Clovis Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Pedestrian Accident Injury Attorney in Clovis, California

Clovis, California, like many California cities, is gorgeous and great for taking walks to enjoy the nice weather and scenery. However, pedestrians are particularly vulnerable when they’re near roads. Unlike cars, motorcycle riders, or cyclists, pedestrians have no protection or protective gear—this means that when they’re involved in an accident, there is no barrier to keep them safe. Unfortunately, this means that pedestrians are almost always likely to sustain catastrophic or fatal injuries. 

While drivers and others on the road are legally and morally responsible for behaving in a way that avoids injuring others, including pedestrians, sometimes people breach that duty, which can have dire consequences. At Setareh Law, we understand that being an injured pedestrian can be traumatizing and the accident’s aftermath even more stressful than the initial collision. Our personal injury lawyer has years of experience helping injured pedestrians obtain the compensation they deserve. We are determined to help pedestrians get the monetary compensation they need to try and move forward with their lives.

Common Reasons Pedestrian Accidents Occur

Most pedestrian accidents are avoidable because they occur when one or multiple parties are negligent. Negligence is a personal injury concept encompassing careless or reckless actions that cause injury or harm to others. Determining the negligent party and action is a significant element in building a personal injury claim. Common instances of negligence that causes pedestrian accidents are:

• Distracted driving
• Texting while driving
• Drunk driving
• Road rage
• Running a red-light 
• Rolling through a stop sign
• Reversing without looking
• Speeding in a school zone
• Bus or truck driving too close to a sidewalk 
• Jaywalking 
• Not yielding the right-of-way at an intersection
• Pedestrian distracted by cell phone
• Walking while intoxicated
• Disobeying traffic laws

Driver error is one of the main reasons that pedestrian accidents occur, even though they have a legal obligation to pay attention to the road and be aware of their surroundings. However, as much as drivers have to obey the law, so do pedestrians. A common misconception is that pedestrians always have the right of way, but this is not always the case. Pedestrians must obey traffic laws just as much as drivers to avoid causing an accident.

Common Pedestrian Accident Injuries 

When a motor vehicle strikes a pedestrian, that pedestrian can suffer severe injuries to their limbs, pelvis, torso, chest, or head. The vehicle often collides with the lower extremities first, and then the rest of the body suffers injuries in subsequent collisions with the vehicle, the road, or other objects. Some of the most common types of injuries suffered by pedestrians include:

• Broken bones
• Skull fractures
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Neck and back injuries
• Internal organ damage
• Lacerations and road rash
• Fatal injuries 

Most of these injuries can have life-long debilitating effects that require ongoing medical care and medical devices to support them for the rest of the victim’s life. These injuries can be so severe that they cross into the catastrophic injury threshold, which is its own type of personal injury case. 

What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident 

The most important thing to do is remain calm and level-headed after an accident. While you may be in severe pain, stressed, frustrated, or even angry at the individual who hit you, it’s in your best interest to remain composed. Remaining composed is the best way to ensure you do little to jeopardize your right to compensation and that you have the necessary initial evidence to support your claim. After an accident, to help protect your legal rights, you should:

• Call 911 to report the accident
• Don’t admit fault and don’t apologize in any way
• Stay put and try not to move until the paramedics arrive (moving without paramedic help my exacerbate or worsen an injury)
• Get the name, phone number, and insurance information of the individual who hit you
• Write down the names and numbers of any possible eyewitness
• Take photographs while at the scene (if possible)
• Get medical attention immediately
• Gather information about the accident (police report and medical records)
• Contact a pedestrian accident lawyer as soon as possible

The aftermath of an accident can be confusing and overwhelming, not just because of the physical pain, but because of the accumulating financial burden and the idea of having to pursue a personal injury claim. The process can be stressful and taxing. A lawyer can take over the complicated legal process while you concentrate on recovering and reclaiming your life. 

Damages in a Pedestrian Accident Claim

Damages is the legal term for the losses suffered by the injured pedestrian and the amount of monetary compensation they can recover with a claim. The damages eligible in a pedestrian accident claim depend on the extent of the injury and the type of losses suffered. At Setareh Law, we can help you create a comprehensive list of all your past and future damages to obtain maximum compensation. Possible damages you may be able to recover include:

• Hospital bills
• Ongoing medical treatments
• Mobility devices
• Other devices to help with disability
• Counseling
• Physical therapy
• Lost wages
• Lost earning capacity 
• Disability cost
• Loss of consortium
• Pain and suffering 
• Scarring or disfigurement 
• Wrongful death damages
• Punitive damages 

Before accepting an insurance settlement, it’s important to work with an attorney who can make sure you are only accepting an offer that meets the true value of your claim. Insurance companies look out for their own benefit, not yours, and they may try to offer settlements that are well below the amount you are entitled to and deserve. 

Contact a Clovis Pedestrian Accident Attorney Today 

As an injured pedestrian, you’ve likely suffered significant injury and other related losses. Don’t wait to speak with an attorney. Setareh Law knows that pedestrians suffer great losses in the event of an accident and are ready to go to trial if it means ensuring our clients get maximum compensation. 

Contact us today to schedule a consultation at (310) 659-1826 or fill out our contact form. We also speak Spanish.