Bakersfield Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

The Serious Impact of Pedestrian Accidents

Pedestrian crashes can cause serious injuries. A person may be hit by a vehicle and then thrown onto the road or into another object. This can make the injuries even worse.

Common injuries include:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
• Spinal cord injuries
• Broken bones and fractures
• Internal organ damage
• Severe soft tissue injuries
• Permanent scars or disfigurement

Some people need months or even years of medical care after a pedestrian accident. Others may be left with permanent disabilities.

Our pedestrian accident lawyers work to make sure your claim considers the full impact of your injuries.

What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident

If you are hit by a vehicle, the steps you take afterward can help protect your health and your claim. Pedestrian accident cases often depend on evidence collected soon after the crash.

Seek Medical Attention

Get medical care as soon as possible, even if your injuries seem minor. Some injuries may not be obvious right away. Keep records of your medical visits, treatment, and medications.

Report the Accident

Contact the police and make sure an official report is created. Police reports can provide important details about what happened and who was involved.

Gather Evidence

If you are able, take photos of the accident scene, your injuries, the vehicle, traffic signs, and road conditions. Also collect contact information from anyone who saw the crash. Witness statements can be valuable when determining what happened.

Avoid Talking to Insurance Companies Alone

An insurance company may contact you soon after the accident. Be careful about giving recorded statements or accepting a settlement before you understand the full value of your claim.

Contact a Law Firm

A law firm experienced in pedestrian accidents can help protect your rights and handle communication with the insurance company. A pedestrian accident lawyer can also investigate the crash, gather evidence, and determine who may be responsible.

Compensation Available After a Pedestrian Accident

Depending on your injuries, you may be able to recover compensation for:

• Emergency medical treatment
• Hospital stays and surgeries
• Rehabilitation and therapy
• Future medical expenses
• Lost income
• Reduced ability to earn income
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Home changes needed because of your injuries

Insurance companies may try to settle claims quickly. They may also offer less money than your claim is worth.

Once you accept a settlement, you generally cannot ask for more money later. DJC Law reviews your injuries and losses before advising you about a settlement offer. A skilled pedestrian accident lawyer can help protect you from an unfair settlement.

Why Medical Treatment Matters to Your Case

Medical records can play an important role in a pedestrian accident claim. Following your doctor’s treatment plan helps show how serious your injuries are.

Missing appointments or stopping treatment may give an insurance company a reason to question your injuries.

We can gather medical records, doctor reports, and other evidence related to your injuries. This helps show both your current medical needs and the care you may need in the future.

Working with a pedestrian accident lawyer early can also help preserve important evidence.

Nighttime Pedestrian Accidents: Drivers Still Have a Duty to Be Careful

Many pedestrian accidents happen after dark. Drivers may claim they could not see the pedestrian in time.

Poor visibility does not mean a driver can ignore basic safety rules. Drivers should adjust their speed and pay attention to road and traffic conditions.

Drivers should be especially careful near intersections, neighborhoods, businesses, and other areas where pedestrians may be present.

Speeding, distracted driving, and failing to yield can still make a driver responsible for a crash. Our pedestrian accident lawyers can look at the lighting, vehicle speed, road conditions, and driver’s actions to determine what happened.

Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Accidents: How an Attorney Can Help

A hit-and-run can leave you injured and unsure of what to do next. If the driver leaves before you can get their name, insurance information, or license plate number, you may think there is no way to find them. That is not always the case.

Police may investigate the crash, but busy departments often have many cases to handle at once. A pedestrian accident attorney can conduct a separate investigation to help identify the driver. This may include looking for traffic camera footage, nearby security cameras, and video from local businesses that may have captured the crash or the vehicle leaving the area.

Other evidence may also help identify the driver. Witnesses, nearby homes with doorbell cameras, vehicle debris, and photographs from the accident scene can all provide important clues. An attorney can work to locate this evidence and preserve it before video recordings are deleted or overwritten.

Finding the driver can be important for your injury claims and your ability to pursue compensation. Even when the driver cannot be identified right away, an attorney can review your insurance coverage and explain what options may be available.

