Sacramento Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Providing Legal Services to Help Victims Recover Damages

If you were struck by a car or bus while you were walking or jogging around the city, you’re likely suffering from serious injuries while you watch expensive medical treatment bills pile up. If you feel like you shouldn’t have to pay for these expenses out of your own pocket when the accident was not your fault, we agree. That’s why we encourage you to come to talk to our compassionate pedestrian accident lawyer in Sacramento to find out what your legal rights are as an accident victim.

When you come to our law offices for legal advice, you can count on our team to look closely at the facts of your case. Once we have a full understanding of what happened and who is liable, we will add up the losses you have suffered and bring a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance company. If you’re ready to learn more about how we can help with your pedestrian accident case, contact our law firm for a free case evaluation today.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents?

Any time you are walking or running in the vicinity of vehicles on the road, there is a chance you will become the victim of a tragic pedestrian accident. In most cases, motorists simply do not see people who may be walking along a sidewalk or crossing a parking lot, especially at night time in poorly lit areas. Of course, sometimes accidents occur due to sheer driver negligence, such as when it’s broad daylight and a distracted motorist hits a pedestrian who has the right of way in a crosswalk. Either way, it’s always the pedestrian who has to deal with the worst consequences, including severe or fatal injuries.

When you bring your case to our law firm, our pedestrian accident lawyer will look at the evidence to discover what led to the crash. In most cases, one of the following turns out to be the cause of the accident:

Drunk driving
Distracted driving
Speeding, especially in school zones
Reckless driving
Making an illegal U-turn
Failing to stop completely at a stop sign
Running a red light
Not stopping at a crosswalk
Neglecting to give the right of way to pedestrians
Driving with poor visibility due to inclement weather or bad lighting
Pedestrians darting into traffic

While pedestrian accidents are often the fault of the driver, sometimes it turns out that the pedestrian partially contributed to the crash, such as by jaywalking. In this case, you may still be able to get compensation from the driver’s insurance company, but it will be reduced by the amount of fault you have for the wreck. For instance, if you’re found to be 30 percent at fault, your compensation may be reduced by 30 percent. Your lawyer will let you know what to expect from your case, depending on who and what caused your pedestrian car accident. If you’re eager to find out what your legal options are after a crash, contact our law firm today.

What Injuries Do Pedestrian Accident Victims Often Sustain?

When a car hits a person on the road, it’s almost impossible for that person to leave the crash scene without serious injuries. At the very least, you will likely end up with some bruises, cuts, or broken bones. But most pedestrian accident victims suffer much more serious injuries, some of which are permanent or fatal. These often include:

Fractured pelvis or legs
Joint dislocations
Sprains
Concussions
Spinal cord injuries
Traumatic brain injuries
Amputation
Organ damage
Crush injuries
Wrongful death

In short, you likely needed medical treatment after you were struck by a car. This is common for pedestrian accidents, and it’s exactly why seeking compensation for medical expenses is recommended. You should not have to pay for your ambulance ride, hospital bills, and other costs on your own. Instead, reach out to our law firm in Sacramento to get help recovering the financial compensation you deserve after a devastating crash.

What Damages Will Your Pedestrian Accident Claim Include?

Many injured pedestrians are unable to walk after a wreck, let alone go back to work and their daily routine. Simply put, this type of accident can have a major impact on your life, which is why you’re entitled to compensation. You at least deserve to be reimbursed for your expenses due to the crash, such as medical bills and lost wages. In addition, you should seek money to make up for the emotional trauma of the incident. After all, you’re probably going to spend months recovering physically and emotionally, and that’s time you will never be able to get back. As a result, your pedestrian accident lawyer will most likely work to get you a variety of economic and non-economic damages for your claim.

Medical Costs

Most pedestrians will need emergency medical care immediately after the collision, and this can cost a lot of money. This is why it’s helpful to include the costs of medical care in your pedestrian accident lawsuit. When you request damages for medical treatment, you can expect to collect compensation for any bills you’re facing from the emergency room, doctor’s office, pharmacy, or physical therapy office. If your injuries will require you to get medical treatment for life, such as medication to manage your pain, your claim will request compensation for this expense, as well.

