Pedestrian Accident Attorneys in Garden Grove, Arcadia, Rosemead, and Colton
We often hear about injuries due to car accidents in Southern California. However, we hear very little about how pedestrians represent a large number of deaths in traffic accidents. According to a recent federal study, a pedestrian has a 10 percent chance of a fatal injury when struck by a relatively slow vehicle. That risk jumps to 80 percent when that vehicle is moving at a speed of 40 mph.
According to the Centers for Disease Control
- A pedestrian is 1.5 times more likely to be killed in a traffic collision than a driver or passenger of a car
- A pedestrian is injured every 2 hours in the United States
- Elderly people 65 years of age or older account for 20 percent of all fatal pedestrian accidents
- Being struck by a motor vehicle is the number one cause of fatalities in children between the ages of 5 and 15.
- Alcohol or drugs are involved in approximately 48 percent of all pedestrian accidents resulting in injuries or fatalities.
There has been an increase in the number of pedestrian fatalities in recent years. When it comes to accidents involving a pedestrian, the pedestrian is far more likely to die because of a basic lack of protection in comparison to the driver of a motor vehicle.
Right of Way and Pedestrian Laws
According to the California Vehicle Code, drivers must follow certain laws when it comes to pedestrians. These are:
- A driver of a motor vehicle must yield the right of way to a pedestrian within a marked or unmarked crosswalk at an intersection.
- A driver may not pass any vehicle stopped at a crosswalk.
- A driver may not stop in a crosswalk
- A driver may not drive on a sidewalk
- A pedestrian may not jaywalk
While the pedestrian may be held partially responsible when not crossing at a crosswalk, the driver must still exercise due care in order to avoid hitting that pedestrian. Drivers and pedestrians alike must be aware of their surroundings at all times.
Fault and Pedestrian Accidents
A pedestrian can be found at fault for an accident that resulted in injury but, in the state of California, we operate under what is called the pure comparative negligence system. This means that if a pedestrian was partially at fault for an accident resulting in injuries, the compensation that would be due that pedestrian is reduced by the percentage of fault that is attributed.
In the case of a pedestrian injury, it is important that the accident is well-documented and investigated in order to ensure that fault is apportioned properly. This is when it is important to have an experienced pedestrian accident lawyer on your side.
At Braff Law Professional Corporation, we have represented thousands of clients after an injury due to a pedestrian accident get the compensation they deserve. Call us today for a no-cost consultation if you have been injured in a pedestrian accident in Garden Grove, Arcadia, Rosemead, Colton, or any surrounding community in Southern California.