When a pedestrian is hit by a car, the pedestrian is usually left with debilitating, catastrophic bodily injuries. Pedestrian accidents can occur in various circumstances, including when you are crossing the street, walking in a parking lot, walking across a driveway, or even simply standing on the sidewalk waiting for a friend or public transportation. The injuries can be life-altering, such as a traumatic brain injury, multiple bone fractures, spinal cord damage resulting in paralysis, and/or lost limbs.

If you were hit by a vehicle at a crosswalk or any other area, the first step you need to take is to seek immediate medical attention. You need to see a doctor, even if you think the collision was “not that bad.” Your injuries may be less obvious such as a concussion or internal bleeding. These injuries require medical care right away. You must also document your medical care to substantiate a pedestrian accident personal injury claim.

Regardless of how serious the collision was between you and the vehicle, you must file a report with the police as soon as possible. If you are physically able, call the police and request immediate assistance.

You should also get the car insurance information, name, vehicle model, driver’s license number, and phone number of the individual who hit you. This should also be done with any witnesses who saw the collision. Third-party eyewitness testimony is tremendously helpful when negotiating an appropriate settlement with the insurance company and convincing a jury to award you damages if a trial is necessary.

Be sure to keep track of the events that occurred after the collision. This includes your visits to doctors and other medical professionals, the opportunities and events you were forced to miss due to your injuries, the wages you lost because you had to take time off work for rehabilitation, and other issues related to the accident. These documents will serve to substantiate your personal injury claim.

After seeking medical care, contact an experienced South Sacramento pedestrian accident lawyer to discuss the legal options and remedies available. Most, if not all, pedestrian accident lawyers offer free, completely confidential initial consultations. During the consultation, you will get the opportunity to tell the lawyer exactly what happened. The lawyer will then review the documents you have available to assess the merits of your claim. If it makes sense to move forward, you can enter into an agreement to hire the attorney on a contingency fee basis. This means you do not pay the lawyer anything until they obtain a financial recovery on your behalf.

Reason No. 1 – Guidance from someone with extensive knowledge and experience in the personal injury claims process.

Hiring a South Sacramento pedestrian accident lawyer means you will have the sound legal counsel of someone who has seen the tricks of insurance adjusters and knows how to present a case to a jury if needed. A good attorney will help you navigate the complex aspects of the injury claims process and pre-trial discovery phase so you can focus on getting well!

Reason No. 2 – Help with Negotiating with an Insurance Company Adjuster

Insurance adjusters get into contact with the accident victim right away. They do this to convince you to accept a lowball settlement before you have had a chance to sit down with your personal injury attorney. They want you to give a recorded statement so they can use it against you later if a claim is filed. Always remember an insurance adjuster is not your friend, and they are not on your side. Having a South Sacramento pedestrian accident attorney on your side will allow you to turn the negotiating process over to the attorney to focus on your rehabilitation.

Reason No. 3 – Assistance with Investigating the Collision

In some accidents involving a pedestrian and an automobile, the driver may argue that the pedestrian was at fault, not them. You will want to have an excellent personal injury lawyer on your side if liability is, in fact, contested. This is because the insurance company for the driver will likely deny your claim if liability is unclear. A lawyer can help ensure your accident is appropriately examined and investigated to assess the likelihood of who was really responsible for causing the collision. Even if you were partially at fault for causing the South Sacramento pedestrian accident, you could still pursue a personal injury claim since California adheres to a comparative negligence standard for civil claims.

Reason No. 4 – Talented and Capable Representation at Trial

A lawsuit must be filed if negotiations fall through between you and the insurance company. This means you must be ready to conduct pre-trial discovery, including depositions, and plan for a trial before a jury. Having an injury lawyer on your side means you have someone ready and able to present a compelling case to the jury so they award you a substantial verdict.

Under California law, a statute of limitations governs the amount of time within which an injured pedestrian can file a lawsuit against the vehicle driver that hit them. In South Sacramento, you have two years to file a lawsuit to recover economic and non-economic damages from the collision. However, the statute of limitations may be even shorter if the vehicle that hit you was a city or state vehicle. Under California law, a personal injury lawsuit filed against a government-owned entity requires notice to be sent to the entity within six months of the collision. As you can see, taking immediate action to protect your legal rights is strongly recommended.

Pedestrian accidents routinely involve extensive, catastrophic injuries that result in lost wages, substantial medical bills, and other damages. That is why you need an experienced South Sacramento pedestrian accident lawyer.

Watch YouTube Video: AAA Pedestrian Safety. The PSA below by AAA provides some essential tips on pedestrian safety.

If you or someone close to you has been struck by a motor vehicle or passed away after being hit by one, please contact our experienced South Sacramento pedestrian accident lawyers for compassionate, free, and friendly advice today. We can be reached at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400. 

We take cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay nothing upfront. No retainer fee. We get paid at the successful conclusion of your case. If you don’t win, we don’t get paid.

See our cases on our Verdicts and Settlements page.

^{Editor’s Note: updated [cha 7.18.23] sb bw [cs 1135] Photo by ab}