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 Offering Determined And Relentless Representation
Fresno is home to 500,000 people, making it the fifth-largest city in California. With several dozen unique attractions, the city is witness to the constant movement of people moving 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 firm has won over $500 million in compensation for our clients. We can do the same for you. Dial (888) 488-1391 now.
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 3 pedestrians per 100,000 people die in accidents every year. This accounts for 161 pedestrian deaths from 2016 to 2020. Bear in mind that this statistic doesn’t even include injuries yet.
Pedestrians are extremely vulnerable on the road. If they’re hit by a vehicle, no degree of protection reduces the impact. This is why pedestrian accidents often lead to fatalities or severe injuries.
Arash Khorsandi, Esq., and his team of determined and relentless lawyers at Arash Law are proud to represent victims of pedestrian accidents. Fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation and learn 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, California law often favors pedestrians in traffic situations.
If that’s the case, why do we, as pedestrians, still fall victim to these accidents? The answer: mainly because drivers are not following the rules of the road, which is why you need competent pedestrian accident attorneys in Fresno to represent you.
At Arash Law, you hire more than just a lawyer. You become a member of our family, and we don’t let our families suffer. Here’s how we became the number one personal injury law firm in Fresno and all of California:
- Seamless, Stress-Free Legal Process – Our onboarding process is as flawless as it can be. While our offices are open to consultations all the time, we don’t mind visiting our clients’ homes or meeting them in nearby coffee shops to discuss the case. We never fail to keep them updated on the case via email or text. We’ll handle the grunt work so you can focus on recovery.
- No Financial Burden – Some victims are afraid to pursue a case because of the financial burden it comes with. You don’t have to worry about that with us. We don’t charge a single penny for our services because we operate on a contingency-based arrangement. No fees until we win. Period.
- Holistic Recovery – Pedestrian accidents often lead to all sorts of injuries, both physical and emotional. As part of our promise that you’ll be a part of our family, we’ll help you recover in every aspect. While we work on financial recovery, we’ll also get you access to the top medical specialists in California for physical, mental, and emotional treatment.
- Unity in Diversity – Fresno sits in the 7th spot for being the most culturally diverse city in California. When you face a situation as overwhelming as a legal dispute, you want someone you can establish a more profound connection with. Arash Law is proud to say that we’re a multicultural law firm. Our staff speaks English, Hebrew, Spanish, French, Italian, Korean, and Farsi, among others.
- Changing Lives, One Case at a Time – Winning millions of dollars is one thing, but the testimonials from our clients will show you how much we care about every case. Arash Law may be aggressive toward the negligent party, but we’re compassionate when it comes to our clients.
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 will help you determine if you’ve been wronged while accessing a public road.
If you are using the road within these laws, when a vehicle hits you, you could be entitled to compensation. Contact personal injury lawyers in Fresno handling pedestrian accidents now to pursue legal action.
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.
Other vehicles approaching from the rear mustn’t pass or overtake another vehicle stopped at a marked or unmarked crosswalk.
If the vehicle needs to drive over or upon a sidewalk, the driver must yield the right-of-way to approaching pedestrians.
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.
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?
Whenever you feel like you’ve been wronged, the law most likely says so, too. But how do you determine if you can indeed pursue legal action against the driver of the vehicle that hit you? Your best course of action is to consult attorneys in Fresno who specialize in pedestrian accidents.
Your lawyer will most likely 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, we strongly advise pedestrian victims to refrain from doing so.
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 favors you as a victim.
Having an attorney during negotiations will guarantee that.
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 extensive experience in pedestrian accidents will use a combined approach to maximize the victim’s compensation. 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 always file a civil lawsuit against the guilty party, but this can be a tedious process. That’s why the primary aim of lawyers is to settle the case outside of court. However, if the guilty 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. You will need legal help during this stage, and our personal injury lawyers in Fresno will be with you every step of the way. Fill out our “Do I Have A Case?” and we’ll call you as soon as we’ve evaluated your situation.
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.
Copy and print our step-by-step guide and keep it with you at all times.
- Call Emergency Services – Dial 911 and inform them of the incident and your location.
- Take Photographs and 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 will help you track all expenses related to the accident and possibly include them in the settlement.
- Contact Arash Law at (888) 488-1391 – Call our injury lawyers in Fresno for pedestrian accident cases. We’ll guide you through the legal process and fight for the maximum compensation you can receive from a settlement.
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.
In 2020, pedestrian fatalities where the driver was speeding rose to 8.6% from the year prior. In pedestrian accidents, the risk of death rises dramatically based on the speed of the vehicle. The risk is only 10% for vehicles moving at 23 MPH but increases to 90% at 58 MPH.
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.
Fresno is among the top five cities in California with the most DUI arrests in 2019. It’s one of the riskiest cities for pedestrians to 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. Calling our attorneys in Fresno for pedestrian accidents should also help you navigate through 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 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 (TBI)
- Paralysis
- Amputation
- Wrongful Death
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 will fight to expand your compensation and include several other damages apart from your physical injuries. Every aspect of your life affected by the incident must also be considered in your claim.
The following are the compensations available to you when filing a personal injury claim after a pedestrian accident:
- 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 Will I Receive For A Pedestrian Accident Settlement 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. On average, pedestrians hit by a car may receive anywhere from $10,000 to $1 million. Minor injuries may reach up to $75,000, while traumatic brain injuries, paralysis, and wrongful deaths can reach millions of dollars.
It’s important to hire a personal injury attorney who understands the gravity of your injuries—both seen and unseen. At Arash Law, we always fight for the maximum settlement. We believe it’s the only amount that’s fair to the victim. Call the justice hotline at (888) 488-1391 now.
Can I Sue If I’m Partially To Blame?
Fresno is under California’s “comparative fault” code. That is, you are entitled to compensation even if you’re partially responsible for the accident. However, the amount you may receive depends on how much you are at fault.
For example, if the settlement amount is $1 million, but you’re 50% responsible for the incident, then you will only receive $500,000. You may call our pedestrian accident lawyers in Fresno to determine who’s at fault and whether or not you’re entitled to 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 guilty 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. Hiring Fresno lawyers with experience in pedestrian accidents will help determine if you have a case for a wrongful death claim.
Consult a Top-Rated Fresno Pedestrian Accident Lawyer To Ensure Victory Today!
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 in Arash Law. We stand by the victims, inform them of their rights, and fight for the maximum settlement to turn their lives around. If you believe you’ve been injured by a negligent driver while walking, call our Fresno pedestrian accident lawyers at (888) 488-1391 today.
We’ll schedule a free consultation to examine your case. Our invitation extends to residents of Fresno’s neighboring places as well. 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, Rolinda, or Caruthe, Arash Law’s doors are open for your concerns.
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