In a California Automobile vs Pedestrian Accident, Who Is At Fault?
Pedestrian accidents can be among the most catastrophic personal injury accidents. According to the NHTSA, a pedestrian was killed every 1.5 hours in 2016, the last year surveyed. When a pedestrian is struck by an automobile of any size, serious injuries can -- and often do -- occur. The force of the impact on the victim from the automobile as well as the ground, or any other objects they hit, can be devastating and lead to long-term injuries. If you or a loved one was injured in a pedestrian accident, know that California law is on your side.
Pedestrian Accidents and Crosswalks
Crosswalks often provide pedestrians with a false sense of security. The fact of the matter is that many crosswalks are insufficiently marked and lack flashing lights, stop signs, or other warnings to alert drivers to slow down and yield to people who are crossing the street. With this in mind, it would seem that the person walking in the designated walking area would have the right of way -- is this always true in the eyes of the law?
The Basics of Fault
In California, any sort of personal injury examines the concept of negligence. In this instance, negligence refers to someone's (a person or business or government entity) failure to do something that they had a legal obligation to do. For example, if the posted speed limit is 25 miles per hour in a school zone and there was a crossing guard in the road with a stop sign to allow children and parents to cross the street, a driver speeding down the road or who runs past the stop sign would be negligent if they ran over a child or a parent.
Call the Police After a Pedestrian Accident
The first thing to do after an auto pedestrian accident in California is call the police and seek medical attention. The police will take a report which may be useful to you and your accident attorney down the road. If you’re a pedestrian and you’re hit by a car, you should get medical care right away to make sure that you don’t have any internal injuries.
Next Steps
Do not wait to call a Los Angeles accident lawyer with experience in auto pedestrian accidents. The best accident attorney will help you protect your legal rights and recover the financial compensation your injuries deserve. For a free, no obligation consultation, contact the experienced pedestrian injury attorneys at Ghozland Law Firm today.
