Lake Forest Pedestrian Accident Attorney

Many pedestrian accidents result in life-changing injuries for victims and their families. A catastrophic injury is when a pedestrian suffers a long-term or permanent injury that negatively affects his or her quality of life. There are many types of catastrophic injuries a pedestrian may suffer. These types of injuries not only result in physical pain and mental anguish, but also significant financial burdens that can hurt the entire family. A skilled Lake Forest pedestrian accident lawyer can help hold the at-fault driver accountable for all of the victim's losses.

Lake Forest Pedestrian Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol's Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were no fatalities but 11 people injured as a result of Lake Forest pedestrian accidents. It is unclear as to how many of those injuries were catastrophic. Throughout Orange County, 41 people were killed and 864 were injured in pedestrian accidents during that same year.

Catastrophic Injuries in Pedestrian Accidents

A few of the most common types of catastrophic injuries suffered in pedestrian accidents include:

• Multiple bone fractures: When a car collides with a pedestrian, victims may suffer multiple bone fractures in their hips, legs, arms or torso. When multiple fractures occur at once, the victim will likely require surgery, hospitalization and physical therapy. A catastrophic bone fracture injury is when the victim never fully regains strength and mobility. Victims may struggle to return to work and some may suffer from a substantial loss of earning potential.
• Traumatic brain injuries: It is common for pedestrians to suffer devastating brain injuries in an accident. Victims may sustain brain trauma if their head strikes the roadway or the vehicle. Others may sustain such sudden and powerful trauma that their brain collides with the inside of their skull. In either case, the resulting symptoms can be permanent. Victims of catastrophic brain injuries will likely experience a substantial decrease in their physical and mental abilities. They may never return to their pre-accident state.
• Spinal cord injuries: Spinal cord injuries are often considered catastrophic because patients rarely improve. Many victims who have lost feeling or physical ability because of a spinal cord injury will struggle to regain feeling or strength in their legs or arms.
• Disfigurement: Some pedestrians suffer devastating injuries to their face and teeth that may result in permanent disfigurement. Even with surgery, the scars may never fully heal.
• Amputations: Pedestrian accidents can result in leg and arm injuries that necessitate amputation.

Seeking Compensation for Catastrophic Injuries

When someone suffers a catastrophic injury, they will have to deal with substantial medical bills in addition to missed wages and other related damages. Financial compensation may be available for all of the related losses if the accident occurred as a result of someone else's negligence.

First, it must be determined if the accident occurred at a crosswalk or intersection. Motorists must yield the right of way to pedestrians who are legally crossing the road at an intersection or in a marked crosswalk. Did the accident occur where there is no crosswalk? In such cases, it must be determined if the driver failed to exercise due care to avoid the collision. Under California law, drivers must exercise due care to avoid striking pedestrians. Was the driver unable to avoid the catastrophic injury accident because he or she was speeding, distracted, drunk or otherwise careless? Victims of negligent drivers can pursue compensation for their injuries even if they were not in a crosswalk at the time of the crash.

The experienced Lake Forest pedestrian accident lawyers at our law firm can help determine fault and liability for the crash. Catastrophically injured victims of pedestrian accidents can seek compensation to cover medical expenses, loss of wages, hospitalization, rehabilitation, long-term care, loss of livelihood and other damages. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a Lake Forest pedestrian accident, please contact us for a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation.