Stockton residents are hit and severely injured while walking, jogging, standing near the road, and crossing intersections daily. A pedestrian is susceptible to suffering a catastrophic injury or even death due to their lack of physical protection against a motor vehicle in a traffic collision. Drivers are required by California law to watch for people on the road and exercise due care to avoid crashing into them. Unfortunately, some motorists fail to look out for people walking on the road and cause serious crashes.

If you were hit by a vehicle while walking, our Stockton pedestrian accident lawyers can help you seek maximum compensation for your injuries and losses. Call today at (209) 227-1931 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly advice from one of our lawyers regarding your pedestrian accident case.

The attorneys at our personal injury law firm believe that if drivers fail to operate a vehicle safely and cause harm to pedestrians, they should be held financially accountable for the trauma and losses they cause. Our firm’s founder, attorney Ed Smith, has handled pedestrian injury cases since 1982. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation if you have been injured or lost a loved one in a car vs. pedestrian accident.

According to a new report by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), 6,227 pedestrians were killed in a car-related accident in 2018. That’s a 4% increase since 2017 and the highest death rate since 1990.

Under California law, a driver must yield the right of way to a pedestrian in a crosswalk or is traversing an intersection in a non-marked walkway. This is by California Vehicle Code 21950(a). 

In other words, most motor vehicle accidents involving pedestrians in such locations result from driver error. When a driver is cited for CVC 21950(a), they may be liable for resulting losses. Contact an experienced pedestrian injury attorney in Stockton for more details.

Motor vehicle accidents involving pedestrians may occur for a wide array of reasons. Following are many of the common reasons for pedestrian accidents:

• Distracted Driving: Some drivers may not provide the road their full attention. This may be due to applying makeup, eating, drinking, adjusting the radio, texting, or talking on a cell phone. These activities may affect a driver’s ability to react in time if someone crosses the street in each situation.
• Driving Under the Influence: In the United States, drinking and driving has been an ongoing issue for decades. Despite the dangers of DUI being well-publicized, many motorists still put others on the road in danger when they consume alcohol and drive. A car versus pedestrian collision involving an intoxicated driver often results in severe injury or wrongful death. An experienced Stockton pedestrian accident attorney will know how best to hold at-fault parties liable for resulting losses and punitive damages.
• Hit-and-Run Drivers: Motorists who flee the scene of a pedestrian crash often do so because of a lack of bodily injury coverage or drunk driving.
• Parking Lots: Pedestrians and cars share the same area, drivers backing out of parking spots, and parked vehicles obstructing visibility in parking lots. Motorists are expected to exercise due care in parking areas and garages. The best pedestrian accident lawyer in Stockton may hold them financially accountable for damages incurred when they fail to do so.
• Speeding: Speeding drivers often hit people while crossing a street or alongside a road. When motorists drive above the posted speed limit in pedestrian zones, they do not have enough time to slow down for those in crosswalks or veer off the roadway if traveling too fast. Whatever the reason, motorists should be held responsible when they speed up and cause car-pedestrian crashes.

An injured pedestrian faces many types of accident-related injuries. A pedestrian’s head, legs, and arms are severely impacted in most crashes. Some of the most common types of injuries from getting hit by a car include: 

• Bone fractures
• Limb amputation
• Permanent scarring or disfigurement
• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Wrongful death

An experienced Stockton pedestrian accident attorney will determine all potentially negligent parties in your case and sources of recovery. You may be entitled to compensation through a bodily injury claim against the insurance company representing the at-fault party. Some of the types of economic and non-economic damages recoverable include:

• Medical expenses
• Costs of future medical treatment
• Lost wages
• Loss of future earnings
• Mental anguish
• Lost enjoyment of life
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Loss of consortium
• Pain and suffering

If the at-fault party has little to no bodily injury liability coverage to pay for damages incurred, an uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) claim may be filed under such circumstances. Discuss what it means to file a UM or UIM claim with a top-rated pedestrian accident injury lawyer in Stockton.

Bodily injury claims for pedestrian crashes can be challenging. When you hire the best pedestrian accident lawyer in Stockton to represent you and your best interests, your injury attorney will handle all case details from start to finish. This generally includes:

• Conducting an independent investigation of the pedestrian collision
• Identifying all negligent parties and sources of personal injury recovery
• Reviewing the traffic incident report for any errors or inconclusive details regarding fault
• Interviewing eyewitnesses
• Hiring private investigators if a hit-and-run driver is involved
• Gathering, preserving, and presenting accident-related evidence
• Negotiating with auto insurance companies
• Retaining expert witnesses to provide testimony
• Filing a personal injury lawsuit
• Taking the case to civil court in San Joaquin County, if necessary

Watch the video below for tips on selecting the best personal injury lawyer for your pedestrian crash case.