Pedestrian Accidents

From parking lots and driveways to crosswalks and local roads, accidents involving vehicles and pedestrians can occur in a variety of settings.

Because of this huge weight difference between a vehicle and a pedestrian, combined with the lack of protection that pedestrians have from impact, the injuries from pedestrian accidents can often be devastating.

In lucky situations, pedestrians may walk away from an accident with minor cuts and bruises.  In severe accidents, however, impacts between cars or motorcycles and pedestrians can result in serious, lifelong injuries or death.

As a leading pedestrian accident lawyer’s office, we’ve represented a diverse range of people injured in pedestrian accidents.

As such, our team has an expert understanding of the responsibilities of pedestrian accidents and the factors that can determine most settlements.

In this post, we’ll look at both aspects of pedestrian accident cases — the way most settlements are calculated, as well as the party that’s ultimately held responsible for paying compensation to the victim.

How Pedestrian Settlements Are Determined 

Most of the time, settlements in pedestrian accident cases (in addition to many other accident types, such as a motor vehicle or bicycle accidents) are reached by considering several different factors.

The first factor is the cost of medical care and treatment. Pedestrian accidents often result in significant injuries — injuries that can require extensive, ongoing medical care.

The cost of this care is typically factored into a settlement or compensation in a pedestrian accident case. The second factor that’s considered in reaching a pedestrian accident settlement is the extent of the injuries sustained by the pedestrian.

The more seriously someone is injured, the greater the damages are likely to be, compared to an accident that only produces minor injuries.

In determining the severity of injuries, medical experts will generally look at factors such as the permanence of (for example, whether or not the injuries have a lifelong effect) and the specific type of injuries that are sustained in the accident.

The third factor that goes into reaching a pedestrian accident settlement is the long-term effect of the accident on the victim’s life. Injuries sustained in a serious accident can prevent someone from working or enjoying life to the fullest — a variable that can influence the total settlement.

Finally, liability is considered when reaching a settlement. Settlements tend to be higher when the defendant is completely liable for the accident. While settlements are usually lower in cases where persons are considered jointly liable for the accident.

All four of these factors play a role in determining the total amount you can expect to receive in a personal injury settlement.  Because every case is unique, it’s impossible to say which factor will have the biggest impact — most of the time, all four factors contribute to the final outcome.

Who Pays the Settlement in a Pedestrian Accident?

In the vast majority of pedestrian accidents, the defendant’s automotive insurance provider will provide the settlement. Collecting a settlement from an insurance company is an involved, complex process that often requires negotiation.

As a personal injury law office, we work attentively and aggressively in this stage of the process to ensure you receive the full settlement to which you’re entitled. If the pedestrian accident involved a commercial vehicle, the settlement is typically paid either by the responsible company or by the company’s insurance provider.

However, in some cases, the motorist responsible for the accident may not have any insurance coverage and thus won’t have an insurance company to accept responsibility for the settlement.

In this case, things can become more challenging. If the motorist that caused the accident does not have sufficient funds to pay the settlement, it can become quite stressful. Collecting the amount of money to which you’re entitled under the law can lead to an arduous, often ineffective litigation process.

However, if your auto insurance policy includes an uninsured motorist clause, your insurance provider may pay out either the entire sum owed to you or the difference between the amount payable by the uninsured driver responsible for your injuries.

Pedestrian Accident Statistics

As we all know it is dangerous to drive a car or motorcycle, but it’s also very dangerous to just walk around being streets and intersections. Stats show from 2018 that pedestrian accidents happen all too often.

On average a pedestrian was killed every 1.5 hours in traffic crashes and obviously, this number is very alarming.

Tips for Pedestrian Safety

Of course, you can’t ever guarantee that you won’t be the victim of a pedestrian accident, but there are steps you can take the lower the odds.

1. Be visible
2. Stay alert
3. Follow the laws
4. Walk in safe places

Pedestrian Right of Way Rules

Whether you are the person driving the motor vehicle, or if you are the actual pedestrian walking around town, you need to understand the rules of the road.

The most important thing a pedestrian can do is to never assume other drivers will give you the right of way. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, and if an automobile breaks the law and causes an accident involving pedestrians, the pedestrian is the person who will ultimately suffer.

If You Have Been Injured in a Pedestrian Accident

Pedestrian accidents can be devastating experiences, both from a physical and psychological perspective.  Often, the injuries from a pedestrian accident are lifelong, restricting your ability to work and enjoy a high quality of life.

Our Costa Mesa pedestrian accident attorney’s office specializes in helping people affected by pedestrian accidents seek justice.  If you’ve been injured in an accident, we can provide expert advice, assistance, and representation to ensure you receive a fair settlement.

Because every case is different, the best approach is to contact our team to learn more about your legal options. To begin the process, schedule a free consultation with our office today.