Pedestrian Accident Attorney in California

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Pedestrian Accident Attorney in California

As leading personal injury attorneys in the Bay Area, we’ve helped countless accident victims find justice and secure the compensation they deserve to recover. Need help? The legal team at Delfino, Green & Green is here for you. Contact us online to schedule a free consultation. There are countless good reasons to travel on foot—especially in the Bay Area. Walking offers an eco-friendly alternative to driving, an easy way to exercise and an opportunity to take in more of the city. Plus, it doesn’t require you to embark on the seemingly endless journey to find parking. When you review the benefits, it’s easy to understand why so many San Franciscans choose to walk. However, it’s important to note one major downside: Many serious pedestrian accidents occur in the Bay Area every year, some causing catastrophic injuries. Luckily, injured pedestrians aren’t without recourse. By partnering with an experienced personal injury lawyer, they can pursue compensation for the full range of their losses. If you were injured in a pedestrian accident caused by someone else, you’re likely still recovering. You may be feeling exhausted, overwhelmed and unsure of how to move forward. The pedestrian accident lawyers at Delfino, Green & Green can help you explore your legal options and start putting your life back together. This article will explain everything you need to know about pedestrian accidents in California, including common causes, typical injuries and recoverable damages in pedestrian accident claims.

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The sooner you reach out to an attorney, the sooner they can start building a rock-solid case for your compensation. Reach out to us online or call our law office at (415) 442-4646 to get started.

Common Causes of Pedestrian Car Accidents

Pedestrian accidents are more common—and more deadly—than most people realize. According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), nearly 8,000 pedestrians were killed in motor vehicle crashes in the U.S. in 2021. Data also reveals that pedestrians accounted for one out of every six crash-related fatalities the same year.

Major Risk Factors of Pedestrian Car Accidents

Although there are many causes of pedestrian accidents, there are a few common culprits. Here are some of the major risk factors associated with pedestrian injuries:

Higher vehicle speeds increase the likelihood of a pedestrian accident occurring, as well as the severity of the pedestrian’s injuries.
The majority of pedestrian deaths occur on high-capacity urban roads (typically with speed limits between 45 and 55 miles per hour).
Crashes involving sports utility vehicles (SUVs) are associated with more bodily harm to pedestrians.
Alcohol consumption (whether by the driver or the pedestrian) greatly increases the risk of a pedestrian accident occurring.

Additionally, it’s important to note that some groups of people have a higher risk of pedestrian death than others. Research suggests that individuals over the age of 65, as well as American Indian, Alaska Native and Black persons.

Other Contributing Factors

Data provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) also reveals a number of concerning trends regarding pedestrian car accidents. Here are some of its findings:

In 2018 there were 6,283 pedestrian fatalities and about 75,000 pedestrian injuries involving traffic accidents in the U.S.
That same year, 81% of pedestrian fatalities occurred in urban areas.
Males accounted for 69% of pedestrian fatalities.
About 76% of pedestrians killed were involved in collisions that occurred during dark.

If you’re an avid walker, it makes sense to read through the risk factors of pedestrian accidents, if only to say to yourself, “I’m safe—most of these categories don’t apply to me.” While that may be true, the reality is that pedestrian accidents can happen to anyone, anywhere. The best way to stay safe is by practicing responsible walking habits and to make an emergency plan ahead of time.

Common Pedestrian Accident Injuries

As you can imagine, pedestrians fare much worse than car passengers when the two collide. With nothing to hold them in place, pedestrians involved in collisions may be thrown from their bikes, sent flying over the windshield or even be run over by the car that hit them. The specific injuries a pedestrian sustains will depend on numerous factors, including their speed, whether or not they were wearing a helmet, the car’s speed, the road conditions, other vehicles on the road and more. Here are some of the most common pedestrian accident injuries:

Damage to the soft tissue. A variety of impacts can cause soft tissue damage, a category of injury that includes lacerations, sprains, strains, dislocations and tears. Although some soft tissue injuries heal almost entirely, others may never fully heal and cause long-term health problems.
Broken bones. Pedestrians who are struck by motor vehicles are vulnerable to practically any type of bone fracture, but some of the most common involve their hands, wrists, arms, shoulders, legs and backs.
Traumatic brain injuries. A forceful blow to the head can cause a pedestrian to suffer a traumatic brain injury (TBI). These injuries range in severity from mild concussions to severe brain damage and can have life-altering repercussions for the people who sustain them.
Spinal cord injuries. In some cases, pedestrians who are struck by motor vehicles suffer spinal cord injuries. These severe injuries can result in paralysis and death; even less serious spinal injuries may require extensive physical therapy and life-long care.

If you’ve suffered serious injuries in a pedestrian accident, it’s important to understand that your immediate medical care is unlikely to be all that you require. Recovery may require physical rehabilitation, on-going medical treatments and future surgeries. And paying for your medical treatment may be difficult (if not impossible) without compensation.

