Grass Valley is a quaint town nestled in the heart of the Sierra Nevada Foothills that genuinely has the feel of a vintage postcard. It’s no wonder thousands of people flock to the city every year to experience its rich history. This means Grass Valley often has a high vehicle and foot traffic volume from locals and visitors. Unfortunately, where there is traffic, there are accidents.

If you or a family member has suffered severe injuries in a pedestrian accident in Grass Valley or surrounding areas, call our legal team at (530) 392-9400 for a free, no-obligation consultation.

Walking can be dangerous when vehicles are involved. Pedestrian deaths account for a large percentage of all vehicle accident fatalities in Nevada County. Some of these pedestrian accidents are hit-and-runs.

Pedestrian accidents occur when someone is hit by a car, a large truck, a motorcycle, or a bicycle. While pedestrian accidents are sometimes caused by pedestrian negligence, most accidents are caused by careless drivers, which include:

• Disobeying crossing guards
• Failing to look both ways
• Failing to obey speed limits
• Failing to yield to pedestrians
• Not stopping at a crosswalk
• Not using headlights in the dark
• Running red lights or stop signs

Distracted or careless driving is known as negligence in the legal industry. A negligent driver fails to exercise reasonable care to avoid hitting a pedestrian. The law states that drivers owe a duty of care to pedestrians crossing the street or walking on the sidewalks. When a driver violates driving laws, pedestrians’ lives are at risk.

Pedestrians are not protected by a car’s safety features, like airbags, seatbelts, and steel walls. They are also not wearing safety gear like bicyclists or motorcyclists. That’s why pedestrians are vulnerable during accidents, even in slow-speed collisions, and often suffer serious injuries. Some common injuries that pedestrians suffer include:

• Abrasions
• Bone Fractures
• Internal Trauma
• Lacerations
• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Traumatic Brain Injuries

These injuries can leave people with life-long health issues. Recovering from a pedestrian injury can be challenging and usually takes months or even years. In severe incidents, crash survivors are often left with injuries that affect them for the rest of their lives.

Being injured is not only painful and mentally stressful but can also affect your ability to work or participate in activities you enjoy doing. For the vast majority, this means suffering a significant loss of income and experiencing major mental health issues.

While pedestrians can’t control the actions of motorists, they can take extra precautions to minimize or prevent a pedestrian collision. See the following tips to ensure your safety as a pedestrian:

• Be aware of traffic and look both ways before crossing.
• Avoid listening to music with earbuds and texting or calling on your phone while walking.
• Cross in areas where a driver’s view will not be obstructed by trees, parked vehicles, and other objects.
• Use marked crosswalks whenever available.
• Look for reverse lights that indicate a vehicle is backing up.
• Do not assume a driver will stop for you, even if you have the right of way.
• Make eye contact with a motor vehicle driver so they know you are crossing.
• Obey all traffic lights and signs.
• Stay sober while walking and avoid the use of alcohol or drugs.
• Wear bright-colored or reflective clothing and carry a flashlight when walking at night.
• Walk facing the flow of traffic and as far from motorists as possible when no sidewalk is available.

Watch the video below for more tips on pedestrian safety.

Medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages connected to pedestrian accidents can leave crash survivors hopeless. However, most damages people suffer in pedestrian accidents can be claimed in a personal injury case. By working with an experienced pedestrian accident lawyer in Grass Valley, crash survivors can claim compensation for their losses, giving them the financial security they need during a challenging time.

You may wonder if you need an injury attorney to help with your accident case. With minor injuries, consulting with a lawyer may not be necessary. However, with serious injuries, especially in a pedestrian accident, it’s essential to retain a lawyer to protect your rights to be fully compensated for your losses. Insurance companies often make low-ball offers; the at-fault party may try to disclaim liability. When this happens, it is critical to have an experienced injury attorney who knows how to negotiate with insurance companies who may use dishonest tactics to reduce the value of your claim.

Even if you are unsure whether or not you need a lawyer, it’s still essential to seek professional advice. Most injury lawyers will happily give you a free consultation over the phone, so there’s no disadvantage to reaching out for the help you need.

If you or a family member have been injured in a pedestrian-involved accident, call our Grass Valley pedestrian accident attorneys at (530) 392-9400 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly advice.

Our legal team has helped people in Grass Valley and surrounding areas with serious injury claims since 1982.

See our past cases on our Verdicts and Settlements page.

^{Editor’s Note: updated [cha 8.7.23] Image by Mabel Amber from Pixabay cha [cs 906] bw}