with Angeleno Accident Lawyers. They took care of my medical bills, doctors appointments, and dealt with my insurance company. It was a relief having them taking care of everything because I quite honestly wasn't in the right state of mind to worry about anything else but my pain.
Eduardo Contreras
Caring, hard working and VERY helpful! I had a good experience working with Angeleno Accident Lawyers for my accident. Thank you for taking the time to work on my case! I had never been in a motorcycle accident before, so I had no idea what I could do about my expenses. After being referred to this law firm, all of my questions were answered. My case was handled efficiently, and my payout was much more than I was expecting.
Steve Patterson
Unfortunately I have had a few accidents in my day so I’ve worked with my fair share of lawyers. Hands down Angeleno Accident Lawyers has been one of the most professional firms to work with. They helped me schedule appointments with my doctor, deal with insurance, and even helped me find a mechanic to fix my car. I would certainly recommend them.
Get the Help You Need From Our Pedestrian Accident Lawyers
We understand the complexities of your pedestrian accident case. With our expertise, years of experience with car accident cases, and dedication to defending your rights against insurance company adjusters and the at-fault party, you can claim what's owed to you.