Pedestrian accidents can cause catastrophic injuries or even death, leaving you and your family to deal with physical, emotional, and financial challenges. These accidents are often caused by distracted drivers, speeding, failure to yield, or poor visibility. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a pedestrian accident, it’s important to hire an experienced Van Nuys personal injury lawyer. Our dedicated dedicated team is eager to hear from you.
What Damages Can You Recover After a Pedestrian Accident?
If you’ve been in a pedestrian accident, you may be entitled to compensation for different types of damages. Knowing what you can recover helps ensure that every part of your suffering is accounted for in your claim. Here are the main types of damages you can pursue:
Medical Expenses
Recovering from a pedestrian accident often comes with high medical costs. You can seek financial compensation for:
- Hospital stays
- Emergency room visits
- Surgeries
- Rehabilitation therapy
- Ongoing medical care
Make sure to keep all your medical records and bills as proof for your claim. Insurance companies will review this evidence carefully.
Loss of Wages
If your injuries stop you from working, you can recover lost wages, including:
- Paychecks you missed
- Bonuses or commissions you didn’t earn
- Future earnings if you can’t return to work fully
Having documentation like pay stubs or letters from your employer strengthens your case for lost income.
Pain and Suffering
Pedestrian accidents don’t just cause physical injuries. You can also seek damages for pain and suffering, including:
- Physical pain
- Emotional distress, like anxiety or depression
- Loss of enjoyment in your life
Because pain and suffering can be hard to measure, having an experienced attorney is key to presenting this part of your claim effectively.
Property Damage
If your personal belongings, like clothing or other items, were damaged in the accident, you can get compensation to repair or replace them. Be sure to document the damage and keep receipts.
Punitive Damages
In cases where the at-fault driver’s actions were very dangerous or reckless, like driving under the influence, you might be able to recover punitive damages. These are designed to punish the driver.
At the Law Offices of Adrianos Facchetti, our experienced lawyer knows how to make all the difference in getting the compensation you deserve.
Typical Pedestrian Accident Injuries
Pedestrian accidents can cause severe injuries to victimes, like:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries: Damage to the brain that can cause memory loss, trouble thinking, or even a coma.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: Injuries that may lead to partial or complete paralysis.
- Internal Organ Injuries: Damage to organs like the liver, kidneys, or lungs, which can be very dangerous.
- Broken Pelvis: A serious break in the hip area, often needing surgery to heal.
- Major Broken Bones: Bones in the arms, legs, or other parts of the body broken into multiple pieces.
- Limb Amputation: The loss of an arm, leg, finger, or toe because of the accident.
- Serious Face Injuries: Broken bones in the face, cuts, or damage to the eyes or jaw.
- Deep Cuts: Large, deep wounds that might need stitches or surgery to heal properly.
- Crush Injuries: When part of the body gets squeezed, causing damage to muscles or tissues.
If you were injured in in an accident as a pedestrian, it is important to get medical attention as soon as possible. You may hurt more than you think you are, so don't hesitate to get medical help.
Also, these injuries can require lots of medical treatment and the medical expenses can be significant. An experienced personal injury lawyer at the Law Offices of Adrianos Facchetti can help you get fair compensation so that your expenses are covered.
Common Types of Pedestrian and Vehicle Accidents
Pedestrian accidents are a serious problem in California. When a car, truck, or motorcycle hits a person walking, it can lead to severe injuries.
You Must Document the Scene
After a pedestrian accident, it's really important to document the scene. Taking photos, collecting witness information, and writing down what happened can help protect your legal rights.
Common Accident Locations
Most pedestrian accidents happen in crosswalks, intersections, and parking lots. As a pedestrian, you want to keep a lookout for drivers when you're in these areas.
Crosswalk Accidents
In California, drivers are required to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and intersections. Cal. Veh. Code Section 21950. This law is meant to keep people safe. However, many accidents happen when drivers do not follow this rule. Sometimes, drivers don’t see pedestrians, especially when making turns or when it is dark outside. Unmarked crosswalks can be even more dangerous because drivers may not be paying attention. .
Hit-and-Run Collisions
Hit-and-run accidents are very serious in Van Nuys. Under California law, if a driver hits a person or property, they must stop and provide their information. Cal. Veh. Code Section 16205. Not stopping can lead to serious penalties, such as jail time or fines. Our law firm
Distracted Driving Risks
Another big issue is distracted driving. Many drivers use their phones to text, call, or check social media while on the road. This distraction often means they do not see pedestrians in time to avoid an accident. If you're injured because of a distracted driver, it's important to gather evidence, like eyewitness accounts or traffic camera footage, to support your case.
Ways Our Van Nuys Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Can Help
There is a reason that most people--including other lawyers--hire a personal injury attorney after an accident. It's because they know that they can't do it alone. If you work with the Law Offices of Adrianos Facchetti, here is what we can do for you:
- We come to You: If you are too injured to meet in our office, we are happy to come to your home or to meet remotely. We want to make things as convenient for you.
- Get Help With Transportation: If your car was damaged, we will help get your car fixed at no charge to you.
- Access to Top Medical Care: If you don't have good insurance, or you don't have any insurance at all, we can provide you with the names of the best doctors in the area so that you can get better.
- Investigation and Evidence Gathering: We will get evidence from the accident scene, including police reports, witness statements, and traffic camera footage.
- File a Claim: We make a personal injury claim against the responsible party and handle the legal process from beginning to end.
- Proving Liability: We will figure out who was at fault in the pedestrian accident, whether it was the negligent driver, a government entity, or a construction company.
- Maximum Compensation: We will negotiate with the insurance adjusters, protecting from being manipulated. We will make sure that your settlement offer is fair and covers your damages.
- Filing Legal Documents and Deadlines: We will file your lawsuit and make sure all the legal processes are followed and the papers are accurate.
- Representing You in Court: If a fair settlement can't be reached, your case may go to trial. Our skilled attorneys will represent you. Our legal team is ready to go the distance for you.
FAQs
What if I am Partly At Fault For the Accident?
If you are involved in an accident and wonder if you can still get money for your injuries, even if you had a small part in causing it, you're not alone. In California, there is a rule called "comparative negligence." This rule means that you can still get money to help you cover your medical bills and other costs, even if you are partly at fault. Here’s how it works: if you are found to be 40% at fault in an accident, you can still get 60% of the total money that is awarded to you. So, if the total damages are $10,000, you could receive $6,000. It's a bit complicated, and this is why talking to a Van Nuys pedestrian accident lawyer is important. They can help you understand how this rule affects your case and make sure you get the money you deserve.
Can I Still Make a Claim If I was Jay-Walking?
Yes, most likely. The law has changed in California. Under Vehicle Code Section 21954, you can still make a claim even if you were not in a marked crosswalk, as long as you yield to all vehicles that are close enough to become an "immediate hazard." These issues can be complicated so you need a good lawyer to help you.
Speak to a Van Nuys Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Today
If you were hit by a car as a pedestrian, you may be entitled to substantial compensation. At the Law Offices of Adrianos Facchetti, we offer you a FREE, confidential consultation. And if we decide to work together, you don't pay unless we win. So there is no risk to you.
Our law firm has a track record of success in cases just like yours. Call us today at 626-793-8607 so we can get started on your case.
