Pedestrian Accidents

When everyone follows all the traffic laws and the laws of common sense, accidents are prevented and people seldom get hurt. But we live in the real world in which people often make mistakes and, as a result, accidents occur.  However, when an accident occurs in which a pedestrian and a car are involved, it is the pedestrian who nearly always suffers the most. While cars have the exterior protection of an outer body with other devices like seat belts and air bags, a pedestrian has no protection at all and is vulnerable to many types of injuries in a collision. If you've been hurt in a pedestrian accident, you need to speak with an experienced California pedestrian accident attorney who can help you get the compensation you need.

Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents 

One of the most common causes of accidents that involve pedestrians is driver inattention or distraction. Nowadays, unscrupulous drivers often allow themselves to be distracted by smart phones and other digital devices. It has been estimated that those who text and drive are 23 times more likely to be involved in a car crash. The stories of people who were killed or seriously injured by a driver who was texting fill the nightly news reports. Another common cause of accidents involving pedestrians is impaired driving. Drinking and driving, or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, impairs the driver's judgment and makes it more likely that a pedestrian in the vicinity will be injured. 

Determining Who Was at Fault

The laws of California state that a driver is always required to yield to a pedestrian who is at an intersection or in a crosswalk. However, drivers are also obligated to follow other traffic laws like decreased speeds in residential areas so that they can stop in time if a child should dart out in front of the car. Although the driver is nearly always the one at fault in a pedestrian accident, pedestrians should still exercise caution when crossing the road or when walking along the side of the road. They should cross only at crosswalks and avoid walking on freeways. Drivers can avoid pedestrian accidents by following the speed limit and by keeping their attention on the road. A plan should always be made ahead of time for transporting an unruly child or pet that may cause distraction, and using a GPS or eating a fast food meal can all wait until the driver can pull off the road. 

Compensation For Pedestrian Accident Injuries            

The compensation that a victim of a pedestrian accident can obtain may be either economic or non-economic. Economic compensation includes:

• Medical and rehabilitation expenses - The treatment for a pedestrian injury is often expensive, as a serious injury may take months or years to heal.
• Lost wages - Victims who are injured as pedestrians often need extensive time off work, resulting in significant amounts of lost wages.
• Lost earning capacity - Those who are hurt in a pedestrian accident may not be able to return to their jobs and may need occupational therapy to find other work, or may even be disabled for life.
• Help with household and child care - Those who are injured in a pedestrian accident often have others who depend upon them. As a result of the accident, they may no longer be able to care for these people.

There are also non-economic damages for which a pedestrian accident victim may be compensated. These include emotional suffering, disfigurement, loss of consortium, and similar damages.

Call to Schedule a Free Consultation With a California Pedestrian Accident Attorney Today

If you've been injured in a pedestrian accident, call to schedule a free consultation with a California pedestrian accident attorney today. The experienced legal experts at the Law Offices of Ginger S. Marcos, APC understand the challenges that this kind of accident often creates and are dedicated to getting you the compensation you need. We serve the cities of Anaheim, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Buena Park and surrounding SoCal communities. Visit our web page at marcoslawfirm.comor give us a call at 949-417-6202 and let us be your legal advocates.