Sacramento Pedestrian Accident Lawyers
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Car accidents involving pedestrians cause some of the most serious of all car crash injuries. Unlike vehicle occupants, pedestrians have no protection from seatbelts, airbags, or the steel frame of a vehicle. They are exposed to the full force of a collision. Pedestrian injuries are fatal for far too many injury victims.
Our Sacramento pedestrian accident lawyers fight hard to protect the legal rights of all injury victims. Pedestrians who have been hit by a negligent driver have the right to be fairly compensated for all their injuries and losses. Learn more about how common pedestrian accidents are in California, who is at fault for a car accident, common injuries in pedestrian accident cases, and the answers to the most common pedestrian accident questions our lawyers are asked.
Schedule your free consultation by calling (888) 488-1391 to speak with a pedestrian accident lawyer in Sacramento.
Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
$11,779,154.00
Verdict in a mild traumatic brain injury case involving a motor vehicle collision.– Judd Ross Allen
Facts About Pedestrian Accidents in the U.S. and Sacramento
The Insurance Institute For Highway Safety reports that there were 6,205 pedestrian deaths across the U.S. in 2019, a three percent decrease from the previous year, but the total number of pedestrian deaths had increased by a staggering 51 percent since reaching a low in 2009. The financial crisis of 2008 caused a dramatic decrease in traveling and road use.
Accident rates then dropped dramatically but began to return to normal levels as Americans began traveling again once they were more financially secure. Pedestrian fatalities accounted for 17 percent of all reported road deaths across the country in 2019.
Pedestrian fatalities are a problem across the Golden State, as well. In fact, the pedestrian fatality rate in California was recently found to be 25 percent higher than the national average. The California Office of Traffic Safety reports that 893 pedestrians were killed across the state in 2018. More than fourteen thousand pedestrians were also injured that year. California had the highest number of pedestrian fatalities out of any state that year.
The numbers are just as bad here in Sacramento. Pedestrian fatalities increased from 13 in 2019 to 15 in 2020. Now, in 2021, there were already 16 fatalities as of September. A traffic officer with the Sacramento Police Department told ABC 10 that speed is the biggest factor in pedestrian accidents.
So what can Californians do to address this deadly problem? First, drivers must accept personal responsibility for safe driving habits. All drivers have a legal duty of care, which means they must use “reasonable prudence” to watch out for pedestrians. Second, pedestrians must be safe, as well. ABC 10 reports that pedestrians were found at fault in 75 percent of Sacramento collisions.
And finally, when a driver is at fault for an accident, it is important for the pedestrian to hold them accountable for their negligence. Negligent drivers have a legal obligation to pay for all the injuries and damage they cause. By enforcing this obligation, injury victims are not only protecting their own legal right to compensation but also encouraging other drivers to drive more safely. A Sacramento pedestrian accident lawyer can help injury victims enforce their legal rights and make the roads of Sacramento safer for everyone.
Our Firm in Sacramento Gets Results for Pedestrian Accident Victims
There are many Sacramento personal injury attorneys in the Sac-Town area. A quick internet search for “Sacramento pedestrian accident lawyers near me” will give you a number of results. So how do you know which lawyers are the best? Our firm has a reliable history of getting results for pedestrians who have been injured in auto accidents. Here are just a few of our recent case results:
$6,100,000 – Our client was a small child who was seriously injured in a pedestrian accident. At just six years old, his injuries could affect him for the decades to come. We were able to settle the case in August 2021 for over six million dollars.
$5,000,000 – Our client suffered a traumatic brain injury when he was struck by a large truck while walking. The truck company tried to blame our client for his own injuries, but we fought back and were able to get the full five million dollars our client deserved for his injuries.
$2,000,000 – This was a tough case for our client. He was hit while jaywalking at night, and the police cited him for the traffic violation. In spite of these challenges, we were able to prove the defendant’s fault and recover two million dollars to compensate our client for very serious injuries.
$1,250,000 – Here, a small child was hit by a car and suffered devastating injuries. The insurance company tried to blame our young client (only five years old) for running out into the street. We hired expert witnesses to prove that the driver could have avoided the accident had they not been negligent. Our lawyers were able to recover the full policy limits of the defendant’s insurance coverage to fairly compensate the young victim.
Of course, every case is different. These results do not guarantee the outcome of your case. But these results show how hard our lawyers work to overcome insurance company tricks and be sure that our clients have access to the compensation to which they are legally entitled.
Who Is typically at Fault for a Pedestrian Accident?