It is also important to act quickly. The statute of limitations can restrict how long you have to take legal action after an accident. Contacting a pedestrian accident attorney early gives your legal team more time to investigate the crash, locate video evidence, identify witnesses, and protect your claim.

Pedestrian Accidents at Bus Stops

Bus stops can create unique dangers for pedestrians. People may have to cross busy streets to reach a stop, walk around parked buses, or stand close to moving traffic. A pedestrian can also be struck while getting on or off a bus.

In some cases, the bus driver or transit company may share responsibility for the accident. For example, a bus driver may pull away before it is safe, stop in an unsafe location, make a dangerous turn, or fail to watch for pedestrians. The bus company may also face liability if poor training, unsafe policies, or inadequate maintenance contributed to the crash.

The bus stop itself can also be part of the problem. A stop with poor lighting, limited visibility, a dangerous crossing, or an unsafe location may create a serious risk for pedestrians. California law allows claims involving dangerous conditions of public property when the required legal elements are met.

In fact, California courts have recognized that a dangerous condition near a bus stop can sometimes create liability when people using the stop are exposed to that danger. In one case discussed by the Federal Highway Administration, a transit agency was found partly responsible because it controlled the bus stop and knew that passengers had to cross a dangerous intersection to reach it.

That means a pedestrian accident may involve more than the driver of the vehicle that struck you. A pedestrian accident lawyer can investigate the bus, the driver, the transit agency, the design and location of the bus stop, nearby traffic controls, and other factors to determine who may be responsible.

If you were injured near a bus stop, it is important to preserve evidence quickly. Photos of the area, surveillance footage, bus records, witness statements, and information about previous complaints can all help show what happened and whether the location had known safety problems.

How Insurance Companies Defend Pedestrian Claims

After a serious pedestrian accident, the insurance company may not simply accept responsibility and offer fair compensation. Adjusters may closely examine how the accident happened and look for reasons to reduce the amount they have to pay. This can include arguing that the pedestrian was partly at fault or that the injuries are not as serious as claimed. California follows a pure comparative fault system, so a person’s recovery can be reduced if they are found partly responsible for an accident.

Insurance companies may argue that the pedestrian crossed outside a crosswalk, ignored a traffic signal, was distracted, or suddenly entered the road. They may also question visibility, the driver’s speed, or whether the driver had enough time to avoid the collision. Police reports, witness statements, traffic footage, and other evidence can be important when determining what really happened.

The insurance company may also question the severity of your injuries. They could point to gaps in medical treatment, pre-existing conditions, or a lack of early medical records to argue that your injuries are not related to the accident. This is one reason it is important to follow your doctor’s treatment plan and keep records of your medical care.

A pedestrian accident lawyer can investigate the accident independently instead of relying only on the insurance company’s version of events. Your attorney can gather evidence, speak with witnesses, review camera footage, examine medical records, and challenge unfair attempts to shift blame onto you.

If you have a claim in California, you do not have to accept the insurance company’s first offer. A pedestrian accident lawyer can review the offer, look at your total losses, and negotiate for compensation that better covers your injuries and recovery.

No Upfront Fees for Our Representation

DJC Law works on a contingency fee basis. This means:

• You pay nothing upfront.
• We cover the costs of investigating your case.
• We only get paid if we recover compensation for you.

A dedicated pedestrian accident attorney from DJC Law can guide you through the claims process and handle the legal work on your behalf.

Act Quickly to Protect Your Rights

California law generally gives you two years from the date of an accident to file a personal injury lawsuit under Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. Missing the deadline can prevent you from recovering compensation.

Acting quickly can also help preserve important evidence. Witnesses may forget what they saw, and video footage may be deleted.

Speaking with a pedestrian accident lawyer as soon as possible can help protect your claim.

Speak With a Bakersfield Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Today

After being hit by a vehicle, your main focus should be on healing. You should not have to deal with insurance companies on your own.

DJC Law can investigate the crash, determine who may be responsible, calculate your losses, and negotiate with the insurance company.

If a fair settlement cannot be reached, we can pursue your case in court. An experienced pedestrian accident lawyer can help you seek compensation for medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and future recovery needs.

Call (512) 888-9999 today for a free, no-obligation consultation.

Let DJC Law stand with you and fight for the compensation you deserve.