California has a high number of pedestrian accident injuries. With more congested traffic and walkers running errands, going to work, getting exercise, or just enjoying the outdoors, it isn’t much of a surprise. Unfortunately, negligent drivers and other entities cause serious harm to many pedestrians.

When negligence is the cause of a pedestrian injury, the injured person may claim compensation. In the case of an injury, the claimant may recover the cost of all their medical expenses, wages lost because they could not work, and their pain and suffering with the help of an experienced lawyer.

When you or your loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident, contact us at (916) 921-6400 and (800) 404-5400 for our free, friendly advice on whether you can place a compensation claim. We’re here to answer your questions and tell you what options are open to recovering damages. Since 1982, our personal injury law firm has helped many Loomis residents get the compensation they deserve.

In 2019, pedestrians accounted for 19 percent of the deaths caused by traffic accidents. Within the past decade, the number has risen by more than 46 percent, representing the highest increase in fatalities in all traffic collisions, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. This increase in injuries and fatalities is unacceptable, and our injury attorneys will fight for your right to compensation.

When motorists aren’t alert to pedestrians sharing the road, the following types of negligence may be to blame:

• Distracted driving: The motorist using their cell phone to text, changing a radio station, or looking away to reach for something can injure a pedestrian.
• Failure to yield: The driver who does not yield to a pedestrian in the crosswalk can cause an accident.
• Improper right turn: The motorist who makes a right turn without looking for a walker stepping off the curb or crossing can end up causing a collision.
• Impaired driving: A driver who is drunk or has been using drugs shows defects in judgment, reflexes, vision, and the ability to control their vehicle. This is a common cause of a Loomis pedestrian accident.
• Design or maintenance defects: If a crosswalk is poorly designed without regard to traffic flow, has overgrown shrubbery, non-functioning signals, or crossing lights and bad lighting, it can lead to a pedestrian accident.
• Speeding: Motorists who ignore the speed limit can have problems stopping in time to avoid collisions or lose control of their vehicle.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the following pedestrian safety tips may help a person on foot avoid getting into a severe accident with a motorist:

• Obey traffic signals and signs.
• Always use a sidewalk whenever possible. If no sidewalk is available, walk in the direction facing traffic and stay close to the curb.
• Always cross at an intersection or crosswalk, and look in all directions for oncoming traffic. Drivers have trouble seeing pedestrians when they cross in the middle of the street.
• Stay alert. Listening to music or talking to someone when crossing a street distracts you from hearing nearby motorists.
• Don’t assume a driver can see you. Making eye contact with a driver as they come near ensures they know you’re there.
• Be visible. Wearing bright clothing in the daytime and using light-colored clothing and a flashlight or reflective materials after dark makes you more visible.
• Don’t drink or use drugs before taking your walk. Pedestrians can be impaired and unsafe while out, just as drivers are.
• Be cautious when passing driveways and parking lots, and watch for cars backing out of spaces.

The following video provides more safety tips for pedestrians.

Safety isn’t only dependent on pedestrians. Motorists also have to use safety measures to prevent pedestrian collisions. Some helpful tips include:

• Be alert to pedestrians, especially in intersections.
• Slow down in bad weather or after dark, especially in areas where the lighting may be wrong and is difficult to see.
• Always yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk.
• Stop short of the crosswalk to allow other vehicles to see pedestrians crossing the street.
• Never pass a vehicle that is stopped at the crosswalk. This may indicate a pedestrian is crossing.
• Be alert and ready to stop if you are starting into a crosswalk or turning.
• Pay attention and lower your speed near schools and other locations with heavy foot traffic.
• Never drive when you’ve been using drugs or drinking.
• Be careful backing up.

Our investigators work hard to collect the evidence needed to support our client’s claim for compensation. Among the areas where evidence is sought are:

• The police report is examined for errors, especially since mistakes could affect the client’s compensation claim.
• Accident reconstruction is performed, which shows how the pedestrian injury occurred.
• The design and maintenance of the area where the accident happened are examined. Poor design and lack of maintenance, such as a poorly timed crossing light, overgrown shrubbery, and bad lighting, can lead to an accident. The government entity in charge may be held liable.
• Traffic, business, and roadway cameras are checked to see if the accident was captured on tape.
• Witnesses are interviewed for corroborating statements.

The compiled evidence is then handed over to our injury lawyers, who use it to build a solid case to benefit our client’s claim. It can be used when negotiating with the insurance company or in court on the client’s behalf.

If you were injured in a pedestrian accident or lost a loved one, we can offer you free and friendly advice if you phone us at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400.

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^{Editor’s Note: updated [cha 8.18.23] Image by Brian Merrill from Pixabay cd llo [cs 993] cha}