Injured? You Deserve Compensation
Walking across the street is a common thing that many of us do each day without thinking much about it. While it is always important to look both ways before crossing a busy road, we seldom think about the many dangers that are linked to pedestrians. In reality, thousands of pedestrians are severely injured or killed in pedestrian accidents each year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has stated that nearly 75,000 individuals were involved in pedestrian accidents in 2010. That means one person was injured or killed in the United States every 7 minutes while doing this normal, everyday activity.
The Facts about Pedestrian Accidents
The NHTSA has reported that thirty percent of all pedestrian fatalities that occur each year happen between the hours of 8:00PM and 11:59PM. Almost half of all fatalities involving pedestrians happened on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It was reported that in at least 47% of all pedestrian accidents involved at least one person, either the driver or the pedestrian, who was under the influence of alcohol. And nearly 23% of all people injured were under the age of 15.
What Can You Do If You Have Been Involved in a Pedestrian Accident?
The first thing you should do when involved in a pedestrian accident is to stop where you are and do not leave the premises. Failure to stop could constitute in a hit and run. It is important to make sure that everyone is okay, including yourself. And if anyone is in need of medical attention, someone should call 911 immediately following the accident. Get the name and contact information for all witnesses and take pictures of your accident site for proof. Most importantly, do not admit liability to anyone or speak with any insurance company or lawyer representing the other person before speaking with your own attorney first.
If you have recently been involved in this type of accident, you should get in contact with a Rancho Cucamonga Pedestrian Accident Lawyer. These legal experts will be able to help you get the money that you deserve that will pay for your medical or personal expenses.
What are the most common Injuries and Damages Associated with Pedestrian Accidents?
Pedestrian accidents can be very different from typical car crashes, and the injuries can often be very devastating. Some of the most common accidents and injures include fractures, head injuries, spinal cord injuries, paralysis, paraplegia and quadriplegia, amputations, disfigurement, and death.
Rancho Cucamonga Pedestrian Accident Lawyers can help you get the assistance that you need when you have been injured in a pedestrian accident. By hiring a highly qualified attorney who has experience dealing with this specific type of law, you will increase your chances of getting the results that you deserve.
Every day, thousands of innocent pedestrians in Rancho Cucamonga cross streets for a number of reasons. California traffic laws define that drivers have the responsibility to yield the right away to pedestrians in most situations.
However, some drivers ignore all traffic rules that apply to sharing the road with a pedestrian. Such carelessness can leave unsuspecting people in critical conditions for a long term.
Investigating the Driver
Forensic analysis can prove if a driver has violated any traffic laws when striking a pedestrian. For example, tire skid marks on a rod can reveal the approximate speed at which a vehicle was driving before hitting a pedestrian and coming to a stop. Sometimes, Rancho Cucamonga pedestrian accident lawyers will also seek any other relevant evidence such as witness accounts or surveillance cameras from nearby businesses and buildings. Additionally, a driver’s state of being during a pedestrian accident is also important. A DUI or DWI result automatically places the driver of being guilty of hitting a pedestrian.
Legal Representation for Pedestrian Victims
A pedestrian that has been struck by a vehicle can face major obstacles in receiving a proper compensation for injuries sustained during such an accident. An insured driver should have insurance policies that cover expenses for only up to a certain amount. For instance, bodily injury insurance coverage can provide only a small fraction of compensation for total costs of treating serious physical injuries and extended hospital stays. Rancho Cucamonga pedestrian accident lawyers can directly deal with insurance companies and request more than the minimum amount of compensation to be paid out. In fact, a driver may also be liable for out of pocket expenses for covering a pedestrian’s long term medical bills and loss of employment.
Checking Mechanical Failure Issues
Rancho Cucamonga pedestrian accident lawyers can check the inspection records of a car that’s been involved in a pedestrian collision. Driving without an updated state inspection automatically places the driver guilty of striking the pedestrian due to neglect. For example, worn out brakes and poor headlights are some reasons that can be proven as safety violations and neglect for a car involved in an accident with a pedestrian. Lawyers in Rancho Cucamonga can also obtain copies of the driving record of a driver charged in a pedestrian accident. The department of motor vehicles in California can easily share such records with lawyers, the police and any other relevant parties involved in a pedestrian accident.
Pedestrians in Rancho Cucamonga that have been hit by a car have up to six months to file a claim against the involved driver within the state of California. Rancho Cucamonga pedestrian accident lawyers can help innocent victims of car strikes to receive maximum compensation under the court of law in California.
