Inglewood Pedestrian Accident Lawyers

Millions of people live in the County of Los Angeles, with numerous cities sporting well over 100,000 residents. Fittingly, there are just as many vehicles as there are people – and with that many cars comes a fair amount of accidents. Pedestrian accidents are at some of their highest in California, and Los Angeles is no exception. Each year, Los Angeles has over 250 pedestrian deaths – a large portion of the nearly 6,000 national deaths per year. As a victim of a pedestrian accident, you should be aware that there are legal steps you can take that will help you receive ample compensation for your damages. If you are in need of an Inglewood pedestrian accident attorney, look no further than our law firm, the Downtown LA Law Group. We have years of experience handling such cases and promise to do all we can to secure you a satisfactory settlement from your accident.

What Causes Pedestrian Accidents?

Pedestrian accidents occur for a variety of reasons. One of the major contributing factors to crashes is the time of day – there are drastically fewer accidents that happen in daylight than at night time, with 75% of pedestrian accidents occurring after dark. This is no surprise; pedestrians are often much more difficult to see than other vehicles, and when compounded with greatly reduced visibility, accidents are more likely to happen. Some areas do not have ample street lights to illuminate anyone walking below, and if they attempt to cross the street, they may not be seen until it’s too late, as many cars’ headlights do not shine extremely far ahead. Further, pedestrian accidents most often happen away from crosswalks. Drivers are usually more alert when they see crosswalks and can reasonably expect pedestrians; if a pedestrian is midblock and not near a crosswalk, though, the driver likely won’t notice him. Over 70% of pedestrian accidents happen under these circumstances, whether in the middle of the street, on highways, and on unmarked sections of the road. This can be for any number of reasons pedestrians may not want to wait to go to a crosswalk, for one, and cars may drive too close to parked vehicles or the sidewalk. One of the causes of pedestrian accidents is also one of the major leading causes for car accidents in general: alcohol. Drunk pedestrians may stumble into the street when cars are passing or they may not yield at all to approaching vehicles, such as near parking lots. Drivers, on the other hand, can easily swerve, run off the road, fall asleep at the wheel, be unable to stop in time, and have poor perception, all of which can contribute to deadly accidents. Other reasons for pedestrian accidents include:

• Poor weather with low visibility, such as rain, fog, snow, or haze
• Careless driving, such as running red lights, ignoring stop signs, not yielding, ignoring right of way laws, using cell phone while driving, and more
• Jaywalking by pedestrians
• Vehicle defects, like broken headlights or faulty brakes, that make driving dangerous
• Driver fatigue and falling asleep behind the wheel
• Turning into intersections on red lights, usually not noticing anyone approaching or going through the crosswalks

Call our car accident attorneys in Inglewood for more help.

These pedestrian accidents can be prevented in numerous ways. For example, more crosswalks could receive the flashing lights that activate when someone presses the walk button, and more dimly lit areas could have upgraded streetlamps. Humps and dips in the road also force cars to slow down, giving drivers more time to react to pedestrians. The city can also analyze crossing and make it more efficient, such as by building overpasses, altering countdown times, changing the duration of stoplights, and more.

Learn more about your options for compensation by calling (855) 339-8879.

You should reach out to a pedestrian accident lawyer in Inglewood if you were hurt in such an incident.

What Are Some Injuries From Pedestrian Accidents?

Pedestrian accidents often result in serious injuries because of the lack of protection of the victims. There is no way for a pedestrian to have any impact reduced if struck by a car; they may roll onto the hood, be flung from the hit, or get dragged underneath. Individuals inside the cars are saved by airbags and seatbelts, but victims are not. A relatively slow-moving car at 15 mph can cause extensive damages. Some of the injuries that can happen include:

• Concussions
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Closed head injuries
• Neck and spinal cord injuries
• Herniated discs
• Back problems
• Dislocated shoulder
• Broken collarbone
• Internal organ damages
• Crushing injuries
• Degloving
• Blunt force trauma
• Severed limbs or digits
• Broken arms and legs
• Sprains and fractures
• Torn muscles
• Permanent nerve damage
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Paraplegia and quadriplegia
• Coma
• Death

In some instances, injuries are long-lasting or permanent and may require numerous treatments to get under control. We have had clients who have required a few reconstructive surgeries and were still unable to function as they did beforehand. Injuries to this extent should be fully compensated, and an Inglewood pedestrian accident lawyer can help.

Can A Pedestrian Sue If Hit By A Car?

Yes, a pedestrian can sue if hit by a car, especially if the driver were grossly negligent. You can take legal action if a driver carelessly hit you while he was on the road, but in order to do so, you will need to have ample evidence and the ability to prove that the driver was at fault.

Do Pedestrians Always Have Right Of Way?

In general, cars must yield to pedestrians, but they do not always have the immediate right of way. For example, pedestrians who cross midblock must allow cars to pass and not merely step into the road to cross. Once there is a break in traffic, then the pedestrian can safely cross and possesses the right of way.

