California’s roadways have seen a significant spike in pedestrian accidents in recent years. More vehicles on the road, speeding, and smartphones contribute to this unfortunate increase. Unlike auto collisions, pedestrian accidents are almost always severe and often fatal. Along with catastrophic injuries, the person is faced with high medical expenses, long recovery periods, and lost income. Most people have no idea what to do after a pedestrian accident.

At AutoAccident.com, we want to ensure you have all the necessary information to take the proper steps towards recovery. Our Oakdale pedestrian accident lawyers can discuss your case and help you understand your legal rights. If someone else’s negligence caused your injuries, you deserve compensation. Call our law firm at (209) 227-1931 for a free case evaluation.

California has numerous laws aimed at protecting pedestrians. These rules dictate where pedestrians can walk without violating traffic. Vehicle Code 21960 states that drivers must yield the right of way to pedestrians crossing the street in or near a marked crosswalk at an intersection. While this may seem straightforward, other language in the code can be confusing. For example, the code also states that pedestrians must not suddenly leave the curb or walk into the path of an oncoming vehicle. Given the ambiguity of this code, it is common for insurance companies to deny these injury claims. That’s why consulting with an experienced accident attorney is essential if you were hit while crossing the street.

Other California crosswalks and pedestrian laws include:

• Vehicle Code 21456 – determines when pedestrians can cross the street at a light
• Vehicle Code 21950 – covers pedestrians crossing the road at a crosswalk
• Vehicle Code 21954 – requires pedestrians crossing outside of a crosswalk to yield to vehicles
• Vehicle Code 21955 – requires pedestrians to use crosswalks at intersections
• Vehicle Code 21966 – determines where pedestrians can walk
• Vehicle Code 21970 – prohibits motorists from stopping in a crosswalk

Crosswalk laws are essential to personal injury claims. Breaking one of these rules can change who is liable for the accident and reduce a pedestrian’s settlement amount through California’s comparative fault rules.

Numerous factors may contribute to a pedestrian accident. They include the following:

• Alcohol and substance abuse
• Distracted driving
• Failure to signal before turning
• Failure to yield the right-of-way
• Reckless driving
• Speeding

From our experience representing injured people in the Oakdale area, injuries following pedestrian accidents are often severe and require lengthy medical care and rehabilitation. The most common injuries in pedestrian accidents are:

• Brain injury
• Bruises, cuts, and scrapes
• Fractures of the arms, legs, ribs, hips, and pelvis
• Internal organ injuries
• Scalp abrasions, lacerations, and contusions
• Spinal cord injury
• Sprained and torn ligaments

You deserve justice and fair compensation if you have suffered severe bodily injuries in a pedestrian accident. Obtaining compensation for your damages is essential to helping you get your life back on track. However, recovering maximum compensation without proper legal representation can be challenging. You should consider consulting with an Oakdale pedestrian accident lawyer immediately.

Some ways an injury attorney can help with your pedestrian accident case include the following:

• The lawyer can help determine fault and prove liability.
• The attorney has the resources and tools to determine financial damages, which helps ensure you receive the maximum compensation you need and deserve.
• The lawyer can negotiate with the insurance companies.
• The attorney is an advocate who can advise you on the appropriate next steps.

One of the most crucial factors to recovering compensation for Oakdale pedestrian accident cases is proving liability. Often, the driver is to blame when an accident happens. However, if it’s determined during the investigation phase that someone was on their cell phone at the time of the accident, their cell phone records can be used to clarify the liability question. There would also be witnesses if the accident occurred in a busy crosswalk. Witness statements can also help to prove fault.

You may think you don’t need an injury lawyer because you have a slam-dunk case as the injured party. However, a lot can go wrong. The driver who hit you may try to blame you and dispute the sequence of events leading up to the collision. In addition, without legal representation, the insurance company may offer you a lower settlement amount. A personal injury law firm can file a lawsuit on your behalf if the insurance carrier for the other party makes a lowball offer.

Mounting medical bills and calls from insurance adjusters can be overwhelming, especially when you have been seriously injured. An accident attorney has extensive experience dealing with medical bills and insurance adjusters. What is most essential for you is to focus on your recovery.

Watch the YouTube video below to learn more about the factors that can affect the value of your Oakdale pedestrian injury claim.

Suffering injuries in a pedestrian accident may be emotionally, physically, and financially draining. When the injuries are caused by someone else’s negligence, you may recover compensation for your losses. For free and friendly advice, contact our Oakdale pedestrian accident attorneys at (209) 227-1931 or (800) 404-5400.

^{Editor’s Note: updated 11.15.23 Photo by Ivan Lenin on Unsplash cha [cs 902]}