Fresno Pedestrian Accident Lawyers
We’ll tell you if you have a case or not, call (888) 488-1391 — We’re here 24 hours a day.
Fresno Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Offer Determined And Dedicated Representation
Fresno is home to 500,000 people, making it the fifth-largest city in California. With several dozen unique attractions, the city experiences constant movement as people move from one attraction to the next. Being a “walkable” city, pedestrians sometimes fall victim to negligent drivers on the road. If you are a victim in a similar situation, our Fresno pedestrian accident lawyers are here to help. Our experienced Fresno pedestrian accident lawyers have helped numerous clients and can help you with your claim. Call (888) 488-1391, and our staff will assist you.
Fresno is ranked as the 10th deadliest city for pedestrians in the entire United States. A study published by Smart Growth America reveals that more than three pedestrians per 100,000 people die in accidents every year. This accounts for 161 pedestrian deaths from 2016 to 2020, excluding the number of injured people.
Pedestrians are extremely vulnerable on the road because they don’t have an extra layer of protection compared to car passengers. This is why pedestrian accidents often lead to fatalities or severe injuries.
Arash Khorsandi, Esq., and his team of dedicated and skilled lawyers at Arash Law represent victims of accidents, including pedestrians. Fill out our contact form to schedule a free initial consultation and explore your legal options.
Verdict in a mild traumatic brain injury case involving a motor vehicle collision– JUDD ROSS ALLEN
Why Choose Arash Law’s Fresno Pedestrian Accident Lawyers For Your Case?
The streets of Fresno may be filled with thousands of vehicles, but this shouldn’t undermine the fact that pedestrians have rights to these spaces, too. In fact, pedestrians have the right of way in both marked and unmarked crosswalks, and drivers must yield to them.
If that’s the case, why do pedestrians still fall victim to accidents? The answer: mainly because drivers are not following the rules of the road. Our competent pedestrian accident attorneys in Fresno can represent you and advocate for your rights.
Here’s how our Fresno injury law firm helps victims pursue their claims:
- Client-Focused Process — While our offices are open to consultations, we don’t mind visiting our clients’ homes or meeting them in nearby coffee shops to discuss the case. We also keep them updated on their case via email or text. We handle the grunt work so you can focus on recovery.
- Financial Disclosure — Some victims are afraid to pursue a case due to the financial burden it entails. At Arash Law, we operate on a contingency-based arrangement. Under this arrangement, you pay attorney fees only if we get compensation for you. However, you may still be responsible for certain costs regardless of the outcome. During the onboarding process, our dedicated pedestrian accident lawyers will explain our fees and any other costs you may incur.
- Holistic Approach — Pedestrian accidents often lead to all sorts of challenges, both physical and emotional. We can help you pursue compensation based on the losses or injuries you suffered. We can also connect you with medical specialists in California for your physical, mental, or emotional health needs.
- Unity in Diversity — Fresno sits in the 7th spot for being the most culturally diverse city in California. At Arash Law, we can arrange for translation services if our clients prefer to speak in a language other than English.
- Advocate for Your Interests — Our lawyers can advocate for your rights and help you pursue compensation from those who caused your injuries.
California Laws For Pedestrians
Division 11 – Chapter 5 of the California Vehicle Code outlines most of the state laws surrounding the rights and duties of pedestrians. Learning about these laws can help you determine if you’ve been wronged while accessing a public road.
If you are using the road within these laws but a vehicle hits you, you may be able to seek compensation. Our car accident lawyers in Fresno handle pedestrian accidents and can help you pursue legal action.
Section 21950
Pedestrians crossing roadways within marked or unmarked crosswalks at intersections have the right-of-way. Therefore, the driver of the vehicle must yield to the pedestrian. Furthermore, the driver of the vehicle must exercise due care and reduce speed when approaching a marked or unmarked crosswalk.
However, this section shall not relieve the pedestrian from the duty of exercising due care. Pedestrians must not suddenly leave a curb or walk into the path of a vehicle.
Section 21951
Other vehicles approaching from the rear mustn’t pass or overtake another vehicle stopped at a marked or unmarked crosswalk.
Section 21952
If the vehicle needs to drive over or upon a sidewalk, the driver must yield the right-of-way to approaching pedestrians.
