Pedestrian Accidents

Pedestrians walking down the congested busy streets, such as those in Los Angeles, put themselves at great risk for an accident. Some of these accidents can cause serious and catastrophic injuries or death. A large majority of pedestrian accidents are caused by a driver’s negligence and/or inattentiveness. Every driver on the road must use reasonable care in driving their vehicle. They must keep a lookout for other vehicles and pedestrians. A breach of this duty must be proven in order for an injured party to recover any compensation from insurance.

Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents

• Distracted Driving– texting and driving being most common
• Speeding– most serious injuries happen in high speed pedestrian accidents
• Failure to Yield or Stop– pedestrians legally crossing a cross-walk or intersection have the right of way
• Failing to Signal– sometimes a signal may allow for a pedestrian to be able to get out of the way
• Intoxicated Driving– impairment by alcohol or drugs decrease reaction time and pose deadly risk
• Weather Conditions– drivers must take into account the weather conditions and slow down accordingly
• Backing-Up Accidents– residential driveways and mall parking lots are common dangerous locations

Time Is Limited to File a Claim

In California, the statute of limitations to file a personal injury claim is two (2) years from the date of the injury. That means you have two (2) years from the accident date to file a lawsuit in court. There are some exceptions to the general rule, including any claim against a government agency (city, county or state government) has the much shorter time limit of six (6) months. To protect your claim, retain the services of Igarian Law Firm and let us make your case our priority.

Why You Need an Attorney

As stated above, the ability to collect compensation hinges on the ability to prove liability of the other party. This sounds easy, but can be very tricky. The other driver may dispute the sequence of events. Police reports are not always accurate in determining liability in your favor. You may be held partially at fault, which will diminish your recovery significantly. Additionally, insurance companies will attempt to persuade you by all means necessary to accept a much lower settlement that what you deserve.

A good attorney experienced in pedestrian accidents will conduct proper investigation, interview all witnesses, gather photographs and police reports, and be the ace up your sleeve against the insurance company.

If You Have Been Injured as a Pedestrian…

Call 911 if you require immediate medical attention. Next, immediately contact the police and take photos of the scene. Obtain insurance information from the other party. Take down any potential witness contact information. Next, seek medical attention for your injuries by going to a hospital, an urgent care, or your primary doctor. Lastly, DO NOT contact the other insurance company until you have spoken to an attorney. Contact the Igarian Law Firm and let make this stressful time as stress-free as possible.

At the Igarian Law Firm, we take pride in getting each our injured clients back to the position they were in prior to their accident. Right away, we initiate the claims process on your behalf, and deal with everything from beginning to end. We set you up with the necessary medical treatment with quality medical doctors and professionals for your injuries, at no out-of-pocket expense to you. Finally, we focus on MAXIMIZING your injury settlement with our vast knowledge, expertise and negotiation strategies. We don’t charge you a penny unless we win your case. Don’t let the insurance company low ball you! Call us now for a free consultation.