Pedestrian Accidents

Walking is a great way to get around in Southern California—until it isn’t. While traveling by foot is often quicker than dealing with the snarled traffic jams of Los Angeles or Orange County, pedestrians face some very real dangers. Not only are pedestrian accidents common, but they are also among the most serious. Many pedestrians are fortunate to survive an accident and, even if they do, may face lifelong limitations as a result of the collision. At the law firm of Power Trial Lawyers, we proudly represent clients who were injured in pedestrian accidents, helping them recover monetary compensation for their injuries so they can begin the process of moving on with their lives.

Pedestrian accidents are not the most common type of car accident in Southern California, but they make up a significant percentage of those accidents resulting in death or serious injury. For example, in 2019, there were over 900 people killed in California pedestrian accidents. In addition, another 14,000 were injured in pedestrian collisions. Not only that, but the number of pedestrian-involved accidents is increasing at an alarming rate. In fact, California has the most pedestrian fatalities out of any state in the country.

Pedestrian accidents can occur in many different ways. Of course, in some cases, pedestrians fail to pay attention to their surroundings. While these accidents are relatively low in number, drivers and their insurance companies almost always default to blaming the pedestrian after an accident in an attempt to avoid legal responsibility. However, based on historical evidence, the following are the most common causes of pedestrian accidents.

Drivers who are distracted or not paying attention to their surroundings are much more likely to hit a pedestrian. While talking and texting while driving are the two most common types of distracted driving; any activity that removes a driver’s attention from the road is considered distracted driving. For example, eating, drinking, changing the radio station, scrolling social media, or talking to passengers all remove drivers’ attention from where it needs to be.

Admittedly, driving in Southern California is stressful, and even the most cool-tempered motorists may find themselves whipping around a turn at high speeds or accelerating through a yellow light before it turns red. While this is understandable on some level, aggressive driving also places pedestrians in danger and drivers who hit a pedestrian while speeding or driving aggressively can be financially liable for an accident victim’s injuries.

As a general rule, drivers must yield the right of way to pedestrians, even if they are not crossing at a designated crosswalk. However, drivers in Southern California are notorious for failing to yield to pedestrians, which often puts pedestrians in the position of trying to avoid an accident. Under California law, a pedestrian may be found partially at fault for an accident, for example, by not crossing at a crosswalk, and can still recover financial compensation from the driver who struck them. However, any damages the pedestrian recovers will be reduced by their own percentage of fault.

Regardless of the type of pedestrian accident you were involved in, it is important to reach out to an experienced lawyer to have them review your options. You may be eligible for compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages as well as any non-economic damages you endured, such as pain and suffering.

If you or a loved one was injured in a pedestrian accident, contact Power Trial Lawyers to schedule a free consultation. Our team of personal injury lawyers has more than a decade of hands-on experience aggressively pursuing maximum compensation on our clients’ behalves and can help you get the money you deserve to cover all your accident-related expenses. To learn more, and to schedule a free consultation with an attorney today, call 844-844-POWER (7693). You can also connect with us through our online contact form. We proudly represent clients in Los Angeles County and Orange County and have conveniently located offices in Los Angeles and Newport Beach.