Section 21949(b)
All levels of government, especially the Department of Transportation, must provide safe and convenient street and highway passage for pedestrians to reduce fatalities and injuries.
AB 2147, “The Freedom To Walk Act”
As of January 1, 2023, pedestrians are legally permitted to jaywalk in California. However, going back to Section 21950, pedestrians must still exercise due care when crossing the streets.
What Are The Legal Options For Fresno Pedestrian Accident Victims?
If you think you’re a victim of other people’s carelessness, you can pursue legal action against the driver of the vehicle that hit you. Our Fresno pedestrian accident lawyers can help you file a claim based on the extent of your injury or damages.
Your lawyer can pursue one or a combination of the following legal options:
Out-of-Court Settlement
An out-of-court settlement is a legal agreement between the victim and the liable party that avoids the need to take the case to trial. Hence, the term “out-of-court.” It’s possible to reach an out-of-court settlement without a lawyer. However, getting legal representation to handle these negotiations may be beneficial.
Negotiating with the liable party without an attorney makes you vulnerable to unfair settlements. While legally binding, accepting an out-of-court settlement negates your rights to sue in the future. That said, you want to be 100% certain that the settlement covers your injuries and losses.
Having an attorney during settlement talks can help you pursue compensation based on the severity of the injuries or losses you suffered.
Insurance Claim
You or the responsible party may also file an insurance claim to pay for the damages following the accident. Insurance claims often work within the boundaries of the policy. Therefore, the amount you receive may not always be enough to cover all the damages.
Some Fresno lawyers with years of experience in pedestrian accidents can use a combined approach to seek compensation for the victims. That is, if the insurance policy can’t pay for all the damages, the liable party must cover the remaining amount through an out-of-court settlement.
Civil Lawsuit
You can file a civil lawsuit against the guilty party, but this can be a tedious process. That’s why we work to settle the case out of court. However, if the at-fault party or the insurance company fails to offer a reasonable settlement, a civil lawsuit becomes unavoidable.
This is when you take the case to court. During this stage, our personal injury lawyers in Fresno can present your case on your behalf. Fill out our “Do I Have A Case?” form to know the validity of your claim.
What Should Victims Do After Being Involved In A Pedestrian Accident In Fresno?
If you get injured in a pedestrian accident, you must try your best to stay calm. Aside from addressing medical concerns, you should also take extra precautions to preserve your legal rights.
You can copy and print our step-by-step guide and keep it with you at all times.
- Call Emergency Services — Call 911 and inform them of the incident and your location. When you’re making an accident report, include the necessary information.
- Take Photographs & Videos of the Scene — If you can move, pull out your phone and take photos and videos of the scene. Include vital pieces of evidence, such as skid marks, your injuries, and the car’s plate number.
- Gather Contact Information — If the driver of the vehicle stopped, get his/her contact information. You may also collect eyewitness testimonies to help your case.
- Call Your Insurance Company — Notify your insurance company. Some insurance policies cover vehicular accidents, even if you’re a pedestrian.
- Document Your Injuries — Be sure to gather medical records of your injuries. This can help you track all expenses related to the accident and possibly include them in the settlement.
- Contact Arash Law at (888) 488-1391 — You can seek guidance from our injury lawyers in Fresno for pedestrian accident cases. We’ll guide you through the legal process and work to pursue compensation for you.
What Causes Pedestrian Accidents In Fresno?
As the number of fatalities and injuries concerning pedestrian accidents continues to escalate, the need to revisit what causes them becomes more apparent. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 7,388 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes in 2021.
While the circumstances surrounding these accidents vary, most crashes involve one or several of the following factors.
Speeding
According to the NHTSA, speeding-related traffic fatalities increased in 2021, highlighting the ongoing dangers of excessive speed on our roads.
Distracted Driving
According to the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), around 140 people died in vehicular crashes due to distracted driving. While the data does not detail how many of the fatalities were pedestrians, the bottom line remains the same: distractions, particularly from mobile devices, cause hundreds of deaths and injuries on California roads annually.
Distracted Walking
Drivers do not bear the sole responsibility of paying attention to the road. In some cases, pedestrians may also cause an accident due to distracted walking. Similar to distracted driving, the most common reason for distracted walking is the use of mobile devices. When your eyes are focused on something else apart from the road, it’s hard to notice vehicles moving past you.
