Regular walking comes with many great health benefits. It can lower your risk of heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. But the activity can also be risky, especially if you’re walking near busy streets and intersections.

If you have been involved in a pedestrian accident with a motor vehicle while crossing the street or walking down the road in Lathrop, an injury lawyer can help you recover monetary compensation for your injuries. To find out how you can get started on a personal injury claim, consult with one of our experienced pedestrian accident lawyers in Lathrop today at (209) 227-1931 for a free case evaluation.

Pedestrians are at a disadvantage when they are involved in a crash with a motor vehicle. Since pedestrians are vulnerable and unprotected from an impact with a car, they often suffer serious injuries, including the following:

• Broken bones
• Internal bleeding
• Leg and knee injuries
• Nerve damage
• Severe cuts and lacerations
• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Torn ligaments

The severity of these injuries depends on various factors, like the vehicle’s speed, the body part that was hit, the angle of impact, and the vehicle’s design.

In a collision between a pedestrian and a motor vehicle, it is essential to determine who was at fault. California has several laws designed to protect pedestrians. For example, California Vehicle Code 21950(a) states that:

• The driver must yield to a pedestrian crossing the street within a marked or unmarked crosswalk at an intersection.

Other examples of driver negligence include:

• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Distracted driving
• Reckless driving behavior
• Driving while fatigued
• Speeding

Pedestrians seeking compensation for their injuries will need to prove that the motorist was negligent.

If you or a loved one was hurt in a pedestrian accident due to a driver’s negligence, you are entitled to compensation for your injuries and other damages, such as medical expenses, lost wages, and rehabilitation. You have two options: file a claim with the driver’s insurance company or file a personal injury lawsuit in court.

You can file a claim directly with the driver’s insurance company if the motorist is insured. Negotiating and settlement can be challenging and time-consuming without an experienced attorney’s assistance. The insurance adjuster will likely present you with a lowball offer.

Because injuries from a pedestrian accident can be debilitating, filing an injury lawsuit is usually the best way to get the maximum compensation you need and deserve.

In a crash between a vehicle and a pedestrian, having an experienced California pedestrian accident attorney on your side is crucial to help gather evidence and establish liability.

An attorney can assist the injured party with gathering witness statements, taking photos of the accident scene, and, in some cases, obtaining surveillance video of the accident.

A skilled Lathrop pedestrian accident attorney who has handled many injury claims knows that motorists often try to blame the pedestrian. Therefore, working with a reputable personal injury attorney offers you the best chances of succeeding in your pedestrian accident lawsuit. Your attorney will gather the evidence needed to present the best case possible.

It is essential to consult with a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after a pedestrian accident. According to the California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1, an injured person has two years to file a claim against the at-fault party. A lawsuit must be filed within this timeframe, or the case may be dismissed.

If a defective or dangerous road is the cause of the accident, the city or government agency responsible for maintaining the road may be accountable for the pedestrian’s injuries. The claim must be filed within six months of the accident, according to the California Government Code Section 911.2.

Watch the YouTube Video below to learn more about California’s statute of limitations.

If you have been hurt in a pedestrian accident in the Lathrop area or elsewhere in San Joaquin County, call our law firm at (209) 227-1931 or (800) 404-5400 to be connected with one of our personal injury lawyers at AutoAccident.com. Our accident attorneys have decades of experience handling cases like yours and will provide free and friendly advice.

It’s essential to retain a lawyer who has succeeded in obtaining significant verdicts and settlements on behalf of their clients. Our attorneys have had a solid track record of success handling personal injury and wrongful death cases since 1982. We work tirelessly to recover the maximum compensation they need and deserve.

See a list of our past cases on our verdicts and settlements page.

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