In many pedestrian accident cases, a negligent driver is at fault for failing to see the pedestrian in time to avoid a collision. There are many actions that can be considered negligent while driving, including:
- Drunk driving
- Driving under the influence of recreational drugs or prescription medication
- Drowsy driving
- Speeding
- Texting and driving
- Calling while driving (even if a hands-free device is used)
- Eating or drinking
- Attending to children or pets in the car
- Running a red light
- Failing to watch for pedestrians while backing up
- Not slowing down for road work, school zones, and other danger spots
- Not slowing down in inclement weather
- Ignoring traffic signs
- Failing to yield the right-of-way
There are many, many behaviors that can be considered negligent behind the wheel. These are just a few of the most common. In addition to a negligent driver, there could be other parties who are liable for your injuries. For example, an auto manufacturer could be liable for a defective brake system that prevents the driver from stopping the car in time to avoid the pedestrian.
A trucking company could be liable for hiring a known drunk driver to take a large vehicle through school zones. There are many potential defendants to a pedestrian accident case, and our attorneys are experienced in finding all of them, which ensures that all negligent parties will be held responsible for the damage and injuries they cause.
Why Children Are Especially Likely to Be Hit by Cars
Sadly, pedestrian accidents are common among young children. Children can be impulsive. They run out into the street unexpectedly, which can be deadly if the drivers nearby are not paying attention. Drivers have an obligation to be especially careful around schools, parks, daycare facilities, and other places where children are likely to be.
A pedestrian accident lawyer in Sacramento can help you protect your child’s right to be compensated for any injuries they suffer, especially important for young children, who may require medical care for years or decades after sustaining injuries in a pedestrian accident. Because young children are impulsive and do not understand traffic patterns, they are less likely to be found negligent for their actions.
Older children are sometimes expected to know better, but an insurance company might try to blame an older child (especially those who are tweens and teens) for their own injuries. Just because the insurance company tries to say your child was at fault does not make it true.
You have the right to let a jury determine who was at fault. Our lawyers have worked hard to get compensation for many child injury victims. We fight hard to hold negligent drivers accountable for the damage they cause – especially to vulnerable children.
Common Questions About Sacramento Pedestrian Accidents
If you have been injured in an accident, you probably have many questions about what to do and what will happen next. The experienced Sacramento pedestrian accident lawyers at Arash Law managed by Arash Khorsandi, Esq. are here to guide you through every step of the process. We cannot answer all your questions here, and we cannot give you advice specific to your case, so be sure to schedule your free consultation as soon as possible.
In the meantime, you can learn more about injury cases to help take control of your legal rights. What follows are some of the most frequently asked questions our lawyers get asked about Sacramento pedestrian accidents.
First, be sure to attend to your medical needs. Get an ambulance to the scene right away if you are injured. Even if you feel okay immediately after the accident, it is still important to see a doctor as soon as possible. You could have internal injuries that do not show symptoms right away.
By seeing a doctor immediately after an accident, you can prevent further damage or even save yourself from a life-threatening condition (like internal bleeding). Once your medical needs have been addressed, it is time to see to your legal needs. Hire an attorney as soon as possible to protect your legal rights. Until you have hired a lawyer, you should not say anything to the other driver's insurance company about the accident.
Your injury lawyer will handle all communications with the company to protect you from accidentally saying something that could hurt your case. Your accident attorney will also protect you from insurance company tactics. Injury victims who do not have attorneys are sometimes pressured to settle quickly, or settle for a low amount, or even tricked into taking the blame for the accident.
You may still have access to compensation for your injuries, even if the driver fled the scene of the accident. Be sure to call the police and give them any information you can. It may still be possible to find the driver and their insurance information. If not, your pedestrian accident lawyer in Sacramento will explore other options for compensation.
Your own auto insurance policy may have coverage for accidents caused by uninsured drivers (including unknown hit-and-run drivers). You might also have coverage for medical payments and other losses. And even if your own auto insurance policy does not cover the accident, other policies could apply.
For example, workers' compensation must pay for your losses if you were on the job at the time you were hit. Do not give up hope on getting the compensation you were owed, even if the driver flees the scene of the accident. Our trusted legal team knows how to find all potential sources of compensation that may be available to you.
No! Once you hire an injury lawyer, they will handle all communications with the other driver's insurance company. You do not have to give a recorded statement or discuss the accident at all - even if they ask you to do so. Simply let the insurance company know that they must contact your lawyer about the case.
You can speak with your own insurance company because they are contractually obligated to protect your financial interests. But you do not have to. Your injury attorney can handle communications with your own insurance company, as well.
