Among the many forms of transportation San Diego residents have to choose from, walking remains one of the healthiest and most sustainable options. Sadly, there is still much to be done to make the streets of San Diego safe for pedestrians, as serious pedestrian accidents and fatalities continue to be a major problem in San Diego and throughout Southern California. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), California falls in the top four states for pedestrian fatalities. If you or a loved one has suffered serious injuries in a pedestrian accident in San Diego, you may qualify for financial compensation, which you can pursue by filing a personal injury claim against the person or party found at fault in the accident. Contact DAG Law Firm today to speak to a qualified San Diego pedestrian accident attorney about the possibility of seeking financial compensation for your losses.
Affordable San Diego Pedestrian Accident Attorney
While the number of traffic-related deaths in San Diego decreased from 2016 to 2017, the number of pedestrian fatalities that year still surpassed the number of homicides in the city, with 17 pedestrians killed in accidents with motor vehicles and hundreds more injured. In the first two months of 2018, a whopping nine people were killed by motorists while walking the streets of San Diego, and that number is only a fraction of the total pedestrian fatalities for the year. Most people understand that this is an issue that must be addressed. What many people don’t realize is that victims of pedestrian accidents have the same rights as car accident victims and may be entitled to compensation if they are struck by a motor vehicle while on foot. When pursuing damages for pedestrian accident injuries, it’s important to have an attorney on your side who has experience handling personal injury claims in San Diego. Our lawyers at DAG Law Firm are committed to protecting the rights of pedestrian accident victims and their families and will work tirelessly to help you recover the compensation you deserve.
Injuries Resulting from a Pedestrian Accident
In an accident involving a pedestrian and motor vehicle, the consequences are usually devastating for the pedestrian, who stands little chance against a vehicle that weighs in at two tons or more. When it comes down to it, pedestrians are the vulnerable party in traffic situations, regardless of the specific circumstances, and motorists are expected to exercise due care in yielding to pedestrians walking on the side of the road or crossing the road, whether they are at a marked crosswalk or not. Unfortunately, this is often not the case, and the pedestrians are typically the ones who suffer the consequences of this fact, not the motorists who hit them. Some common injuries resulting from a pedestrian accident include:
- Broken bones
- Traumatic brain injury
- Head injury
- Neck injury
- Back injury
- Paralysis
- Fractures
- Spinal cord injury
- Lacerations
- Wrongful death
Possible Causes of San Diego Pedestrian Accidents
There are many possible causes of pedestrian accidents in San Diego, the most common being reckless driving, distracted driving, speeding, or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Many pedestrian accidents occur after dark, when a lack of driver visibility is a concern, or at crosswalks, when motorists make illegal turns or fail to obey traffic signals because they are in a rush to get somewhere. In fact, the majority of pedestrian accidents occur in crosswalks, which are meant to be safe places for pedestrians to cross busy roadways. Too often, pedestrians in San Diego are killed while using such crosswalks, either by distracted drivers who aren’t paying attention to the road in front of them or by motorists driving at excessive speeds who are unable to stop in time to avoid hitting them. These types of accidents occur so frequently, in fact, that an advocacy group in 2017 issued a report on the “Fatal 15,” identifying the 15 deadliest crosswalks in San Diego, where a total of 207 pedestrian fatalities occurred over a 15-year span of time.
Determining Liability in a San Diego Pedestrian Accident
Even as San Diego attempts to reduce the incidence of pedestrian accidents in the city with its optimistic Vision Zero campaign, an effort to end all traffic fatalities by the year 2025, pedestrian deaths in San Diego continue to occur. In 2016 alone, there were 23 pedestrian fatalities in San Diego, an increase from 21 in both 2015 and 2014, and 55 serious pedestrian injury accidents, an increase from 54 in 2015 and 38 in 2014. Although there are any number of factors that may play a role in a pedestrian accident taking place, much like other car accidents, this type of accident is most often the result of carelessness. Whenever a pedestrian-motorist accident takes place, liability usually lies with the motorist. However, in some cases, the pedestrian may be held liable under a set of guidelines known as “contributory negligence,” which means the reckless or negligent actions of the pedestrian contributed to the accident. For instance, if a pedestrian was walking along the side of the road in the dark when the accident occurred, or entered a busy highway in an unsafe area, he or she could be held partially liable for the accident. Regardless of who is at fault though, pedestrian accidents are often fatal and these types of accidents are almost always preventable.
Seeking Compensation for a San Diego Pedestrian Accident
There is no amount of money that can repair the damage done by a tragic pedestrian accident, but recovering damages from the responsible party can help cover the cost of the resulting injuries. Not only can pedestrian accidents result in devastating physical injuries, they can also cause the affected individual and his family to suffer significant emotional and financial difficulties. If you or a loved one has suffered serious injuries in a San Diego pedestrian accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages, which you can pursue by filing a personal injury claim against the person or party found at fault in the accident. Even if you share some of the responsibility for the accident according to the terms of contributory negligence, you may still be able to recover damages from the other at-fault party. With a knowledgeable San Diego pedestrian accident attorney on your side, you can protect your legal rights and pursue the financial compensation you and your family deserve.
Free Pedestrian Accident Consultation in San Diego
San Diego averages about 50 traffic-related deaths each year, approximately 40% of which are pedestrian fatalities. With increased vigilance on the part of San Diego motorists and pedestrians alike, tragic pedestrian accidents in the city could be avoided, or at least reduced. Unfortunately, with more and more motorists driving while distracted or driving under the influence of alcohol, the rate of pedestrian accidents is only expected to increase as time goes on. If you have been injured in a pedestrian accident in San Diego, don’t hesitate to get legal help. The statute of limitations in California for personal injury claims involving a pedestrian accident is two years, which isn’t a lot of time for someone struggling with debilitating injuries. Unfortunately, after two years from the date of the accident, you will be barred from ever seeking monetary damages for your losses. Contact our personal injury lawyers at DAG Law Firm as soon as possible to discuss your legal options.
