Pedestrian Accidents: Legal Help for Injured Victims
A pedestrian always has the right-of-way. While pedestrians are supposed to use crosswalks at an intersection, they might sometimes try to cross the road in other areas that are less safe but that does not mean they relinquish their right of way. A motor vehicle can be a deadly weapon when a driver is not operating it properly and with complete and total attentiveness.
Some of the most common reasons why a driver might accidentally strike a pedestrian include:
- Failing to look for pedestrians in the crosswalk during a right turn
- Using their phone to call, text, or email
- Driving while intoxicated
- Reckless driving
- Driving while otherwise distracted
Determining Fault in a Pedestrian Accident
In some cases, the pedestrian could be deemed the at-fault party in an accident. Drivers must always be on alert and watching the road to avoid colliding with any other drivers, objects, motorcyclists, bicyclists, and of course, pedestrians. Yet while a car making contact with a human being crossing the street will typically place the liability on the driver, this is not always applicable.
A pedestrian should never step into any roadway or street expecting drivers to immediately step on the brakes to allow that person to proceed. This can be very dangerous for both the pedestrian and the driver who must now stop short to avoid an accident. The following are some of the most common instances in which a driver is typically at fault:
- Ignoring crosswalks
- Ignoring traffic signs and controls
- Failing to yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian walking through a crosswalk or crossing an intersection.
- Driving while intoxicated
- Passing a stopped school bus while children are disembarking
- Driving while distracted by a smartphone, a GPS, passengers, or some other distraction that takes the attention from the road
- Disregarding posted speed limit signs
Pedestrian’s Rights
As per the California Vehicle Code, pedestrians have specific rights but they are also bound to follow the rules of the road, so to speak. Pedestrians must cross only in designated crossing areas and crosswalks. They have the right-of-way while crossing in one of these areas regardless of whether there is a green light or no traffic control signal whatsoever.
More importantly, any motor vehicle operator must always yield to any pedestrian who is crossing any roadway properly. If that pedestrian is struck while lawfully crossing in a designated thoroughfare or walkway, the driver involved in the accident could be held liable for negligence and be induced to pay for damages incurred from the collision. These can be physical and emotional injuries, financial losses, and medical costs.
Hit-and-run Accidents
In traffic accidents where a driver hits a pedestrian in a designated crosswalk, the legal and financial consequences are significant. Such incidents not only expose the driver to substantial penalties and liabilities, especially in cases involving pedestrian fatalities, but also escalate dramatically if it turns into a hit-and-run. In these situations, the driver’s failure to stop can shift the incident from a civil matter to a criminal one, with the driver facing potential criminal charges that vary based on the severity of the pedestrian’s injuries. This underscores the importance of following traffic laws and the serious legal repercussions of road negligence.
Following such incidents, financial considerations become crucial. Typically, drivers involved in these accidents rely on their insurance to cover costs associated with the pedestrian’s injuries. However, if the driver is uninsured, the pedestrian may need to turn to their own insurance policy, particularly the uninsured motorist coverage. This highlights the necessity for responsible driving, compliance with safety regulations, and the importance of having adequate insurance coverage. It serves as a powerful reminder of the potential legal and financial impacts of road accidents, emphasizing the need for all road users to be aware of their responsibilities in ensuring road safety.
Getting the Compensation You Deserve
If you are a pedestrian who has been injured in an accident with the driver of a motor vehicle, you could be entitled to compensation for your injuries. But you do not want to pursue that compensation on your own. An accident of this magnitude can be catastrophic and life-altering, your injuries could be severe and the bills can start to pile up. You might be ready to jump at the first dollar amount offered to you by an insurance company, unaware that it is far less than what you actually deserve. The insurance company wants to pay out as little as possible, but that won’t be enough to cover what could be a lifetime of injuries, both physical and emotional.
If someone in your family was killed in a pedestrian accident with a motor vehicle, you can bring a wrongful death claim on behalf of your loved one in the same manner as anyone who was hit by a driver and survived. This can be particularly burdensome if the deceased was the majority wage earner in the household.
Whatever the unfortunate situation may be, you have rights and you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries or loss. But in order to get the maximum compensation possible, it is essential that you hire a Los Angeles pedestrian accident attorney or personal injury lawyer who has the knowledge and experience in fighting the insurance companies in pedestrian accidents. Our team of experts have been winning these types of cases for decades with awards totaling in the hundreds of millions collectively. Call us today for a free consultation to discuss your pedestrian accident case.
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