If you have been struck by a vehicle, the San Bernardino pedestrian accident lawyers at LA Century Law can help. You may be unsure how to proceed. Injuries may be severe or even deadly.
At LA Century Law, our law firm is a team of experienced trial lawyers. We focus exclusively on representing individuals and families when they need help in the legal system.
Can I Get Financial Compensation for a Pedestrian Accident?
Many pedestrian accidents occur because the driver is just not paying enough attention. The accident would have been avoidable if only the driver had been more careful. When that’s the case, the person responsible may owe the victim financial compensation.
Who Pays for a Pedestrian Accident?
Parties who may be liable to pay damages for a pedestrian accident include:
- Car driver
- Truck, bus and van drivers
- Owner of the motor vehicle
- Employer of the vehicle driver
- A government body who maintained the road and the crossing point
- An insurance company
- Vehicle manufacturer
Receiving fair compensation involves examining all the causes of the accident and naming the parties with legal fault to respond to the claim.
How a San Bernardino Lawyer Can Help
To receive financial compensation, the victim must act. It may be best to file a claim through the driver’s insurance policy, bring a legal claim or both. There are many steps to receiving fair compensation including investigating the case, building evidence, filing legal documents and pursuing a legal strategy.
A lawyer can represent you through all the tasks needed to receive compensation. They know how to pursue the case, how to maximize compensation and what mistakes to avoid. A lawyer is a licensed professional who handles the many steps that are part of receiving justice as a pedestrian accident victim.
If you or a family member has been injured, we invite you to contact us to see how our lawyers can help you advance your claim.
What Injuries Can Be Included in a Pedestrian Accident Claim?
Common injuries that a victim may include in a pedestrian accident claim are:
- Broken bones
- Dismemberment and disfigurement
- Road rash from contact with the ground
- Traumatic brain injury, concussion, skull fractures
- Spinal cord injuries, nerve damage and paralysis
- Loss of limb
- Internal organ damage and bruising
What Damages Can Be Claimed for a Pedestrian Accident?
Physical injuries form the basis of compensation for a pedestrian accident claim. Injuries are valued for compensation. There are types of compensation that all relate to the many losses that occur. The victim may claim:
- Medical bills, both short term and long term
- Long income and changes to long-term career
- The value of household services provided to family
- Travel for medical care
- Physical therapy and mental health care
- Mental health injuries like anxiety, depression and flashbacks
- Damage to personal property including a personal mobility device
- Pain and suffering, emotional and mental anguish
- Dismemberment, disfigurement and changes in lifestyle
- Humiliation and loss of reputation
Because of the nature of a pedestrian accident, the injuries to the victim are often severe. California law allows the victim to claim the full amount of those damages as they are valued under the law.
When you think about it, being the victim of a pedestrian accident impacts you much more than just physically. You are impacted emotionally and financially in many ways. To receive compensation that is truly fair, all these kinds of losses should be represented. Our lawyers work diligently to ensure that your compensation is complete.
Pedestrian Accident Claim FAQs
What happens if a car hits you in a crosswalk?
If a car hits you in a crosswalk, you should seek medical attention and call the police. You should gather contact information for witnesses, and license, vehicle and insurance information for the driver. Of course, tending to your physical injuries comes first.
Law enforcement may issue a ticket or criminal charges against the driver. However, bringing your own claim for compensation is independent of any criminal charges. You have two years two file a claim, or six months if the claim involves a government body as a defendant.
What is negligence for a pedestrian accident?
Negligence is the legal standard for a pedestrian accident. It is a failure to use reasonable care and caution. For example, hitting a pedestrian who is lawfully in a crosswalk is an example of negligence. Failing to check behind them before backing up in a parking lot is another way a driver can be negligent. It is the basis for legal liability for the driver and damages for the victim.
Is a claim barred if the victim was also negligent?
California uses pure comparative negligence, so there is never a point where a victim is completely barred from compensation because of their own role in the accident. Compensation may be reduced based on a percentage that is assigned to the victim for their own fault. However, the victim may still receive a significant sum.
Don’t assume that you have legal fault just because the other side suggests it. Our lawyers can evaluate to determine if the pedestrian is at fault and how that might impact the claim.
Can you get compensation for being run over?
Yes, a victim may claim compensation for being run over from any party who negligently, recklessly or intentionally contributed to the injuries.
How much compensation can you get for a personal injury accident?
The compensation you can get for a personal injury accident depends on your economic damages, non-economic damages, and the legal strength of the case. The ability to collect damages through an insurance policy or directly from the defendant also plays a role. Punitive damages may be claimed when the injuries are the result of very serious misconduct by the defendant.
How do I hire a pedestrian accident lawyer?
Hiring us to represent you in your pedestrian accident case begins with scheduling a consultation. At your consultation, we learn about you and what happened. We’ll talk about the law for pedestrian accident claims and answer your questions. If you choose to hire us, we are ready to begin working on your case the same day.
About Our San Bernardino Pedestrian Accident Lawyers
The LA Century Law firm works to help pedestrian accident victims receive compensation for injuries, wrongs and harms. We are experienced litigators – we have collected millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts. Let us represent you throughout your case, including:
- Investigation of the responsible parties; contacting witnesses and preserving evidence
- Getting a copy of the accident report; using it to build evidence, questioning information that may be inaccurate
- Understanding each element of the case that must be proven; ensuring you have the evidence you need to make your claim a success
- Preparing a legal strategy; utilizing legal procedures to advance your claim
- Knowing the approximate value of your claim; negotiating a settlement and advising you whether to accept any settlement offers
- Conducting trial on your behalf
Our founder and President, Ryan J. Daneshrad, Esq., founded LA Century Law to provide aggressive legal representation for individuals and families. When you need legal representation for a personal matter, including a pedestrian accident claim, we are devoted to your legal needs.
LA Century Law is a premier personal injury law firm currently accepting new cases in San Bernardino. If you have been hit by a vehicle, we invite you to contact us to learn more and begin your claim.
There is a time limit to filing a case, so don’t wait to review your claim with our lawyers. Contact us today.
