Accidents in which motor vehicles strike pedestrians can lead to a wide range of devastating injuries, from broken bones to internal organ damage to spinal cord and brain injuries. Many pedestrians injured in these kinds of accidents require extensive medical treatment, including long-term physical therapy. For this reason, it’s crucial to work with an experienced pedestrian accident lawyer who can help you seek the compensation you need.
Call Dordick Law Corporation at (310) 736-2866 or contact us online for a free consultation with a knowledgeable Beverly Hills personal injury lawyer. We’ll review the details of the accident, explain your options, and answer any remaining questions you have about your case so you’re prepared for what’s to come.
Pedestrian Accident Cases We Handle in Beverly Hills
No matter how the pedestrian accident that harmed you occurred, our lawyers can help you seek fair compensation for your injuries. Some of the most common types of pedestrian accidents we handle in Beverly Hills include:
- Crosswalk Accidents: Pedestrians are often struck by vehicles while legally crossing the street in marked crosswalks. These accidents typically occur because distracted or intoxicated drivers fail to notice the pedestrians in the road.
- Parking Lot Accidents: Parking lots are prime locations for pedestrian accidents due to the large number of vehicles and pedestrians sharing space. Vehicles may hit pedestrians due to the driver’s failure to yield the right-of-way or because the driver doesn’t adequately check for pedestrians before backing up.
- Turning Vehicle Accidents: When turning, many drivers make sure there are no pedestrians directly in front of them as they enter the intersection. However, they may not check for pedestrians crossing the road they’re turning onto, leading to a collision.
- Roadside Accidents: Distracted or intoxicated drivers may strike pedestrians on the side of the road. You should always check for oncoming vehicles before exiting your car parked along the roadside.
Pedestrian Accident Statistics
According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), an average of 6,500 pedestrian deaths occurred per year over a recent five-year period. This number accounts for between 16 and 17 percent of all traffic fatalities.
Additionally, the NHTSA’s data shows that 76 percent of pedestrian deaths occurred at night, with 51 percent occurring between 6 p.m. and midnight, highlighting the importance of adequate road lighting.
Examples of Pedestrian Accident Cases
Let’s say you’re waiting for the walk signal to light up so you can cross the road. Once the signal changes, you begin crossing, only for a vehicle making a right turn to strike you. The signal said you could cross, but the driver also had a green light. Who’s at fault for the accident?
In this case, the driver would be at fault. Despite having a green light, the driver should have checked for pedestrians crossing the road they were turning onto. And if pedestrians were crossing the road, the driver should have stopped and yielded the right-of-way to them.
Another example of a pedestrian accident is if an intoxicated driver strikes you as you’re exiting your vehicle parked on the side of the road. You checked for oncoming traffic and saw the lane next to your vehicle was clear. But at the last moment, the intoxicated driver swerved into the lane, striking you.
The intoxicated driver is clearly at fault here. But what happens if they don’t stop at the scene? One option is to wait for the police or your lawyer to identify the driver and file a claim against their auto insurance policy’s liability coverage. However, you could also file an uninsured motorist claim with your own auto insurance policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below, we’ve answered some of the most common questions pedestrian accident victims have about their Beverly Hills cases. If you have further questions about your case, we’ll be happy to answer them for you during your initial consultation with our lawyers.
What are my options for seeking compensation after a Beverly Hills pedestrian accident?
Your primary option for seeking compensation after a Beverly Hills pedestrian accident is to file a claim against the at-fault driver’s auto insurance policy. In California, all drivers must have the following amounts of liability coverage at a minimum:
- $30,000 per person for injury
- $60,000 per accident for injury
- $15,000 per accident for property damage
If the at-fault driver doesn’t have auto insurance, you can file an uninsured motorist claim with your insurer. And if the at-fault driver’s policy limits cap the compensation you would otherwise receive, you can file an underinsured motorist claim with your insurer to recover additional compensation. In California, your insurance policy includes uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage by default, so you should have it unless you opted out.
What if I were partly at fault for my Beverly Hills pedestrian accident?
If you were partly at fault for the Beverly Hills pedestrian accident that injured you, your compensation could be reduced accordingly. Under California’s pure comparative negligence rule, a victim’s awarded damages can be reduced by a percentage equal to their degree of fault. So, if a jury finds you to be 30 percent at fault for the accident, you can only recover 70 percent of your damages.
While this rule specifically applies to lawsuits, auto insurance companies still use it when determining claim settlement amounts.
What evidence do I need for a successful Beverly Hills pedestrian accident case?
To successfully recover compensation in a Beverly Hills pedestrian accident case, you need various types of evidence that work together to create a larger picture of the incident. Some of the most effective types of evidence a lawyer can gather for your case include:
- Accident scene photographs showing skid marks on the road, relevant traffic signs and signals, and your visible injuries
- Traffic, surveillance, or dashboard camera footage showing the accident
- Eyewitness statements that provide additional information about how the accident occurred
- Expert testimony, such as from medical professionals or crash reconstruction specialists
- Your medical records detailing your injuries and the treatments suggested by your doctors
What if I were the victim of a hit-and-run in Beverly Hills?
If you were the victim of a hit-and-run accident in Beverly Hills, you can file an uninsured motorist claim with your auto insurance provider. Uninsured motorist claims don’t only apply to cases where the at-fault driver doesn’t have insurance, but also to cases where the at-fault driver can’t be identified.
When the police eventually identify the at-fault driver, your insurance company may file a lawsuit against them, seeking reimbursement for the compensation it paid to you. You don’t have to worry about reimbursing your insurance company unless you also seek compensation from the at-fault driver.
Who has the right-of-way at an intersection?
While pedestrians must yield the right-of-way at an intersection if there is a pedestrian signal, they have the right-of-way in most other cases as long as they aren’t entering the road in an unsafe manner. For example, if a vehicle approaches an intersection where a pedestrian is crossing, the vehicle must slow down or stop so the pedestrian can continue crossing.
However, if you suddenly enter the road or cross in an otherwise unsafe manner, the driver’s insurance company will likely use that as evidence that you contributed to the accident, which can impact your damages.
Contact Our Beverly Hills Pedestrian Accident Lawyers
If you were struck by a vehicle as a pedestrian in Beverly Hills, contact Dordick Law Corporation at (310) 736-2866 for a free consultation with a knowledgeable and experienced pedestrian accident lawyer. We’ll help you seek the medical treatment and compensation you need.
