Newport Beach Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
If you have been seriously injured in a Newport Beach pedestrian accident, the local personal injury lawyers of Bisnar Chase can help you secure maximum compensation for your injuries, damages, and losses. Our successful track record – combined with our experience in successfully handling pedestrian accident cases in Newport Beach and across Southern California – puts us in a unique position to produce the best possible outcome in your case.
We also offer a 'No Win, No Fee' guarantee, ensuring that our clients do not have to pay any up-front or out-of-pocket costs unless we win their case and recover compensation for them. This means that you won't pay a dime unless we are successful.
To schedule your free, no-obligation consultation and case evaluation, call the Newport Beach pedestrian accident lawyers of Bisnar Chase at (949) 203-3814.
Have You Been Injured in a Pedestrian Accident?
Being out and about is integral to life in this coastal town. Both residents and visitors to Newport Beach come out here to enjoy sun-kissed beaches, boating along the bay, two spectacular piers and walking or jogging on the Strand.
In a beach community that is busy year-round, being a pedestrian can also prove dangerous. Newport Beach sees its share of pedestrian accident injuries, and unfortunately, fatalities. From 2009 to 2014, Newport Beach had 186 pedestrian accidents, as shown in our Orange County car accident statistics report.
If you have been injured in a pedestrian accident, these are the steps you should take to ensure your safety and to make sure your legal rights are protected:
- Police report: File a police report and obtain a copy for your own records. A police report helps pin down the time, date and circumstances of the collision. In some cases, the responding or investigating officer might make a note of who appeared to be at fault. For example, the officer might mention in the report that the motorist had failed to yield to the pedestrian who was in a crosswalk. Such reports could be extremely valuable during the claims process.
- Medical attention: Seek and obtain medical attention. Pedestrians often face the danger of suffering internal injuries such as internal bleeding, which may not be apparent right away. Do not decline medical attention at the scene. If you have been injured, get the treatment and care you need, and make sure you follow the doctor's orders and recommendations.
- Preserving evidence: Try to get as much evidence from the scene as possible including photos, eyewitness accounts and information from other parties involved, such as the vehicle license plate number, driver's license, contacts, and insurance details. Be sure to preserve any type of evidence such as torn or bloody clothing.
- Protecting your rights: Contact an experienced pedestrian accident attorney in Newport Beach who will work every step of the way to ensure that your rights and best interests are protected.
The Most Common Types of Pedestrian Accidents
The most common types of pedestrian accidents involve collisions between people and vehicles. Pedestrians and drivers both have a duty to act responsibly on the roads, but accidents still happen – for a wide range of reasons. These include:
- Distracted Driving – When drivers are texting, eating, or otherwise distracted, they are less likely to see and stop for pedestrians.
- Reversing – Vehicles pose a danger to pedestrians when they are backing up, as visibility can often be a problem for the driver.
- Drunk Driving – When a person is driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, their vision and reflexes are affected, making a crash more likely.
- Intersection and Crossing Accidents – A pedestrian could be hit by a car while dashing across the street as the light changes. People can also be hit reckless drivers trying to make a green light.
- Dart-Outs – In some cases, a pedestrian might walk out in front of a motor vehicle, either misjudging its speed or expecting it to stop. In some cases, a person may step in front of a stopped car as it starts moving again.
- Right Turns – Cars turning right at a traffic light or stop sign may expect the turn to be clear, without realizing a pedestrian is about to cross.
- Left Turns – When cars make left turns, they are turning across traffic. Making sure the road is clear of oncoming cars can distract them from checking whether a pedestrian is crossing the street.
Pedestrian Accident Injuries
A car or trucking accident involving a pedestrian can cause major injuries. They can even result in wrongful death. The most common injury types include:
- Broken bones.
- Severe trauma and soft tissue injuries.
- Head injuries.
- Spinal cord injuries.
- Amputation.
- Emotional trauma.
- Death.
In most pedestrian accidents, the bumper or hood of the vehicle will typically hit the pedestrian's legs and hips. This means that broken bones in those areas are quite common in pedestrian accidents. Depending on the speed at which the striking vehicle is traveling, the pedestrian can be thrown from the point of impact. Head injuries and internal organ damage are common in such cases.
Often in the case of fractures, there are also injuries to blood vessels and tissues. These types of injuries can lead to limb amputations. Some individuals suffer permanent injuries or disabilities because of severe brain injuries or spinal cord trauma. Others lose their livelihoods. Pedestrian accident injuries could also prove fatal.
Some of these injuries can leave victims with facing severe and life-long effects.
How Long Will a Pedestrian Accident Lawsuit Take?
How long it takes to get a pedestrian accident case resolved in Newport Beach will depend on the facts of the case. People with less severe injuries will often get the medical treatment and care they need and go on to make a quick recovery.
Such cases can be completed within a few months. This time frame allows for the treatment of injuries and negotiations with insurance firms.
If you have suffered severe or catastrophic injuries, your case could take longer. If the insurance company does not offer you a fair settlement, it may become necessary to take the case to a trial. This could add more time to your case. When an insurance company is playing hardball, as they often do, it is important to pursue all options to get the justice and compensation you deserve.
The Worth of Your Pedestrian Accident Case
The worth or value of a pedestrian accident case often depends on the nature and extent of the victim's injuries, as well as the losses he or she has incurred as a result of the injuries – both economic and non-economic. Here are some of the elements that go into determining what your case will be worth:
- Medical expenses – current and future costs.
- Time away from work.
- Loss of future earning potential or livelihood.
- Cost of rehab treatments such as physical therapy.
- Pain and suffering.
- Mental anguish.
Other factors that could affect the value of your claim include the facts of your case, fault, liability and prior medical history. An experienced Newport Beach pedestrian accident attorney can not only help you assess your losses such as incurred costs and lost wages, but also non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, which can be more challenging to determine.
Contacting an Experienced Accident Lawyer in Newport Beach
If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian crash, it would be in your best interests to contact an experienced Newport Beach pedestrian accident attorney.
Bisnar Chase has called Newport Beach home for 40 years. Over that time, our firm has developed a successful track record of dealing with insurance companies and helping injured victims and their families recover maximum compensation. Our firm has a 96% success rate, collecting more than $500 million for our clients.
As experienced Newport Beach pedestrian accident lawyers, we pride ourselves on offering superior representation to clients. Bisnar Chase also offers a 'No Win, No Fee' guarantee, as well as free consultation services, to make sure our skills are open to everyone who needs them.
Call us on (949) 203-3814, visit our Newport Beach law offices, or click here to contact us now.