How Can a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Help?
Angeleno Accident Lawyers are a team of personal injury attorneys in Los Angeles specializing in pedestrian accidents and pedestrian deaths.
If you or a loved one were pedestrians hurt in a car accident due to a negligent driver, you may be eligible to seek compensation. Our personal injury law firm has built a winning reputation for recovering millions in damages for past clients involved in pedestrian-related car accidents, and we can help you.
Do I Need an Attorney for My Case?
Injured victims of pedestrian accidents are entitled to compensation.
It is their legal right. Unfortunately, recovering compensation in pedestrian accident lawsuits can be difficult. This is directly related to how the other party’s insurance company handles the claim. With a goal to reduce settlements or reject claims, insurance company adjusters will not make the claim process simple.
In order to recover fair compensation, it is best to work with a Los Angeles pedestrian accident lawyer.
When working with Angeleno Accident Lawyers, we will also help in the following areas:
- Backed with resources so a thorough investigation can be conducted
- 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 important deadlines, like California’s statute of limitations. For those unfamiliar with personal injury claims, this deadline is often overlooked, as victims only have two years from the date of the pedestrian accident to file a claim. If that date is missed, the case can no longer be pursued.
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. And should a personal injury lawsuit needs 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 a number of 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 pose a threat to anyone sharing the roadways, whether that is with a jogger, bicyclist, skateboarder, or anyone else traveling on foot.
Proving Negligence
When presenting a personal injury claim, the outcome of the case will be based on effectively proving negligence. If negligence can be proven, the defendant will be held liable for the accident and legally bound to compensate the accident 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 a victim suffering losses, like serious injuries or trauma
To recover fair compensation for the injured pedestrian, it is necessary to prove negligence on the part of the driver.
Who Is Liable in an Accident?
Because California is an at-fault state, the responsible party is legally liable to compensate the victim for all damages that he or she caused.
However, it must be proven that the accused’s reckless or careless conduct led to the accident. This can get complicated when multiple parties are involved.
Occasionally, victims are sometimes blamed for causing the accident, either partially or entirely. If the other party can prove this to be true, then the plaintiff’s compensation will be proportionately reduced, per the comparative negligence law.
The amount will also be deducted based on how great of a role the plaintiff had 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 to include the city of Los Angeles, contracted rideshare drivers, and delivery drivers for businesses.
The city where the accident took place is responsible for maintaining safe roadways and sidewalks. Therefore, any defective street signals, poor road conditions, or other highway hazards are considered unsafe and can be attributed to the pedestrian crash.
Similarly, any employee operating a company-owned vehicle or working as a contracted driver who was involved in an accident can be held liable. Their employer can be held accountable, as well. These pedestrian accident cases can grow to be very complicated, leaving victims overwhelmed and uncertain of who to file a legal claim against.
For clarity and ease of mind, contact Angeleno Accident Lawyers for a free consultation.
Common Pedestrian Accident Injuries
The injuries sustained in a pedestrian accident are unfortunately catastrophic and life-altering.
This is why it’s crucial to work with an experienced pedestrian accident attorney. 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 types of injuries our firm has been successful in recovering damages for include the following:
- Spinal Injuries
- Brain Injuries
- Internal Injuries
- Breaks and Fractures
- 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 permits civil action to be taken 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. It is our 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.
California Crosswalk Laws and Pedestrian Rights
Southern California residents are all too familiar with the congestion of Los Angeles traffic, as well as 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 a pedestrian accident takes place, this is why 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 that apply to both motorists and pedestrians. However, under no circumstances can a motorist intentionally collide with someone who is 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.
Before accepting a settlement from the other party’s insurance, consult with an attorney. 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 pattern of success 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 is fully capable of countering insurers’ calculated tactics. We can also litigate a pedestrian accident case to ensure our clients are receiving the best possible settlement.
A skilled pedestrian accident attorney can assist in this area 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 offer legal counsel and assist clients 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Contact us as soon as possible, so important deadlines are not missed. The sooner action is taken, the better the outcome of your pedestrian accident claim 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.
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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.
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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 uniqueness of your pedestrian accident case. With our expertise, years of experience with car accident cases, and our dedication to defending your rights against insurance companies and the negligent party, you have a chance to claim what's owed to you.