Many personal injury victims cannot afford to pay a lawyer any upfront fees. If you are paying medical bills at a time you are out of work, the last thing you need is more expensive lawyer's fees. Don't worry! Like many personal injury firms, our firm works on a "contingency," meaning that you do not have to pay us any fees upfront to start work on your case.
Instead, you agree to pay us a set portion of any award we are able to obtain for you. We take the time to review our contingent fee arrangements with each and every client. If you have any questions, just ask! It is important to feel comfortable with any financial arrangements you make with your attorney.
Paying medical bills is a serious concern for many injury victims. First, you should know that your health insurance carrier (including Medicare and Medicaid) is still required to pay for medical care, even if it was caused by someone else's negligence. Your usual contract rates (including copays and deductibles) will apply.
There might be other insurance coverage, such as workers' compensation, available to cover other immediate medical expenses. And even if you have no coverage at all, it might still be possible to find medical providers who will wait to be paid until your case is settled. Our Sacramento pedestrian accident lawyers work with chiropractors and other medical professionals to be sure you get the medical care you need.
The worst thing you can do is to delay getting the medical care you need. Doing so can aggravate your injuries and make them more painful. It can also make your overall prognosis worse and even impair your legal right to fair compensation for your pain and suffering. Be sure to talk to your lawyer about any financial concerns related to your medical bills.
If you have serious or permanent injuries, you will require medical care long after your case is settled. You are entitled to compensation for these expenses in addition to the medical bills you have already paid. But how can you get compensation for bills that don't yet exist?
Our injury lawyers work with expert witnesses to estimate your future medical expenses. Our life care planners and economists provide detailed reports with accurate projections, and we use these to negotiate fair settlement offers. These reports can also be used as evidence at trial in the event that your case must go to a jury.
Most injury victims miss some time off work after an accident. They are entitled to compensation for these lost wages, and our pedestrian accident attorneys know how to prove the value of other compensation as well (such as overtime and bonuses). But if your injuries are serious and permanent, you might not ever be able to go back to work.
In this case, you are entitled to compensation for all the wages you would have earned between the date of the accident and your expected retirement age. As you can imagine, years' or decades' worth of earnings can quickly add up to millions of dollars, which is why insurance companies fight so hard to prove that an injury victim should be able to go back to work - or at least engage in some other type of gainful employment.
Our pedestrian injury attorneys know how to work with medical experts, vocational therapists, and other expert witnesses to prove your earning capacity. We fight hard to get you the compensation you are owed for all future earnings - including wages, medical insurance, retirement contributions, and other employment benefits.
What is for certain is that you are not going to get a fair valuation of your case from the insurance company that represents the other guy. You need your own pedestrian accident lawyer to evaluate your case and give you a fair assessment of its value. Your lawyer will help you document and prove all the ways that your life has been affected by your injuries.
For example, if you have not been sleeping well because your pain is so bad, your work performance may suffer, and friction in your relationships with friends and family members may occur as well. These emotional losses are real.
You are entitled to compensation for them, and you don't have to let the other driver's insurance company bully you into accepting a settlement for less than they are worth. Our experienced lawyers know how to present a case that is compelling for jurors. They are human, and they understand these losses.
The vast majority of personal injury claims in the United States are settled out of court. If, however, your Sacramento pedestrian accident lawyer advises you to file a lawsuit and take the case to trial, it is important to be prepared to do so. Doing so shows the insurance company that you are serious about getting the compensation you deserve.
Your attorney will prepare you for every step of the litigation process so that you know what to expect. At most court hearings, you will not have to say anything at all. Your attorney will work with you to prepare for any depositions or testimony that must be given in court. Though going to court can be an overwhelming experience, you will know what to expect, and you will also have a skilled lawyer right by your side at every step of the way.
The Right Sacramento Pedestrian Accident Lawyer for All Injury Cases
You could spend hours searching online for “Pedestrian Accident Lawyers near Sacramento,” but you have already found the best accident attorneys in California. Arash Khorsandi and his dedicated Sacramento pedestrian accident attorneys at Arash Law have decades of experience, and our legal team has collected over 750 Million dollars for clients across the Golden State.
We work in Sacramento and all surrounding areas. Our legal team also serves clients in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Riverside, Bakersfield, Santa Barbara, San Jose, San Diego, Fresno, Sherman Oaks, and throughout California. Call (888) 488-1391 today to schedule your free consultation. Don’t wait to get the legal advice you deserve. The sooner you have a Sacramento pedestrian accident attorney fighting on your side, the better protected your legal rights will be.
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