Lost Income

If your injuries were any more severe than scrapes and bruises, you will probably have to take some time off work to heal. Broken bones and major wounds can require you to avoid regular activity for weeks, while organ damage and head injuries may keep you out of work for months. In some cases, you might not be able to work again at all. This is why your claim should request money for lost wages during your recovery period, as well as the loss of earning capacity if you can’t work in the future. Your pedestrian accident lawyer in Sacramento will calculate the total to ensure you get the compensation you need to pay your bills after a crash.

Property Damage

When you’re struck by a car or bus, anything you’re wearing or carrying will typically be destroyed. You shouldn’t have to pay out of pocket to replace it. Instead, let your personal injury lawyer know the value of your damaged property so you can get the money you need to make repairs or buy a new item. Examples of property that may be damaged in a pedestrian accident include smartphones, clothing, shoes, jewelry, watches, or other accessories. If you were carrying a laptop, tablet, or work equipment that was destroyed in the crash, tell your lawyer so you can get compensated for it.

Non-Economic Damages

Once your lawyer has calculated your actual financial losses, it’s time to consider non-economic damages. These can help you collect monetary awards for losses that are hard to put a price on. For example, if the crash caused you emotional distress and mental anguish, your lawyer will request that you get compensated for these losses. If you felt pain and suffering or loss of enjoyment of life due to the collision, you can request compensation for these non-economic losses, too.

What If You Lost a Loved One in a Pedestrian Accident?

If your family member was killed in a fatal pedestrian accident in Sacramento, you can file a wrongful death lawsuit on their behalf. In general, you must be the surviving spouse, domestic partner, child, grandchild, or parent of the victim to file a wrongful death claim in California. However, there are some exceptions that would allow other relatives or unrelated loved ones to file, so we encourage you to schedule a meeting with us if you’re unsure if you have a case.

The main reason to file a wrongful death claim is to ensure you’re not left struggling to pay the bills after a family member was wrongfully killed due to someone else’s negligence. You deserve time to grieve your loss, not worry about working overtime just to stay afloat financially. For this reason, you can ask for these damages in a wrongful death claim:

Funeral and burial costs
Medical bills
Lost income
Pain and suffering
Loss of guidance
Loss of companionship

The damages you can get from this type of lawsuit depend on your actual expenses, such as the victim’s unpaid hospital bills, as well as your relationship with the victim. For instance, if you lost your spouse to a fatal pedestrian accident, you can pursue compensation to make up for the loss of their income and the loss of companionship. If you lost a parent in this type of wreck, you can seek damages for loss of guidance and protection. Once you meet with our pedestrian accident lawyer in Sacramento, you will find out what kinds of damages to seek in your case.

How Will a Sacramento Pedestrian Accident Law Firm Help You?

It’s common for pedestrian accident victims to feel emotionally drained and physically uncomfortable or even in pain for months after the crash. Whether you suffered broken bones, contusions, a concussion, or other severe injuries, you will need time to rest and recover. This is why it’s not recommended that you reach out to the at-fault party’s insurance company to pursue a claim on your own. Leave this task to a trusted Sacramento pedestrian accident lawyer.

When you hire The Weinberger Law Firm, you will begin working with a caring, experienced lawyer who will show you the compassion you deserve while preparing your claim. We know what kind of evidence the insurance company will expect to see before paying a claim, and we can quickly identify any unfair settlement offers that we will advise you to reject. Our legal team will gather photos, videos, witness statements, toxicology reports, and more to prove liability and pursue the full and fair compensation you’re entitled to.

If you’re ready to explore your legal options after a pedestrian accident left you injured or grieving a loved one, we encourage you to contact our law firm. We will examine the details of your case and gather any additional information we need to help you recover damages as you heal from your injuries. We want you to rest assured that you are in good hands, from the free initial consultation all the way up to the day you receive your settlement from insurance. If you are interested in learning more about how we can help, call us at 916-520-0476.