Pedestrian Accident Attorney in California

As leading personal injury attorneys in the Bay Area, we’ve helped countless accident victims find justice and secure the compensation they deserve to recover. Need help? The legal team at Delfino, Green & Green is here for you. Contact us online to schedule a free consultation.

There are countless good reasons to travel on foot—especially in the Bay Area. Walking offers an eco-friendly alternative to driving, an easy way to exercise and an opportunity to take in more of the city. Plus, it doesn’t require you to embark on the seemingly endless journey to find parking. 

When you review the benefits, it’s easy to understand why so many San Franciscans choose to walk. However, it’s important to note one major downside: Many serious pedestrian accidents occur in the Bay Area every year, some causing catastrophic injuries.

Luckily, injured pedestrians aren’t without recourse. By partnering with an experienced personal injury lawyer, they can pursue compensation for the full range of their losses.

If you were injured in a pedestrian accident caused by someone else, you’re likely still recovering. You may be feeling exhausted, overwhelmed and unsure of how to move forward. The pedestrian accident lawyers at Delfino, Green & Green can help you explore your legal options and start putting your life back together.

This article will explain everything you need to know about pedestrian accidents in California, including common causes, typical injuries and recoverable damages in pedestrian accident claims.

Common Causes Of Pedestrian Car Accidents

Pedestrian accidents are more common—and more deadly—than most people realize. According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), nearly 8,000 pedestrians were killed in motor vehicle crashes in the U.S. in 2021. Data also reveals that pedestrians accounted for one out of every six crash-related fatalities the same year.

Major Risk Factors of Pedestrian Car Accidents

Although there are many causes of pedestrian accidents, there are a few common culprits. Here are some of the major risk factors associated with pedestrian injuries: 

• Higher vehicle speeds increase the likelihood of a pedestrian accident occurring, as well as the severity of the pedestrian’s injuries.
• The majority of pedestrian deaths occur on high-capacity urban roads (typically with speed limits between 45 and 55 miles per hour).
• Crashes involving sports utility vehicles (SUVs) are associated with more bodily harm to pedestrians. 
• Alcohol consumption (whether by the driver or the pedestrian) greatly increases the risk of a pedestrian accident occurring.

Additionally, it’s important to note that some groups of people have a higher risk of pedestrian death than others. Research suggests that individuals over the age of 65, as well as American Indian, Alaska Native and Black persons. 

Other Contributing Factors

Data provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) also reveals a number of concerning trends regarding pedestrian car accidents. Here are some of its findings: 

• In 2018 there were 6,283 pedestrian fatalities and about 75,000 pedestrian injuries involving traffic accidents in the U.S.
• That same year, 81% of pedestrian fatalities occurred in urban areas. 
• Males accounted for 69% of pedestrian fatalities.
• About 76% of pedestrians killed were involved in collisions that occurred during dark.

If you’re an avid walker, it makes sense to read through the risk factors of pedestrian accidents, if only to say to yourself, “I’m safe—most of these categories don’t apply to me.” While that may be true, the reality is that pedestrian accidents can happen to anyone, anywhere. The best way to stay safe is by practicing responsible walking habits and to make an emergency plan ahead of time. 

Common Pedestrian Accident Injuries

As you can imagine, pedestrians fare much worse than car passengers when the two collide. With nothing to hold them in place, pedestrians involved in collisions may be thrown from their bikes, sent flying over the windshield or even be run over by the car that hit them. The specific injuries a pedestrian sustains will depend on numerous factors, including their speed, whether or not they were wearing a helmet, the car’s speed, the road conditions, other vehicles on the road and more. Here are some of the most common pedestrian accident injuries:

• Damage to the soft tissue. A variety of impacts can cause soft tissue damage, a category of injury that includes lacerations, sprains, strains, dislocations and tears. Although some soft tissue injuries heal almost entirely, others may never fully heal and cause long-term health problems.
• Broken bones. Pedestrians who are struck by motor vehicles are vulnerable to practically any type of bone fracture, but some of the most common involve their hands, wrists, arms, shoulders, legs and backs.
• Traumatic brain injuries.  A forceful blow to the head can cause a pedestrian to suffer a traumatic brain injury (TBI). These injuries range in severity from mild concussions to severe brain damage and can have life-altering repercussions for the people who sustain them.
• Spinal cord injuries. In some cases, pedestrians who are struck by motor vehicles suffer spinal cord injuries. These severe injuries can result in paralysis and death; even less serious spinal injuries may require extensive physical therapy and life-long care.

If you’ve suffered serious injuries in a pedestrian accident, it’s important to understand that your immediate medical care is unlikely to be all that you require. Recovery may require physical rehabilitation, on-going medical treatments and future surgeries. And paying for your medical treatment may be difficult (if not impossible) without compensation. 

Damages You Might Recover After a Pedestrian Car Accident

In the wake of a serious accident, it’s hard to think about anything but your physical injuries. However, your injuries are unlikely to be the only losses you suffer. You may need to pay for expensive on-going treatments and end up accruing thousands of dollars in accident-related medical debt. Your injuries may make returning to work impossible, especially if you suffer permanent disabilities. These scenarios could land you in a precarious financial situation that you’re unable to recover from. Luckily, you may be able to secure compensation for your economic and non-economic damages through a personal injury lawsuit. Your pedestrian accident lawyer can help you pursue a settlement that covers a wide range of losses, including the following:

• Lost wages, meaning the earnings you missed because of your injury
• Loss of earning capacity, in the event you’re unable to work (and earn) in the same way you were before the accident
• Medical expenses, including accident-related medical bills and the cost of treatments, therapies, medications, etc.
• Pain and suffering, including actual physical pain and emotional or mental anguish
• Property damage, in the event your personal property is damaged or destroyed in or as a result of the accident
• Other out-of-pocket expenses, such as the cost of hiring a driver or the cost of installing a handrail at your home

Both economic and non-economic damages fall under the category of compensatory damages, meaning that they’re meant to compensate the injury victim for their losses. Typically, personal injury settlements only include compensatory damages. However, in cases involving extreme negligence, disregard or malicious intent, the court may also award the injury victim with punitive damages as a way of punishing the defendant.