The process of recovering from serious injuries can be long and arduous. This is especially true after a pedestrian accident since the injuries are often catastrophic. Broken bones, scarring, and brain trauma are all common. If the driver who caused the accident fled the scene, you may be worried about both your financial future and your physical health. If you’re not sure how to cover your medical bills and other damages, you should schedule a free consultation with a pedestrian accident … [Read more...]
4 FAQs About Midblock Pedestrian Accident Claims
Jaywalking might seem like a fairly benign traffic violation, but if you are hit by a vehicle while breaking the law, you may face an uphill climb when it comes to pursuing damages. Depending on the circumstances, however, it might be possible for a pedestrian to recover compensation for 100 percent of their economic and non-economic damages even if they were jaywalking. Determining liability for a “midblock accident” can be complicated, and even if there is strong evidence of liability, the … [Read more...]
Can I File a Pedestrian Accident Claim If I Was Jaywalking?
It’s no surprise why so many people make a habit out of jaywalking. It saves time, and trekking down the road just to reach an intersection can seem overly cautious. Unfortunately, if you were hit by a vehicle while jaywalking, it might be difficult to recover compensation for 100 percent of your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. In the state of California, pedestrians are generally prohibited from entering a roadway outside of a marked crosswalk, or on an unmarked crosswalk at an … [Read more...]
4 Differences Between Pedestrian Accident vs. Auto Accident Claims
You may already be familiar with the basic process of filing an auto insurance claim. You gather evidence at the scene, get a police report, seek medical care, calculate your damages, and you or your attorney submits the claim package. Although these same steps apply to pedestrian accident cases, the laws that govern liability are slightly different when a pedestrian is involved. Also, the injuries suffered by pedestrians tend to be severe, which can affect settlement negotiations. If you were … [Read more...]
Umbrella Coverage: A Potential Source of Recovery in Tort Claims
Recovering a fair settlement after a serious injury or wrongful death is a tricky process that may involve several insurance policies. Ideally, the person or entity that caused your injury or loss will have liability insurance that covers such scenarios, whether it was a car accident, slip and fall, product defect, etc. In addition to auto, home, and renter’s insurance, some defendants have umbrella coverage. This is extra liability insurance that will kick in if the policyholder is held … [Read more...]
Will Banning “Texting While Walking” Prevent Pedestrian Accidents?
Traffic accidents are killing pedestrians in record numbers. In 2016, pedestrian deaths reached their highest level since 1990. The 5,987 pedestrian accident fatalities in 2016 represented an 11% increase in deaths from 2015 and a 27% increase from 2007. Pedestrian accident attorneys have seen the devastating impact on families when cars kill or seriously injure pedestrians. The 2017 pedestrian accident death rate maintained the 25-year-high of nearly 6,000 fatalities in a year. Researchers, … [Read more...]
3 Facts Every Pedestrian Should Know About California Crosswalk Laws
Jaywalking is a violation of California Crosswalk Laws, but you won’t find a statute prohibiting it. Instead, you will find rules about where to cross a street. While “jaywalking” is not used in the California Vehicle Code statutes, it is found deep in Appendix B. This appendix contains a list of Vehicle Code violations. In this list, violating the rule about crossing the street at intersections is called “jaywalking.” Jaywalking is an infraction punishable by a fine that can be as much as … [Read more...]
What are the Top 5 Causes of Pedestrian Accidents?
Los Angeles County is one of California’s most dangerous counties for pedestrians. Reducing the danger begins with knowing the top causes of pedestrian accidents. How Dangerous is Los Angeles County for Pedestrians? Out of California counties, Los Angeles County is the second most hazardous when measured by non-fatal pedestrian injuries. San Francisco County has the highest rate of pedestrian injuries and Alameda County has the third highest rate. For pedestrian fatalities, though, Los Angeles … [Read more...]
Pedestrian Accidents & the Uninsured Motorist
Pedestrians and bicyclists can be seriously injured when struck by a car or truck. And the chances of being involved in a pedestrian accident is greater than you think. According to the NHTSA, in 2015, almost 5,400 pedestrians died and 66,000 were injured by cars nationwide. That means a pedestrian or bicyclist was hurt or killed every seven minutes. In California, pedestrian accident fatalities were the highest in the nation two years in a row. As you can imagine, being hit by a car … [Read more...]
Is Distracted Walking the New Danger for Pedestrians?
Long Beach, CA was named the 10th most walkable city in the United States. According to the City's press release, Long Beach is the only city in Southern California to make the top 10. This is great news for the City since it invested heavily in the needs of pedestrians. But as a Long Beach personal injury lawyer, I have seen the number of pedestrian accidents rise. Why? A new report from Business Wire may shed light on why this is happening in … [Read more...]