San Francisco Pedestrian Accident Attorneys
San Francisco is a popular city for walking, but despite being touted as a pedestrian friendly city, the streets of San Francisco can be dangerous. San Francisco’s twisted intersections, transit stations, numerous hills and bus boarding islands, all contribute to the high number of pedestrian accidents every year. According to the Surface Transportation Policy Project, San Francisco ranks the fourth highest nationwide in pedestrian accident injuries, for cities with a population of over 500,000.
In almost half of all San Francisco pedestrian accidents, driver error is the cause. The most common driving error is violation of the pedestrian’s right of way. The second most common driving error is excessive speeding. Roughly 48 percent of traffic fatalities in San Francisco are pedestrians. This is four times the national average of 11.8 percent, reports Walk San Francisco. Victims of a pedestrian accident may be entitled to financial compensation if their injuries or wrongful death, was caused by the careless or negligent actions of another. The San Francisco pedestrian accident attorneys at Estey Bomberger will review all potential cases, assess the injuries and determine if the victim is eligible to file a claim. There are time limits on filing a claim, so immediate action is recommended.
Causes of Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrian accidents are largely caused by driver negligence or recklessness. Drugs and alcohol, unfamiliarity of travel routes and talking on the cell phone, all affect a driver’s ability to stay focused. Excessive speeding increases the chances of a collision and more significant injury to the pedestrian. Traffic volume, the amount of pedestrians and cars on the road, is also a reason for the increase in pedestrian accidents. The more traffic volume increases, the greater the chances of a crash happening. A pedestrian accident may also be caused by malfunctioning or inappropriately timed traffic lights. For example, depending on the lights timing, a slower pedestrian may not have enough time to cross the street. The lack of crosswalks is an issue when looking at statistics for pedestrian accident deaths. Fifty-five percent of all fatal pedestrian-vehicle crashes occur from mid-block crossings, where there is no crosswalk present.
Types of Pedestrian Accident Injuries
Pedestrian accidents frequently result in serious, devastating injuries to the victim. Pedestrians do not have a barrier surrounding them, protecting them from an impact of a car. While many factors determine the severity of a pedestrian accident injury, the type of vehicle that is involved, can significantly affect the outcome of their injuries. SUV’s hit a pedestrian higher, above their center of gravity, projecting them forward and increasing the chances that the same vehicle will run them over. Smaller cars have a lower bumper that hits a pedestrian below their center of gravity, propelling them onto the hood or windshield. Pedestrian injuries include:
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Advocates for Pedestrian Accident Victims
With more than 70 years of litigation experience and a team of experts in accident reconstruction, investigation and medicine, we have gained a national and statewide reputation for legal excellence. We will not put you in the hands of a paralegal, case manager or secretary. Our San Francisco pedestrian accident attorneys will personally handle all aspects of your case and contact you frequently on the status of your claim. We want you to focus on what’s important, recovering from your injuries. We will focus on recovering the maximum possible damages for your medical bills, lost earnings, future lost earnings and pain and suffering. Contact a San Francisco personal injury attorney at Estey Bomberger today. Call (415) 877-1334 or fill out our online case evaluation form.