Pedestrian Accidents
Our attorneys have experience in successfully resolving claims on behalf of pedestrians, bicyclists, and runners. All have the same right to use the road as cars and trucks, even though drivers do not always behave in a way that acknowledges this.
Whenever a person is legally using a city or county street while walking or riding a bike, and he is struck by a car, truck or other vehicle, he has the very same right to seek financial compensation as any motorist. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 5,000 pedestrians die each year in motor vehicle accidents, and more than 78,000 pedestrians suffer injury when hit by a car or truck. Pedestrians are at a higher risk for injury and death than any other non-vehicle occupant group involved in automobile accidents. Almost 90% of non-occupant fatalities are pedestrians, not cyclists or skateboarders. Motor vehicle versus pedestrian accidents can cause extraordinary suffering and loss. Injured victims should be represented by counsel with experience in such cases. In crowded cities throughout Northern California, simply crossing a street can often be dangerous. As a pedestrian, you have no safety devices or protection of any kind in an accident. Serious injury is almost guaranteed in a collision with a car or truck.
Bicyclists, too, are vulnerable and unprotected in most instances when struck by cars and trucks. Many drivers do not understand, or believe, that cyclists have an equal right to be on the roadway. Inattentive drivers often ignore bicyclists and focus only on other cars and trucks. Motorists commonly make right turns directly in front of cyclists, or open their vehicle doors without looking. Others pull out from a driveway, a curb, a side street or an alley.
Bicycle accidents involve unique issues regarding visibility and accident reconstruction. They require attorneys who are skilled and experienced in handling such cases. For the cyclist, a bicycle accident is often a fearful and traumatic experience. An unprotected human body is no match for a 10,000 pound car or truck, or even for the hard pavement below. If you have been injured in a bicycle accident, you are entitled to the same compensation as a person in a vehicle: reimbursement for medical bills, repayment of lost wages, compensation for your pain and suffering, emotional distress, scarring, embarrassment and disfigurement.
Just like a car accident, it is critical that you find an attorney who knows how to handle your claim, who can conduct a prompt and reasonable investigation, who knows how to collect the important evidence, and who has credibility in dealing with automobile liability insurance companies. In Northern California, many citizens ride bicycles for transportation as well as for exercise and enjoyment.
|
