If you or someone you love has been injured in a pedestrian accident in Santa Ana that was caused by someone else, the Santa Ana personal injury attorneys of OnderLaw are waiting to take your call. We specialize in filing personal injury claims and lawsuits for people injured by another party’s negligence.

Call today for a free consultation, and let us review your case to see if you’re eligible for compensation. Don’t let a pedestrian accident determine the course of your future. Call OnderLaw today.

Why Do I Need an Attorney for My Pedestrian Accident?

Personal injury claims are essentially insurance claims submitted to the responsible party’s insurance company. Difficulties can arise if the insurance company decides that your claim is meritless and denies payment. An attorney can help you in several key ways.

We have years of experience with injury claims of all types, and we can use that experience to help you. We are familiar with the ins and outs of the claims process and know what pitfalls to look for and how to overcome obstacles that may arise. We can ensure your claim is complete and free of errors before it’s submitted.

We can take the burden of preparing and filing your claim off your shoulders, allowing you the time you need to recover from your injuries.

Obtaining compensation takes an understanding of losses and damages and how to determine the correct amount to demand from the responsible party. Some of these losses are easy to understand, such as medical bills, but others can be more difficult to grasp and require the help of an attorney to understand. Without an attorney to assist you, you may not get the full amount you’re owed for your injuries.

The majority of claims are handled with a settlement before the case goes to trial, but if settlement negotiations are unsuccessful or you don’t get an appropriate offer, an attorney can assist you in filing a lawsuit. Even the threat of a lawsuit can sometimes be enough to get you the amount you demand, as the cost of going to court can often be higher than the cost of a fair settlement.

Why Hire OnderLaw to Represent Me?

Since 2002, OnderLaw has worked hard to get our clients the compensation they need to move on after an accident or debilitating injury. We have the experience needed to get the outcomes our clients expect and deserve.

We’ve seen claims of all shapes and sizes, from whiplash injury claims to multi-million dollar wrongful death lawsuits against corporations like Johnson & Johnson. Regardless of the size of your pedestrian accident case, we will do the hard work and treat you with dignity, respect, and candor throughout the entire process.

We aren’t just your attorney. We are your confidant and trusted guide during this stressful time. We will listen to your needs and advise you about all the available options in your situation, regardless of whether you choose us to represent you. We truly want what’s best for our clients.

We work on contingency at OnderLaw. This means there are no up-front costs to our clients, as we take payment out of any settlement or award you may receive. If we don’t get money for you, we don’t get paid.

We have a proven record of success. We aren’t ashamed to admit that we’ve been able to obtain over $3 billion in settlements and awards for our clients. If the numbers don’t convince you, then perhaps hearing from some of our past clients will. Head to our Testimonials page to learn more.

Pedestrian Laws in California

California has some of the worst traffic in the country, which can make for dangerous conditions for pedestrians on active roadways. Here are some laws and regulations governing how pedestrians should behave when sharing the road with motor vehicles or cyclists:

  • Pedestrians have the right of way in any marked or unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, though they are still required to exercise care when using them and are not allowed to dart into traffic suddenly or to impede or slow traffic.
  • Pedestrians do not have right-of-way outside marked or unmarked crosswalks, but drivers must still exercise care when they see pedestrians in the road.
  • Drivers are not allowed to stop in crosswalks.
  • At intersections with no yield or stop sign, pedestrians on the through road have right-of-way.
  • Pedestrians cannot cross the road between two adjacent traffic signals except when using a crosswalk.
  • Pedestrians are not allowed to stand in the roadway to hail a taxi.
  • It is also illegal to ski or toboggan across a roadway if it will interfere with vehicles on the roadway.
  • Pedestrians can’t walk along bikeways if there is a sidewalk available.

Types and Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Santa Ana

There are many types of pedestrian accidents in Santa Ana, such as:

  • Jaywalking accidents
  • Impaired driving accidents
  • Distracted driving accidents
  • Being hit in a crosswalk
  • Backing out accidents
  • Vehicle leaving the roadway
  • Highway crossing accidents
  • Right and left-turn accidents
  • Failure to yield accidents
  • Struck by a bicycle
  • Darting into traffic
  • Speeding accidents
  • Hit and run accidents

The causes of pedestrian accidents are just as varied as the accidents themselves. Some of the more common causes we see include the following:

  • Distracted drivers
  • Impaired drivers
  • Low visibility conditions
  • Poor road conditions
  • Road construction
  • Excessive speed
  • Jaywalking
  • Distracted pedestrians
  • Inexperienced drivers
  • Left-hand turns
  • Passing a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk

Common Injuries Suffered in Pedestrian Accidents

Injuries in pedestrian accidents tend to be more severe than injuries from motor vehicle collisions because pedestrians can’t move out of the path of approaching vehicles fast enough, they have no safety protection, and they’re very difficult to see, especially at night or in inclement weather.

Some injuries common to pedestrian accidents include:

  • Broken bones
  • Spinal cord injury
  • Hip and knee injuries
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Lacerations
  • Abrasions
  • Concussions
  • Whiplash
  • Soft tissue damage
  • Organ damage
  • Internal bleeding
  • Coma
  • Death

Proving Negligence in Pedestrian Accidents

In order to obtain compensation through a personal injury claim, you must prove negligence, which can be defined as a lack of proper care in performing an action. You must prove with evidence that the responsible party had an obligation to behave a certain way, didn’t behave as they should, their negligent behavior caused an accident, and that accident caused your injuries. If you and your attorney can prove the responsible party was negligent with documentation and evidence, you should have a valid claim for compensation.

Compensation for Pedestrian Accident Claims

You can be compensated for a variety of losses you sustain as a result of the accident, referred to as damages. Trying to determine the exact amount of compensation you might be eligible for is nearly impossible without a full review of your case by a qualified attorney, but generally, the more severe or costly your injury, the more compensation you should demand from the responsible party.

Damages with a definable monetary value are called economic damages. These damages relate to the financial losses incurred as a result of the accident. Some examples include:

  • Medical bills
  • Vocational rehabilitation
  • Lost wages
  • Property damage

Damages without a monetary value are called non-economic damages. These damages are intended to compensate you for the mental toll of the injury and not the costs of treating or managing it. Here are some examples:

  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Loss of consortium
  • Reputational damage
  • Scarring and disfigurement
  • Pain and suffering

In addition to compensatory damages, in some cases, California courts also award exemplary damages. These damages are not intended to compensate for any material or immaterial loss but rather to punish the responsible party and deter them from acting in the same negligent manner again. Exemplary damages are only awarded in a trial, not in settlements, and they carry a higher burden of proof than compensatory damages. Ask your attorney if exemplary damages can apply to your pedestrian accident case.

California Pedestrian Accident Statistics

Below are some informative statistics relating to pedestrian accidents in Santa Ana and elsewhere:

  • 5,977 pedestrians were killed in traffic collisions in the United States in 2017.
  • Pedestrian deaths in California rose 26 percent between 2014 and 2018.
  • California has the highest number of pedestrian deaths in the country.
  • Almost 7,500 pedestrians died on California roads between 2009 and 2018.
  • Two-thirds of pedestrians killed in traffic crashes nationwide in 2018 were male.
  • 19 percent of pedestrians killed in 2018 were involved in a hit-and-run accident.

Call Today for a Free Consultation

Don’t let a pedestrian accident take away your peace of mind. Call the attorneys at OnderLaw today. We will work tirelessly to get you and your family the compensation you deserve.

Call for a free, no-obligation consultation. We will carefully review your case and discuss all the available options, all at no cost to you. Call today.