California Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been involved in a pedestrian accident in California, contacting a pedestrian accident attorney is vital for seeking the compensation you need to recover. After an accident, having an experienced attorney by your side can allow you to focus on resting and recuperating, knowing that you have someone fighting for you and your family. Hiring a pedestrian accident attorney maximizes the chance that you’ll be able to get the compensation you need to heal and move on with your life.
The lawyers at Singh Ahluwalia Attorneys at Law are here to help. If your family has been struggling after a pedestrian accident, there is no need to continue trying to figure out your next steps alone. Contact us today for your free, confidential consultation, where we’ll listen to the particulars of your case and map out a plan of how to best move forward. We know this can be a scary time, and we are here to help.
When you feel ready, reach out to us by Call (559) 878-4958 or Contact us online to set up your free, no-obligation consultation.
Why Work With a California Pedestrian Accident Attorney?
Pedestrian accidents are notoriously serious and can often result in extensive injuries. On top of dealing with trying to heal from such a terrible accident, pedestrian accident victims also may be worrying about expensive medical bills and missed wages. Your family may be placed under additional stress, not only worrying about you and your healing, but also how they will make up the costs of treatment during a period where you’re likely receiving less income while you heal. You may receive an offer from an insurance company, but will it be enough?
You may be tempted to take a settlement from an insurance company, trusting they have proposed a fair compensation amount after their accident investigation. Unfortunately, insurance companies are ultimately companies — they are looking out only for themselves, not you and your family. Their focus on profits over the full restoration of damages may leave you in a tough financial situation. Fortunately, this is where a California accident attorney can step in and help you and your family.
To ensure that you have the best chance at receiving the compensation necessary to rebuild your life, call Singh Ahluwalia Attorneys at Law. Let us deal with the insurance company on your behalf so that you can focus on recovering from the physical, mental, and emotional stress the accident has caused. We will work with you and for you, allowing you and your family to begin looking to the future with hope.
When working with a California pedestrian accident lawyer at our firm, you can expect the following:
- Comprehensive management of your case from start to finish
- Counseling on your best legal options available
- Constant updates on your case’s progress
- Vigorous investigation of your accident, including any negligence involved
- Accurate valuation of all your damages — past and future
- Tireless and fearless litigation through all stages of your claim, including negotiations with insurers
- Protection from common insurance claims traps, like leading questions or inquiries into your medical history
- Compassionate representation, keeping you informed and in control as you seek to recover from your accident
What Are Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents?
Pedestrian accidents can occur for various reasons, and they almost always result in serious injuries. Our human bodies are no match for any vehicle, not even the smallest ones. The National Center for Health Statistics, or NCHS, reports that over 7,900 pedestrians died in traffic accidents in 2020 alone, while the CDC reported in 2017 that almost 140,000 pedestrians were taken to the emergency departments.
As the statistics show, pedestrian accidents are an all-too-common occurrence in our country. The NCHS report goes on to show that most accidents occur in urban settings, and usually take place at night. Even though conventional wisdom may make it seem that most accidents would take place at intersections, most take place on the open road.
Knowing these accidents can be devastating, why do they keep happening? Here are some of the most common reasons why pedestrian accidents occur:
Distracted Driving
California lawmakers know that distracted driving can be deadly, which is why they passed a hands-free law. This law states that drivers may use their phones by using voice commands or taking a call on speakerphone, but may never hold an electronic device in their hand while driving. Despite this law, in 2013, the California Department of Motor Vehicles reported 426,000 violations. Pedestrians should keep this data in mind as they travel around. Before stepping into a roadway, ensure that all drivers see you. Even if you are in a crosswalk or have the right of way, always make sure that all vehicles are slowing down before stepping out in front of them.
Impaired Driving
Driving impaired is outlawed in California, just like in every other state in the United States. When drivers are under the influence of either drugs or alcohol, or are even just overly tired, their reaction times can slow, causing an accident to occur. Always try to observe the driving behavior of the vehicles around you when you want to cross the street. If you see any cars displaying erratic behavior, such as driving very quickly or very slowly, or failing to maintain their lane, wait until they have passed before stepping out onto the road.
Reckless Driving
If a car is driving well over the posted speed limit, it will take them much longer to stop than someone who is driving lawfully. Try to be mindful of this fact when stepping out onto the road. If you see a car that looks like it is driving too fast or doesn’t appear to be slowing down for you, please wait until that car has passed.
Poor Visibility
Unfortunately, even the safest driver can still be affected by poor visibility, which may occur because of weather conditions or just at nighttime. Of course, drivers are still expected to be vigilant about pedestrians, but it would be a good idea to wear bright and reflective clothing if going out at night, and exercise extreme caution if the weather is bad.
Disobeying Road Signs
If a driver is inebriated, distracted, or driving recklessly, they may not notice or obey posted traffic directions. Because of this, it is extremely important to be vigilant about your surroundings, even if you are in a crosswalk and have the right-of-way. Please ensure that all cars see you and are actively slowing to let you cross before stepping off the sidewalk or side of the road.
If you believe that you were a victim of a pedestrian accident due to any of the above-mentioned reasons, reach out to a California pedestrian accident lawyer at Singh Ahluwalia Attorneys at Law so we can get started on your case. Our legal team can give you the best chance at recovering the compensation you need, so you can focus on healing and moving on from this terrible accident.
