Santa Monica Pedestrian Accidents Attorney
Santa Monica is among the busiest cities in California. In such an environment, pedestrian accidents can and do happen.
Have you been involved in such an accident because a driver was careless? Review your case with a Santa Monica pedestrian accidents attorney at Randolph and Associates if so. If you’re eligible to recover financial compensation for losses resulting from your accident, we can help you pursue it.
Santa Monica Pedestrian Accidents: Important Information
According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, in 2017, approximately 92 pedestrians were injured as a result of accidents in Santa Monica. Several others lost their lives.
Pedestrian accidents are relatively common in Santa Monica when compared to other parts of the state. This is to be expected. Pedestrian accidents typically occur with greater frequency in densely populated urban areas than they do in rural areas.
When navigating a busy city like Santa Monica on foot, pedestrians can minimize their chances of being injured in avoidable accidents by:
- Obeying all relevant traffic laws.
- Not walking while intoxicated.
- Paying attention to their surroundings.
- Wearing bright or reflective clothing at night.
Unfortunately, even if you exercise caution as a pedestrian, it’s still possible to be injured because a motorist or other such party is negligent. You deserve compensation for your medical bills and other such losses when this happens.
Seeking Compensation After A Santa Monica Pedestrian Accident
Pedestrians are quite vulnerable on the road. Drivers of enclosed vehicles have some protection when accidents happen, thanks to the steel frames of their vehicles creating barriers between them and other vehicles involved in their collisions. They also enjoy added protection thanks to seatbelts, airbags, and other such safety features.
Pedestrians don’t benefit from such protections. If you’ve been harmed in a Santa Monica pedestrian accident, your injuries may be quite severe. They may leave you facing such struggles as:
- Costly medical bills
- Lost wages if you can’t work until you recover from your injuries
- Pain and suffering
You can pursue compensation for such losses and damages by filing a claim with the insurance of the negligent party who caused your injuries. Before filing a claim, strongly consider reviewing your case with the experts at a Santa Monica pedestrian accident law firm.
Other Potential Liable Parties In Santa Monica Pedestrian Accident Cases
When a pedestrian accident occurs as a result of negligence, the careless party responsible for causing the accident is usually a motorist or a pedestrian. However, there are rare instances when other parties may cause pedestrian accidents.
For example, maybe you were legally using a crosswalk when a vehicle struck you. This would typically mean you were injured because the driver of said vehicle was negligent.
That said, perhaps it’s shown that the driver genuinely attempted to stop to avoid striking you. They were unable to do so because their brakes were defective. The negligent party in these circumstances might be the designer or manufacturer who overlooked the defect.
Accurately identifying the liable parties when seeking compensation after a pedestrian accident is essential. A victim can only recover compensation if they correctly determine who’s responsible for providing it.
This is one of many reasons it’s wise to enlist the help of an experienced lawyer when filing a claim or lawsuit. A Santa Monica pedestrian accident attorney can leverage their firm’s resources to investigate your case. Their investigation will yield the evidence necessary to determine who’s liable.
How California’s Comparative Negligence Law Affects Santa Monica Pedestrian Accident Cases?
Some pedestrian accident victims share a degree of blame for their accidents and the resulting injuries. For instance, perhaps you step into a legal crosswalk when you have the right of way. You’re injured because a driver failed to yield the right-of-way and was speeding when the accident occurred.
Clearly, they should be deemed negligent. However, maybe footage of the accident shows that you were looking down at your phone instead of checking for oncoming traffic when you entered the crosswalk. It may thus be argued that your accident could have been avoided had you not been careless yourself.
This might not completely bar you from recovering compensation. However, it could have a negative impact on the total amount of compensation you may receive.
Many states have some form of contributory or comparative negligence law. California is no exception. In California, the percentage of blame assigned to an accident victim can influence the amount of compensation they can recover.
Maybe you would have been able to recover $10,000 in compensation if the driver who struck you was entirely responsible for the accident occurring. But, because you were looking at your phone when the accident happened, you’re determined to be 20% responsible. If so, the most compensation you could recover would be $8,000.
A defendant or insurance company may try to pay you less than you’re owed by arguing your negligence played a significant role in your accident. A Santa Monica personal injury lawyer can defend you when an insurance company uses this tactic inappropriately.
How Does A Santa Monica Pedestrian Accident Attorney Help?
Research has shown that hiring an attorney can have a significant positive impact on an accident victim’s chances of recovering fair compensation when they file a personal injury claim. A Santa Monica pedestrian accident lawyer can improve your chances of arriving at a fair settlement with the insurance company by:
- Conducting an investigation into your accident to determine who caused it.
- Gathering evidence showing you were injured as a result of another party’s negligence, and not your own.
- Reviewing your medical bills, estimating the cost of potential future losses/damages associated with your accident, and even assigning a dollar value to non-economic losses like pain and suffering to determine how much compensation you may deserve.
- Entering into negotiations if the insurance company doesn’t offer fair compensation initially.
At Randolph and Associates, our dedicated team is on hand to provide the representation you deserve when you’ve been injured due to someone else’s negligence or actions. Learn more about what a Santa Monica pedestrian accident attorney can do for you by contacting us online or calling us at 310-957-7900 for a free consultation.