Rio Vista’s charming rural environment is perfect for pedestrians who want to enjoy nature’s bounty and exercise simultaneously. However, despite the beauty, pedestrian accidents still happen and cause havoc in your daily life, potentially resulting in life-threatening injuries. The staff and attorneys at AutoAccident.com are available when you need them to turn the financial loss associated with a pedestrian accident around.

When an injured person seeks the assistance of a legal advocate, they do it to help them recover damages associated with the incident and to let the negligent party know they cannot just walk away with an apology. At our firm, we believe the injured party should not be expected to pay financially and physically for something that was another’s fault. We provide you and your family compassionate and professional legal services as we work hard to obtain the compensation you deserve.

Initially, we offer a free case review where you meet with the members of our legal team to explore your claim. This can be performed over the phone, via video conference, or in person. During this meeting, we examine the accident for liability and answer your questions. You receive your options going forward and get to know your potential Rio Vista pedestrian accident attorneys.

Once you retain us, we will send an investigative team to examine the accident site and determine who was at fault. Using this evidence, our legal team structures a robust case against the defendant on your behalf. Call us at (707) 564-1900 in the Rio Vista area or (800) 404-5400 long distance. If it is more convenient for you, use our online contact form.

The reasons that an injured pedestrian can file a claim against an at-fault party are:

• Negligence: In cases involving negligence, the plaintiff (the injured party) must prove that the defendant had a duty to you and breached that duty, which resulted in injury with financial damages.
• Negligence per se: A legal doctrine that can be called on in a personal injury case that if the defendant violates a state or federal law that causes injury to another, that action is considered negligent.
• Product liability occurs when a defect in the defendant’s vehicle causes it to impact the pedestrian. Here, a lawsuit can be filed against the manufacturer for the cost of injuries to the pedestrian.
• Respondeat Superior: This occurs when a party was on duty during the accident. An example would be the driver who caused the pedestrian accident delivering an item for their company. When the crash occurred, a lawsuit against both the driver and the company they work for is possible.
• Wrongful death: If the injured party died due to the pedestrian accident, their family has the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit. This is not a claim for compensation but to repay the family for their financial loss due to the crash. The lawsuit would cover funeral and burial expenses, the lost wages the deceased would have earned had they lived, the cost of hiring an outside party to do the work the decedent did around the house, and for loss of consortium.

The following parties can be held liable in a pedestrian accident:

• The city or county agencies in charge of road maintenance, signage, and traffic lights if lack of care contributed to the accident
• The driver of a vehicle if their negligent or reckless behavior caused the pedestrian accident
• The owner of a company vehicle and their employed driver can be held liable
• The manufacturer of the vehicle, if an auto defect was the cause of the accident, could be recovered
• A mechanic, if their shoddy work led to the accident, can enter the claim

The recoverable damages your injury attorney will recover are:

• Medical expenses: This includes emergency room fees, doctor’s bills, hospital costs, X-rays, labs, medication, and rehabilitation services. Medical devices, gas charges to go to and from doctor’s appointments, and at-home care are also reimbursed.
• Lost wages: The wages, benefits, and commissions lost due to the accident are compensated. Independent contractors can also recover damages. An injured party can recover their lost earning potential, the money they would have earned if the accident did not happen.
• Pain and Suffering: This represents the emotional, psychological, and physical pain the person endures due to the accident. The amount varies from person to person.
• Punitive damages: If the negligence was especially egregious, a claim for punitive damages can be filed. This type of claim is not meant to repay the plaintiff for the financial cost of the accident but to punish the defendant. It usually results in a higher amount. However, the jury decides how much is paid.

The following are behaviors that lead to a pedestrian accident:

• Distracted driving: This occurs when the driver’s focus is on other things rather than the road.
• Drunk driving: An inebriated driver lacks the cognitive ability to drive safely.
• Speeding: Driving faster than the speed limit can alter a driver’s ability to control their vehicle and stop in time to avoid an accident with a pedestrian. The faster a vehicle moves when a pedestrian is struck can make the difference between minor and fatal injuries.
• Reckless behavior: From switching lanes to failing to stop at a crosswalk or driving through a red light at an intersection, reckless driving can cause a fatal crash.

Don’t pay for the financial cost of your accident while the negligent party walks away. The lawyers at AutoAccident.com are here to help you. Call us at (707) 564-1900 or (800) 404-5400 to start the process. See our verdicts and settlements.

^{Editor’s updated [cha 8.18.23] Photo attribution: Image by Brian Merrill from Pixabay cd [998] bw}