Do Pedestrians Have The Right Of Way When Jaywalking?

Similar to the above, pedestrians do not automatically have the right of way when jaywalking, but once they have begun to walk, cars must allow the individuals to cross.

How Can I Sue After Getting Hit By A Car?

In order to sue a driver for hitting you, you will need to prove that he was negligent. There are four points that must be established; if even one is deemed false, your claim will not uphold. The four points are:

• You were owed a duty of care (all drivers owe everyone else a duty of care to not bring them any harm or risk putting them in danger)
• The duty of care was breached (via careless driving, an illegal action, or an error in judgment)
• The breach led to an accident
• The accident resulted in physical injuries

The Ultimate Guide to Pedestrian Accident

– Pedestrian Accident Attorney
– Sidewalk Injury Lawyers
– Crosswalks Pedestrian Accident
– Driveway Pedestrian Accidents
– Pedestrian Right of Way Laws
– Pedestrian Accident FAQ
– Accident Facts & Statistics
– Statute of Limitations for Pedestrian Accident Lawsuits
– Pedestrian Accident Laws
– What do to after a Pedestrian Accident
– Skateboarding Accident Attorney

Importantly, if you were not physically hurt, you won’t be able to collect compensation for medical expenses and other damages. You may only be able to receive lost wages; the benefit to this is there is usually not much room for negotiation from the insurance company, and it will be more likely to pay out such small amounts. You may also not need an attorney if you were not hurt. However, in the case of injuries, insurance agents will try to downplay your damages and claim that you did not need as much treatment as you received. They will also try to shift the blame and say that you were at fault or that the driver was not negligent. It can be difficult to handle such a situation; as a result, it is highly recommended that you have the representation of a skilled Inglewood pedestrian accident lawyer. With our firm on your side, you’re in great hands.

How Much Money Can You Get From A Pedestrian Accident Settlement?

Pedestrian accident settlements vary from case to case. There is no way to say what you will definitely earn – an insurance agent will weigh your injuries and determine how impactful and damaging they were, and he will make an offer. If you required extensive medical treatment and could not return to work for some time, you would have a larger settlement than someone who was not badly wounded and could return to work in a day.

Complete a Free Case Evaluation form or call (855) 339-8879 today.

If you were severely hurt and had a long stay in the hospital, as well as various medical treatments, your case might be worth over $1,000,000. If a family member passed away in the accident, your wrongful death damages could go beyond $3,000,000. However, if you only suffered a few sprains, you may not earn more than $50,000. It is up to our attorneys to negotiate the best deal for you and ensure that all of your bills are fully covered. Victims of personal injury lawsuits can receive various types of compensation that will alter the value of their cases. We will work to bring you the following types of damages:

• Medical expenses from the past and future, including physical therapy, surgery, hospitalization, medication, and more
• Missed income from the past and future
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering
• Punitive damages, which are awarded to punish a defendant for gross negligence or an intent to cause harm (they are difficult to win, though, and only a qualified lawyer with experience in pedestrian accident cases will be able to secure them for you)
• Wrongful death damages, such as funeral costs, loss of consortium, loss of expected saving, pre-death medical bills and pain and suffering, and more

How Long After A Pedestrian Accident Can I Sue?

You have two years from the date of the injury to sue the driver for compensation. If you try to file a claim after the two years have passed, your case will be thrown out. The reason for the statute of limitations is simple: speedy investigations should be carried out, and the longer a claim takes to get filed, the more likely it is that key evidence will get lost, corrupted, or forgotten.

Learn more about your legal options: Call (855) 339-8879 to speak with a representative now.

A lawyer can help you figure out if you are eligible for any exceptions to the statute of limitations. You may have been underage when the accident occurred or you may have been left incapacitated, so your statute would be temporarily put on hold until you reach the acceptable status.

The Top Firm in Los Angeles

If you are in need of an Inglewood pedestrian accident lawyer, our team of attorneys at the Downtown LA Law Group will be glad to help. We have years of experience taking on pedestrian accident cases and will not stop pursuing your rightful compensation. We will negotiate with the insurance agent and make sure your claim is constantly at the top of the pile. If necessary, or aggressive lawyers will take your case to court to win in front of a judge and jury. Call our firm today at (855) 339-8879 for a free legal consultation with an experienced lawyer. If you want to know more about the legal process behind filing a pedestrian accident claim, we’ll tell you. We’ll also inform you as to how much we believe your case is worth. If you want to hire us to represent you, you will be given our zero fee guarantee, which establishes that you won’t have to pay any money at all to get our services. We will only get paid if we win, and the money will be taken out of the settlement we win. If we don’t win your case, we collect no fees at all Get started on your lawsuit today with the help of a pedestrian accident lawyer in Inglewood.