Los Angeles Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Growing up as a child, you're taught to look both ways before crossing a street and sometimes that is not enough to keep you safe, but the experienced Los Angeles Pedestrian Accident Lawyers at our firm have a long and successful track record of helping injured victims and their families obtain fair compensation for their losses. Insurance companies may not have your best interest.

Please contact our Pedestrian Accident Attorneys today for a Free Case Evaluation and comprehensive consultation if you've been hurt in a pedestrian accident or have lost a loved one from a wrongful death in the Los Angeles area. The call and consultation are Free and your compensation may be waiting. For immediate assistance call 323-238-4683.

Dangerous Drivers in Los Angeles County

Driver negligence is one of the most common causes of pedestrian accidents in Los Angeles. Examples of driver negligence that can result in Los Angeles pedestrian accidents to occur include:

• Excessive speed: Drivers who are traveling too fast will not be able to avoid a collision with a pedestrian or stop in time for a red light.

• Driving drunk: Motorists who are under the influence of alcohol may have impaired reaction times. This means that they may struggle to react in time to avoid striking a pedestrian.
  • Drunk driving is clearly a problem because in recent years, 79 fatalities and 1,989 injuries occurred as the result of drunk driving collisions in the city of Los Angeles. Many of those victims were pedestrians.
• Driving distracted: Motorists who have their hands or eyes on a phone may not even notice a pedestrian on the roadway until it is too late.

Dangerous drivers are not the only reason why walking in Los Angeles is dangerous. Los Angeles is a large city that has many areas that are poorly designed and maintained. Potentially dangerous intersections may have:

• Inadequate line of sight for speed limit postings and stop signs.

• Faded stop, yield and crosswalk signs. It is the responsibility of the government to ensure that roadways and signs are properly maintained.

• Poorly coordinated traffic signals. Some intersections are confusing for pedestrians and many simply do not allow enough time for pedestrians to safely cross.
• Traffic signals in disrepair.
• Poor design. Is the intersection inherently dangerous because of where it's located?

• Lack of crosswalks.

• Dangerous crosswalks that are hazardous due to their location or because they lack lights or visible signs to warn motorists.

Personal injury attorneys are seeing more pedestrian accidents cases said John Bisnar.. "There are a lot of transportation options in Los Angeles and that included many pedestrians on bicycles and walking. The more congested the city becomes with commuters, the more injuries we see to those walking and dealing with aggressive drivers."

Is It Safe to Ride Bicycles in Los Angeles?

Bicycle accidents and scooter collisions are more prevalent in Los Angeles than anywhere else in the country. Many bicycle riders and pedestrians are cautious of vehicle traffic and reckless speeding drivers, but don't always have the opportunity to see danger coming.

Bicycle riders and joggers who share the road with automobiles and motorcycles have a larger chance of getting struck, rundown, seriously injured or killed than the majority of pedestrians who walk sidewalks and public pathways that are in close proximity to roadways.

If you have been hit by a car while riding a bicycle, contact our Los Angeles pedestrian accident attorneys at 323-238-4683. To learn more about how to avoid hit and runs, click here.

Ways Pedestrians Can Get Hit in Los Angeles

Besides a vehicle running someone down in a crosswalk or by hopping a sidewalk, there are many other ways pedestrians can get hit:

• Walking behind a car when it is backing up: When you see bright white lights on the back of a vehicle, this means the vehicle is currently in reverse and most likely about to start reversing. Avoid walking behind a car with reverse lights on.
• Not using a crosswalk: Use a crosswalk appropriately when attempting to cross a roadway. Vehicles are not expecting pedestrians to cross in the middle of the road. Also, try not to run through a crosswalk to beat the oncoming traffic. You risk getting run down, could fall and hurt yourself or could cause a car accident due to approaching vehicles having to suddenly stop.

