California Pedestrian Accidents Lawyer

Understanding Pedestrian Accident Laws

Pedestrian Accidents Lawyer

Being involved in an accident where you were hit by a car, truck, van, or even bicycle as a pedestrian can be incredibly traumatic and more often than not results in injuries that require medical treatment. Some victims of these accidents can take months or even years to recover, and can be a high possibility of permanent disablement.

Victims of these types of accidents are often eligible for significant compensation to cover things like:

Our Pedestrian Accidents Lawyers at Alpha Law Firm are here to help you get the compensatory coverage you not only need, but deserve.

Common Reasons for Pedestrian Vehicle Accidents

There are several reasons that a pedestrian/vehicle accident might occur, including but not limited to:

Distracted driving (This includes using a cellphone, talking to passengers, etc.)
Driving under the influence (such as on drugs or alcohol)
Speeding
Failure to respect right-of-way laws
Poor visibility (such as at night or in the rain)

While some of these are more preventable than others through specific actions on the pedestrian’s side (such as wearing protective clothing in the dark or during rainy weather), none of them are necessarily the pedestrian’s fault, nor are they considered as such in the court of law. There are many more reasons an accident involving a pedestrian and a vehicle might occur, but these are the basics.

California Crosswalks and Pedestrian Rules

California has proven to be a state that enforces liability and aims to protect its citizens in as many ways as possible. Because of this, there are several laws in place that involve crosswalks and pedestrian conduct.
Unfortunately, if you were found in violation of these laws at the time of the accident, it can drastically decrease your odds of the court ruling in your favor.
The main law you should be aware of is Vehicle Code 21960, which states that vehicles must yield to any and all pedestrians using a crosswalk. However, it also states that pedestrians may not suddenly leave the curb or crosswalk that it constitutes an immediate hazard.
Additionally, the language in this code is a little ambiguous, which makes it easy for insurance companies to deny claims regarding this issue. This is one of the many reasons you should have a pedestrian accidents lawyer in your corner while pursuing a case.

Wrongful Death Claims Due to Pedestrian Accident

As horrible as it is, there are cases where the pedestrian succumbs to their injuries and does not survive the accident. Because these types of deaths are so unexpected, family and friends are often left behind wondering what they should do and who they should talk to.

In California, certain close family members are allowed to file a wrongful death claim to seek recovery losses for things like:

Funeral and burial expenses
Therapy costs for the immediate family member filing
The cost of medical care for the deceased loved one
Loss of future financial support
Loss of household care capacity, such as with cooking or cleaning
Lost love, affection, companionship, and sexual intimacy

Our Pedestrian Accident Lawyers at Alpha Law Firm are here to help you get the compensatory coverage you not only need, but deserve.

Proving a Pedestrian Accident Claim

Contrary to popular belief, drivers are not considered to be automatically at fault in the event of a pedestrian/vehicle accident. Rather, the law requires the pedestrian to prove liability by demonstrating that the driver was being negligent.
Some things the driver may be accused of include:

Distracted Driving

When a drivers take their focus off the road, their chances of an accident can easily increase. Whether talking or texting on a cellphone, interacting with passengers, or doing any other activity that takes their focus off the road, this scenario is grounds for civil (and sometimes criminal) liability.

Drunk Driving

When drivers are under the influence of alcohol, their ability to react and situational awareness are drastically decreased, which can skyrocket the odds an accident occurs. The police can document if the driver is under the influence.

Traffic Violations

Should the driver being speeding, disobeying stop signs, running a red light, etc., this is considered to be grounds for negligence. Ask the police to check into whether there are security cameras in the area that might be able to prove the driver was breaking the law.

Assault

In rare cases, pedestrian accidents can happen on purpose because of anger or criminal motives. However, a criminal case likely won’t result in compensation. To receive the appropriate financial coverage, you’ll have to file a claim through civil court, which is where we come in.

Filing a Claim Through Civil Court for a Pedestrian Accident

Accusations are simply not enough to ensure that you receive the money you are entitled to. Rather, proper investigations must be done the proper evidence of negligence must be submitted.

When you partner with Alpha Law Firm, you aren’t just getting a lawyer. You’re also getting access to our broad knowledge on pedestrian accidents, our team of investigators dedicated to helping solve your case, and people who care about you as a person.
Our team of attorneys aim to always pursue full and fair compensation for your injuries, medical bills, pain and suffering, lost income, and so much more.

Contact us below for a free consultation

If you have ever suffered from personal injury or loss from a driver-hit-pedestrian accident our Pedestrian Accidents Lawyer will show you how to get the compensation you deserve.