What Are Common Pedestrian Accident Injuries?
There is almost no such thing as a minor pedestrian accident. The human body has no serious defense against motor vehicles, so even accidents that involve small vehicles or that occur at a slow speed can cause critical injuries. Often, serious pedestrian accidents can result in death.
If you have been involved in an accident and appear to be unharmed, it is still very important that you seek medical treatment immediately, as some injuries are not immediately apparent, and some injuries will require a diagnosis from a doctor.
No matter the extent of your injuries, if you have been in a pedestrian accident, you will need to go see a medical professional. They will be able to look you over and help you receive the care that you need. Additionally, they will generate a medical report that will be necessary for you to have in order to prove that your injuries happened as a result of the accident. Without this report, insurance companies may try to claim that your injuries were pre-existing or happened in an unrelated incident, and therefore they should not be responsible for the compensation.
Some of the most common pedestrian accident injuries are listed below.
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
This classification of injury can span from a mild concussion to a life-changing brain injury. Unfortunately, sustaining this type of injury isn’t difficult: a hard hit to the head is all it takes. These injuries can be tricky, as there aren’t necessarily any physical signs that a brain injury has occurred. Instead, you may experience confusion, headaches, dizziness, nausea, or extreme mood swings. Additionally, you may lose consciousness. These symptoms may be delayed for several days or go through periods of moderate-to-severe intensity. If you even suspect you may have sustained a brain injury, it is important to see a medical professional immediately.
Back Injuries
Spinal cord injuries are common in many accidents involving cars — both vehicle crashes and pedestrian accidents. Injuries to your spine can cause long-term pain, paralysis, or even death. If you’ve sustained a spinal cord injury, it is likely that you will require long-term medical care.
Broken Bones
This type of injury can range from a minor fracture to a much-more serious compound fracture, where the broken bone pierces the skin. These injuries can require surgery to heal, and can rarely lead to more serious complications, where amputation may be necessary.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Other injuries, such as contusions, lacerations, dislocations, tears, and sprains all belong in this category. These injuries do not tend to be as serious as the injuries listed above, and tend to heal quickly. However, they can still cause pain, discomfort or require medical intervention in order to heal. In some cases, these injuries can cause life-long complications.
If you have been in a pedestrian accident and have sustained any of the injuries listed above or any other types of injuries, now is the time to seek out a California pedestrian accident attorney. The laywers at Singh Ahluwalia Attorneys at Law will fight for you so that you have the best chance at receiving the full amount of compensation necessary to heal from your injuries.
How Will a California Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Help Me?
There are many ways that a pedestrian accident attorney can help you navigate the aftermath of an accident.
Some ways that a pedestrian accident lawyer can help you are:
Fighting Insurance Companies
Most insurance companies want you to think they are your friend, family member, or neighbor. However, ultimately, insurance companies are businesses and will do whatever they can in order to maximize their profits. Unfortunately, this means that they may work hard to ensure they have to pay you as little as possible for your injuries, leaving you and your family in a difficult position.
Though these companies deal with accidents all the time, they know that you and your family likely do not. They hold all the cards in these situations and are aware that you may be feeling panicked or just anxious to get the entire situation dealt with quickly. Accordingly, they may give you a lowball settlement offer in the hopes that you will just take it with no questions asked. If you take their initial offer, there is a chance it won’t cover all the damages and other expenses you’ve incurred, and once you agree to the settlement, you will have limited legal options available to you.
However, if you hire an experienced accident attorney from Singh Ahluwalia Attorneys at Law, we can advocate for you and negotiate with the insurance company. Don’t settle for less than you need because you are eager to have the situation resolved. Instead, turn the case over to one of our experienced attorneys and let us take care of the insurance companies while you take care of yourself and your family.
Determining Your Damages
If you are working with the insurance company independently, you may just think that you need compensation to cover the most obvious things – such as medical bills or lost wages. However, an experienced accident attorney can help you accurately assess the full extent of your issues, quantify them, and help you determine the amount of damages you should be seeking.
Compensation for your damages can cover:
- Past and future medical bills
- Physical therapy
- Prescription costs
- Lost Wages
- Physical, mental, and emotional pain and suffering
- Travel expenses
- Loss of consortium
- Other out-of-pocket costs
Contact an Experienced California Pedestrian Accident Attorney
If you have been the unfortunate victim of a pedestrian accident, you do not have to suffer alone. Let an experienced California pedestrian accident lawyer from Singh Ahluwalia Attorneys at Law help you during this trying time. Hiring one of our attorneys will allow you to focus on resting and recuperating, all while feeling confident about having someone on your side who is fighting the insurance companies on your behalf.
We know that taking on the insurance company may feel overwhelming or too complicated. But if you choose to hire an attorney from our firm, we can take that burden off your shoulders. We have the knowledge and expertise to help give you the best possible chance at receiving the compensation you deserve. After all, the insurance companies have attorneys working for them — why shouldn’t you have the same advantage?
Even if you are not sure if you have a case or are just curious about what the process might entail, reach out and contact us. We would love to sit down with you in a free, no-obligation, confidential consultation. We will listen to your experience and work to draw up a personalized plan for you, all with the goal of maximizing the chance of you receiving the compensation you deserve from all liable parties.
We are here for you today! Reach out to us by Call (559) 878-4958 or Contact us online to set up your consultation.