Bayview District Pedestrian Accident Attorneys
Bayview District Pedestrian Accidents
Nationwide, almost eleven people every day of the year are killed in a pedestrian accident, reports the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The NHTSA also reports that each year thousands of pedestrians are treated for injuries in hospitals across the nation. It is estimated that in addition to the thousands of accidents reported each year, many more pedestrian accidents go unreported because authorities never document them.
Being injured in a pedestrian accident is a traumatic experience that often leaves victims permanently disabled and unable to care for themselves. If you have been injured in a pedestrian accident, seek the counsel of a qualified personal injury lawyer. The Bayview district pedestrian accident lawyers at Estey Bomberger have dedicated their practice to helping seriously injured victims. Because we focus on only a few cases at any given time, important case details are not overlooked and more importantly, we are able to give you the personal attention you deserve to obtain the results you deserve.
Who is Responsible for a Pedestrian Accident?
The majority of pedestrian accidents involve a pedestrian and a motor vehicle. A pedestrian may recover damages if the driver’s negligence or recklessness caused or contributed to the accident. For a pedestrian to establish driver negligence (failing to take reasonable care) the injured victim must prove that the driver:
- Had a legal duty to take reasonable care under the circumstances
- Failed to fulfill legal duty through actions or behavior
- Was responsible for or contributed to the accident occurring
- Injured the victim as a result of the accident.
Poor property maintenance such as cracked sidewalks or debris on walkways can also cause or contribute to a pedestrian accident. The party responsible for maintaining the property may be financially liable for damages if they failed to take measures to correct the hazard or failed to warn others of the hazard.
Pedestrian Accident Injuries
Depending on the circumstances surrounding a collision, pedestrian accident victim’s injuries can vary. Pedestrians typically suffer from one or more of the following injuries:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Skull fracture
- Spinal cord injury
- Back injury
- Neck injury
- Leg injury
- Arm injury
- Herniated discs
- Internal organ damage / blunt trauma
- Sprains
- Loss of limb (amputation)
- Cuts
- Scrapes
- Bone fractures
- Wrongful death.
Children and the Elderly in Pedestrian Accidents
The NHTSA statistics show that children under the age of five are at the greatest risk of being hit by a car. Drivers may not be able to detect a small child and also, children can behave unpredictably. For example, a child may suddenly dart out into a street to retrieve a ball or toy. When children are present, and especially in residential and school areas, a driver must take an extra degree of care when operating a vehicle.
Elderly pedestrians (ages 65+) have the highest fatality rate out of any other age group, according to statistics published by the NHTSA. In 2008, more than 800 pedestrians over the age of 65 were killed in a pedestrian accident. It is not clearly known why elderly pedestrians have such a high fatality rate but it has been determined in several studies that older individuals may have difficulty with functional movements when walking and may have impaired judgment. For example, a disorientated elderly pedestrian may accidentally cross an unmarked section of a street.
Contact a Bayview District Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
The award-winning Bayview district pedestrian accident lawyers at Estey Bomberger have obtained millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for serious injury victims (see our case results). We have helped our clients obtain compensation for their past and future medical expenses, lost wages, lost earning capacity, and emotional pain and suffering. Our personal injury lawyers are available 24 hours a day to discuss your pedestrian accident case. Call (415) 877-1334 today for a free consultation with a San Francisco personal injury attorney.