• Eye Contact: Cars yielding to moving traffic on a right turn: when a car is pulled out on a right corner, the driver is most likely waiting for a break in the oncoming traffic so they can proceed with their right turn.
  • Their attention is most likely focused to the left side of the car watching the vehicles coming towards them and are most likely not expecting to see a pedestrian walking in front of their car when they look forward to proceed with their right turn.
    • Wait to make eye contact with the driver so you are confident in their awareness of your location in front of their car.

Pedestrians Can Cause Car Accidents

Vehicles have dangers of their own and don't need any hindrance: a thing that provides resistance, delay, or obstruction to something or someone. When you see a vehicle or motorcycle approaching, wait for them to pass, make the turn or whatever maneuver they are preparing for. If you bolt out in front of a vehicle approaching, not only do you risk getting hit, but you risk putting them in danger as well.

If a pedestrian runs out when a vehicle is approaching and they must suddenly brake for the pedestrian, they could be rear ended, cause a traffic jam which could result in multiple vehicle related accidents, and could potentially cause severe property damage, serious injury or catastrophic results.

If you have been involved in a car accident in result of a pedestrian, call and speak with one of our Los Angeles pedestrian accident attorneys for a free consultation.

Los Angeles Pedestrian Accident Dangers

A recent magazine report listed Los Angeles as third among the most dangerous cities in the world for pedestrians. According to the report, for every 100,000 pedestrians in Los Angeles, there are 7.64 fatalities suffered in pedestrian accidents.

Why is Los Angeles ranked only below Atlanta and Detroit? While there are a number of roadways in Los Angeles that can be conducive for pedestrians, dangerous drivers and hazardous roadways and intersections can make walking risky in this city.

Under California laws, drivers are required to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians in crosswalks. Drivers are also required to exercise due care when it comes to pedestrians. Here are some of the laws relating to drivers and pedestrians:

• At crosswalks: Under California Vehicle Code 21950, drivers must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians legally crossing the roadway "within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection."

• Outside of crosswalks: Under California Vehicle Code 21954, pedestrians attempting to cross the road outside a crosswalk and away from an intersection "shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway." This vehicle code does not, however, excuse drivers from failing to exercise due care when it comes to avoiding striking pedestrians.

Los Angeles Pedestrian Safety Tips

Even pedestrians who are obeying the law can be involved in an accident if a driver is behaving negligently. Here are a few tips to help you avoid being injured in a Los Angeles pedestrian accident:

• Walk sober: Walking while intoxicated can be as dangerous as driving under the influence. According to The Governors Highway Safety Council, one third of pedestrians killed nationwide have blood alcohol levels of .08 percent or higher.

• Wear bright clothing: When walking late at night, it is important to wear bright clothing and to carry a flashlight.

• Walk toward traffic: If there is no sidewalk, you should walk to the far left side of the road facing traffic.

• Stay attentive: It is easy to forget that drivers can pull out of driveways at any moment. Keep your phone in your pocket and your eyes on your surroundings.

• Never enter traffic from between cars: Motorists will have a difficult time seeing you if you are standing between parked vehicles or if you walk into the roadway from between parked cars.

• Never dart into traffic: This is extremely dangerous and could result in serious pedestrian injuries.

Injuries Suffered in Los Angeles Pedestrian Accidents

Victims of pedestrian accidents typically have to miss work while healing. In some cases, they are never able to return to work or at least to earn what they were once capable of earning. Losses may also include medical bills such as hospitalization, the cost of rehabilitation services, prescription drugs, medical expenses relating to devices, lost wages, pain and suffering and emotional distress.

Fortunately, compensation may be available for all of these losses if the at-fault driver's negligence contributed to the crash.

Getting Fair Compensation for Your Losses

If you have been injured in a pedestrian accident, you could seek compensation for damages from the at-fault parties such as negligent drivers or governmental agencies that allow dangerous conditions to exist on the roadway.

Any personal injury claim against governmental entities must be filed within 180 days of the incident. Your insurance policy may not cover you fully for damages. Contact a top rated personal injury lawyer to preserve your rights.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident, please call and ask to speak with one of our highly skilled and experienced Los Angeles pedestrian accident lawyers for free at 323-238-4683.