Riverside Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Pedestrian Accident Attorney in Riverside, CA
If you’ve gotten into a pedestrian accident, it’s understandable if you’re feeling confused or worried about the next steps or consequences. Should you consider getting medical attention afterward? How do you calculate fault in your particular circumstances? Will you need to repeatedly talk about your case to your insurance company or legal representatives?
You don’t need to feel overwhelmed if you have a trustworthy and experienced Riverside pedestrian accident lawyer by your side. We know how comforting it might feel to have an outline of precisely what to do next as well as the necessity of getting the compensation you rightfully deserve following your accident.
How Is Fault Calculated After a Riverside Pedestrian Accident?
In California, including the city of Riverside, the fault is calculated based on pure comparative negligence in an accident. This means each party involved in your pedestrian accident may receive a certain percentage of the fault. Fault is typically calculated by legal representatives and insurance companies during settlement, but there are rare occasions where cases go to trial and fault is determined by the jury.
This generally requires some level of negotiation on each side of the dispute, however, since each side will naturally want less of the total fault. This is because the percentage of fault typically directly correlates to the portion of damages each party will need to pay.
For instance, if a pedestrian was jaywalking and got hit by a car, fault will be placed on both individuals. The percentage differs, however. If the person in the car should have seen the pedestrian across the street but was speeding or distracted, they would hold much more fault than if the driver was being careful and the pedestrian suddenly ran across the street.
What Should You Do After a Pedestrian Accident?
Following a pedestrian accident, there are a few key steps you might be remiss not to consider. These include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Get medical attention: If there’s any chance you got hurt during your accident, it’s essential to see a medical professional in order to treat existing injuries and prevent them from worsening over time. Despite the steep economic price point, your life matters more in the long run.
- Collect evidence: If you’re able to go back to the scene of the accident, it might be helpful to try and collect evidence. Additionally, collecting witness statements or footage from private businesses in the area may be useful.
- Avoid using social media: Especially if you would like to maximize the potential compensation you might receive for your damages, it may be best to stay off of social media. Anything you post may be used against you.
- Contact an accident lawyer: Lawyers are capable of increasing your potential damages and presenting your case well. It’s not recommended to attempt to represent yourself in a case.
Having a short list of tasks and goals may be helpful while you’re trying to deal with the aftermath of an accident.
How Can a Riverside Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Help You?
If you’re unsure if an injury lawyer may be able to help you sufficiently in your case, allow us to demonstrate how hiring one might be more convenient and valuable.
Next Best Steps
Depending on the specific details of your case, you may need to do more or less to prepare yourself for negotiations properly or to maximize the potential damages you’ll be able to collect. A lawyer familiar with your case may be able to give you a clear timeline and set of expectations for what you should do moving forward.
Collect and Analyze Evidence
Finding and interpreting evidence related to your case may be confusing and time-consuming, but your lawyer may be able to help you through the process. Especially if you’re unable to collect the evidence yourself, you might appreciate getting your own lawyer.
File Insurance Claims
Filing an insurance claim might feel overly complicated and drawn out, especially if you need to explain your perspective of the incident repeatedly. Your lawyer may be able to help you deal with insurance companies, taking much of the pressure off of your shoulders.
Strong Negotiation Skills
Lawyers may be best known for their adept negotiation skills, which are especially useful during the settlement process. Your lawyer will likely be in conversation with other legal representatives and insurance companies and might be able to maximize the potential damages you can collect.
Your lawyer is likely to be highly skilled and more knowledgeable of the law than the average layperson, which might be incredibly helpful during the course of your case’s legal process.
Negotiate Your Case With a Riverside Pedestrian Accident Lawyer From Setareh Law
We at Setareh Law are knowledgeable about the specifics of personal injury law, including those statutes surrounding pedestrian accidents in California. Our team is able to communicate in both English and Spanish, and we’re prepared to represent victims with cases of varying levels of complexity. We’re led by the compassionate and personable Daniel Setareh, who founded Setareh Law to bring victims the compensation they deserve.
If you’re interested in receiving our assistance and reducing the stress you experience surrounding your case, we’re available to talk 24/7. If you’d like to schedule a free consultation, fill out our contact form or call us at (310) 659-1826.