Award-Winning Pedestrian Accident Lawyer in Irvine, CA
Have you sustained minor injuries like broken bones to severe injuries because of a pedestrian accident? Have you had to miss work and lost wages due to a collision? Are you overwhelmed with medical bills and need ongoing medical treatment for your injuries? If you were injured to no fault of your own, you have the right to seek compensation. A personal injury lawyer can help you recover compensation for losses caused by a pedestrian accident.
Woodbridge Accident Lawyers is comprised of a committed group of pedestrian accident lawyers who will fight to protect your legal rights. Our law firm specializes in pedestrian accidents and is passionate about helping injured victims recover the compensation they deserve. Schedule a free consultation to speak with a pedestrian accident lawyer today.
Do I Need to Hire an Irvine Personal Injury Lawyer?
After a pedestrian accident, personal injury victims can feel isolated and intimidated and may accept the first offer from an insurance company without getting a just settlement. Oftentimes, insurance companies do not keep your best interests in mind. Insurance adjusters are well-equipped to find reasons to justify a low settlement or reject the claim entirely.
Our accident lawyers know how to handle each insurance company and any misleading tactics they may use on personal injury victims. Our personal injury attorneys understand how serious injuries, medical expenses, and trauma can impact victims who were hit by a car. Proving damages like pain and suffering can be very challenging without a personal injury lawyer. It's vital to have an experienced pedestrian accident attorney to help you prove and calculate pain and suffering damages.
It is vital for your car accident case that you have an Irvine pedestrian accident lawyer who is very familiar with California’s traffic laws. Our personal injury lawyers are well-acquainted with Irvine and the greater Orange County area. Our award-winning law firm has the resources and expertise to support you in your personal injury case.
Main Causes of Pedestrian Accidents
More than 7,000 pedestrians were killed in car crashes on U.S. roads in 2020. For perspective, this means that there was about one death every 75 minutes. Pedestrians are the most at risk to be critically injured or killed in an auto-related accident. Oftentimes accidents involving pedestrians occur at night in urban areas. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 80% of pedestrian traffic deaths in 2020 occurred in urban areas. Additionally, 76% of pedestrian fatalities occurred during dark lighting conditions. Some of the main causes of pedestrian accidents include:
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is a leading cause of collisions and claimed 3,142 lives in 2020. Distracted driving can include using your phone while driving, talking to people in your vehicle, eating and drinking, and using the radio or navigation system. Drivers who engage in non-driving activities while on the road are more likely to cause a car crash or pedestrian accident.
Speeding
Speeding is also a top reason for auto accidents each year. Traveling at accelerated speeds significantly increases your risk of being in a car accident. When a driver is speeding, there is less time to slow down for a pedestrian crossing the street. Also, speeding reduces the time that the driver has to make decisions. In 2020, there were 11,258 speeding-related deaths.
Reckless Driving
Reckless driving includes any driving with reckless disregard for the safety of others. This can include racing other drivers, weaving or swerving across lanes, disregarding stop signs, crosswalk signs, and red lights, driving on the sidewalk, and driving on the wrong side of the road. Reckless driving can lead to serious consequences that can be catastrophic or even fatal.
Failure to Yield
Failure to yield, a form of reckless driving, is one of the most common causes of pedestrian accidents. This occurs when a motorist fails to give a pedestrian crossing the street their rightful space and time to proceed. In California, crosswalk laws state that pedestrians have the right of way in marked or unmarked crosswalks. This means that a driver must allow a pedestrian to cross the road before driving through a crosswalk at an intersection.
Impaired Driving
Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is exceptionally dangerous and puts the driver and pedestrians at great risk. Impaired driving significantly reduces a motorist’s cognition and ability to make decisions on the road. In 2019, 28% of all car crash fatalities were caused by drunk driving.
Failure to Signal While Turning
When drivers fail to signal before turning or switching lanes, they endanger other motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Turn signals are important because they communicate a driver’s intentions and act as a warning for other drivers. In response to a turn signal, other drivers on the road can reduce speed and change lanes to avoid a car accident.
What Is My Personal Injury Claim Worth?
There are many factors that go into determining the value of a pedestrian accident claim, like the cost of medical treatment, the extent of the personal injuries, and the long-term effects the accident has on the victim’s life. Another factor that can greatly impact the value of the pedestrian accident case is liability. If the plaintiff and defendant are jointly liable for the accident, awarded compensation to the plaintiff will typically be lower. If the defendant is completely liable in a pedestrian accident, the settlements tend to be higher.
The personal injury attorney representation you have can also significantly impact the results of your pedestrian accident case. An experienced personal injury attorney can recover much higher compensation than someone unfamiliar with personal injury law. At Woodbridge Accident Lawyers, we fight tirelessly to get you the maximum settlement available. Contact us for a free case evaluation to learn more about the value of your personal injury case.
Types of Pedestrian Accidents in Irvine, California
Irvine pedestrian accidents can happen for a variety of reasons at places like parking lots, neighborhoods, and intersections. Common types of accidents include:
Pedestrian Hit-and-Run Accidents
A hit-and-run accident occurs when a driver hits another motorist, cyclist, or pedestrian and leaves the scene of the accident without giving any information. A motorist is legally required to report any collision that results in an injury. If you were hit by a car it is crucial to immediately call the police and seek medical attention.
Crosswalk Collisions
Pedestrian accidents can occur at crosswalks when drivers are careless, speeding, distracted driving, or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Parking Lot Accidents
Parking lots are usually busy places bustling with drivers and pedestrians. Driver negligence can be especially dangerous for pedestrians in a parking lot.
Backup Accidents
Backup accidents occur when a driver reverses out of a driveway or parking lot and strikes a pedestrian. In these cases, the driver did not thoroughly check for blind spots or was not paying attention when they reversed their car.
Common Injuries Sustained in Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrians drastically lack protection in an accident versus a driver in a passenger vehicle that has seat belts, airbags, and a crumple zone. A pedestrian accident victim can oftentimes sustain serious injuries or even life-threatening injuries. Some of the most common pedestrian accident injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Fractured and broken bones
- Internal bleeding
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Soft tissue damage
- Lacerations and road rash
- Torn ligaments
The injuries caused by a pedestrian accident can be life-altering, leaving the victim permanently disabled and unable to return to work. Injury victims may need ongoing medical treatment and can be left with permanent scarring.
Have you suffered injuries due to the actions of a negligent party? If you were injured to no fault of your own, you have the right to seek compensation for your personal injuries. A personal injury attorney can hold the at-fault driver accountable and help pedestrian accident victims recover just compensation.
Dangerous Intersections in Irvine, CA
The roads in Irvine are constantly bustling with cars, trucks, bicyclists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians. Listed below are some of the most dangerous intersections in Irvine, California.
- Jamboree Road at Walnut Avenue
- Alton Parkway at Gateway
- Culver Drive at Irvine Boulevard
- Barranca Parkway at Harvard Avenue
- Armstrong Avenue at McGaw Avenue
Contact an Irvine Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Irvine is a flourishing city in Orange County that consistently ranks as one of the best places to live in Southern California. Irvine has a population of over 309,000 people with an abundance of shops, restaurants, and entertainment. Irvine, CA attracts more than one million travelers each year for business and leisure. Consequently, it’s little surprise that the risk of pedestrian accidents is high.
At Woodbridge Accident Lawyers, we provide you with the superior legal strategy and guidance you need throughout your pedestrian accident claim. Our law firm values delivering the best client experience and will get back to you the same day you contact us. Call (949) 850-6767 and speak with an experienced Irvine pedestrian accident lawyer today.