Drunk Driving
Fresno is among the top five cities in California with the most DUI arrests in 2019. It’s one of the cities in California with significant DUI-related pedestrian safety concerns, where people suffer severe or fatal injuries due to drunk driving. While the Fresno State Police Department employs several methods to prevent DUI, the number of arrests has grown steadily over the past few years.
Having a plan in place if you’re hit by a drunk driver is crucial to accessing medical aid and protecting your legal rights. Our attorneys in Fresno handling pedestrian accidents can help you navigate this ordeal.
Common Injuries In Fresno Pedestrian Accidents
Because pedestrians are unprotected at the moment of impact, the extent of injuries a victim may receive can vary from one case to another. Certain factors, such as the angle of impact, the speed of the vehicle, and the location, may also affect the outcome.
More often than not, pedestrian accident victims may suffer one or several of the following injuries:
- Fractures
- Cuts or Lacerations
- Back Injuries
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Internal Bleeding
- Bodily Trauma
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
- Paralysis
- Amputation
- Wrongful Deaths
Regardless of whether you think you need hospitalization or not, visiting a medical professional must be one of your priorities. All attorneys in Fresno handling pedestrian accidents recognize the role medical records play in increasing a victim’s compensation. Be sure to gather all of these documents in one folder.
SM v. Doe Defendant (settled on 10/14/2020) – settlement in a case involving a client who sustained a spinal cord injury and mild traumatic brain injury when he fell off a roof. The team at Arash Law secured an additional $610,000 as part of the third party settlement.– TINA ESHGHIEH
What Compensations Are Available To Injured Fresno Pedestrians?
Your personal injury attorneys can help you pursue compensation and include damages apart from your physical injuries. Your claim must also take into account every aspect of your life that the incident has affected.
Depending on the facts of your case, you may include the following when filing a pedestrian accident injury claim:
- Reimbursement for medical expenses.
- Recovery of lost wages.
- Compensation for loss of future earnings.
- Medical aid for emotional distress (PTSD, depression, anxiety, etc.)
- Additional compensation for permanent disability.
How Much Are Pedestrian Accident Settlements In Fresno?
The amount you may receive from a pedestrian accident settlement depends on the extent of your injuries and the conditions included in your claim. Each case is unique, and settlement amounts vary significantly based on individual circumstances.
It can be helpful to hire a personal injury attorney who understands the gravity of your injuries, both seen and unseen. At Arash Law, we can help you seek an amount that covers your injuries and losses.
Can I Sue If I Share Responsibility For The Accident?
Fresno is under California’s “comparative fault” code. That is, you may be eligible for compensation even if you’re partially responsible for the accident. However, the amount you may receive depends on how much you are at fault.
California’s comparative fault system means your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. Our pedestrian accident lawyers in Fresno can help evaluate your case and determine your potential compensation.
How Long Do You Have To File A Pedestrian Accident Claim In Fresno?
The city of Fresno and the entire state of California follow a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims and lawsuits. However, if the injury was not discovered immediately, then you have one year from the date of discovery to file a claim.
If the other party fails to abide by the conditions in the written contract following an out-of-court settlement, you have four years from the date of the contract breach to file a claim. The window is reduced to two years if the contract is oral only.
Wrongful death claims also have a two-year statute of limitations. However, these cases require four elements to prove their validity. Consulting with Fresno lawyers who handle pedestrian accident cases can help determine if you have a valid wrongful death claim.
Get Legal Help From Our Experienced Fresno Pedestrian Accident Lawyers!
Getting injured while walking or jogging along the sidewalk because of other people’s negligence can be a life-changing event. However, you must remember that there are laws in Fresno that protect pedestrians from facing these ordeals alone.
That’s what we do at Arash Law. We advocate for the victims, inform them of their rights, and help them seek compensation. If you believe you’ve been injured by a careless driver while walking, call our Fresno pedestrian accident lawyers at (888) 488-1391.
We can schedule a free initial consultation to examine your case. We assist injured victims from Fresno, as well as neighboring areas. If you’re from Rolling Hills, Easton, Raisin City, Lone Star, Sanger, West Park, Rolinda, Kerman, Biola, La Vina, Madera, Riverbend, San Joaquin, Friant, Orange Cove, Del Rey, or Caruthers, Arash Law’s doors are open for your concerns.
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