Damages You Might Recover After a Pedestrian Car Accident

In the wake of a serious accident, it’s hard to think about anything but your physical injuries. However, your injuries are unlikely to be the only losses you suffer. You may need to pay for expensive on-going treatments and end up accruing thousands of dollars in accident-related medical debt. Your injuries may make returning to work impossible, especially if you suffer permanent disabilities. These scenarios could land you in a precarious financial situation that you’re unable to recover from. Luckily, you may be able to secure compensation for your economic and non-economic damages through a personal injury lawsuit. Your pedestrian accident lawyer can help you pursue a settlement that covers a wide range of losses, including the following:

Lost wages, meaning the earnings you missed because of your injury
Loss of earning capacity, in the event you’re unable to work (and earn) in the same way you were before the accident
Medical expenses, including accident-related medical bills and the cost of treatments, therapies, medications, etc.
Pain and suffering, including actual physical pain and emotional or mental anguish
Property damage, in the event your personal property is damaged or destroyed in or as a result of the accident
Other out-of-pocket expenses, such as the cost of hiring a driver or the cost of installing a handrail at your home

Both economic and non-economic damages fall under the category of compensatory damages, meaning that they’re meant to compensate the injury victim for their losses. Typically, personal injury settlements only include compensatory damages. However, in cases involving extreme negligence, disregard or malicious intent, the court may also award the injury victim with punitive damages as a way of punishing the defendant.

Pedestrian Accident FAQs

Most people understand that car accident victims have some sort of recourse, but few people know as much about pedestrian accident victims’ legal rights. If you still have questions about pedestrian lawsuits, the best way to find answers is by contacting a knowledgeable attorney. In the meantime, check out the answers to some of our most frequently asked questions.

Where are some common places that you have seen pedestrian accidents occur?

Just like motor vehicle accidents, pedestrian accidents are more likely to occur in certain places and at certain times. Most pedestrian accidents happen at night and in urban areas; pedestrians are commonly struck while crossing an intersection (in or outside of the crosswalk), as well as in parking lots and driveways.

Why is it so important for an injured party to seek immediate medical care?

In the moments after a serious accident, the brain floods the body with adrenaline and other chemicals to insulate a person from feeling pain, thus allowing them to escape to safety. As a result, some injury victims don’t know the full extent of their injuries right away. In order to avoid worsening your injuries, it’s critical to seek immediate medical attention after a pedestrian accident, even if you believe you’re fine.

How does the pedestrian injury compensation process work?

Like with any other type of personal injury case, securing compensation in a pedestrian accident case starts with speaking to a trusted attorney. After a thorough investigation of your case, a pedestrian accident lawyer will help you determine the at-fault party and calculate the full extent of your losses. Based on that calculation, your lawyer will draft a settlement demand letter and send it to the at-fault driver and their car insurance company. If they refuse to offer you a fair settlement, your pedestrian accident attorney will pursue your compensation in court.

Can you go to jail for accidentally hitting a pedestrian?

Very few pedestrian car accidents happen on purpose. They are typically accidental, and the driver can absolutely go to jail, regardless of it being an accident. The specific consequences of hitting a pedestrian will depend heavily on the details of the case, including whether or not the driver was violating any traffic laws at the time of the accident.

Delfino, Green & Green: Trusted Pedestrian Accident Lawyers in San Francisco, California

If you sustained serious injuries in a pedestrian accident caused by someone else, your losses are likely to be substantial. Just remember: If you didn’t cause the accident, you shouldn’t be footing the bill for your recovery—period. Fortunately, you don’t have to when you partner with an experienced and talented pedestrian accident lawyer in San Francisco. Our injury attorneys are here to support you every step of the way, but we can’t get started until you make the call. Contact us online to schedule a free case evaluation with a pedestrian accident attorney or call our personal injury law firm at (415) 442-4646 to speak with a compassionate legal representative today.

Verdicts & Settlements

We've recovered millions for our clients

$10,400,000

Construction Death

The husband and father of 4 young children was working at a construction site when he died because of another contractor's negligence. After more than two years of hard fought litigation, our team of experts was able to win a tremendous victory on behalf of our clients and ensure that all of their financial needs will be met. We could not bring back the husband/father for this family, but we were able to protect them from the financial devastation that can and often does result where the primary source of income for the family is taken away. We then worked with our team of financial planners to make sure that this family will always have financial security.

$10,000,000

Bad Faith Insurance Claim

Insurance Coverage/Bad Faith Bad Faith – Pollution Coverage Prior to forming his own firm, Mr. Green worked at one of the largest and most prestigious firms in the U.S. He was the primary attorney on an environmental insurance case that went to trial in San Francisco. After a several week trial, Mr. Green came away with a trial verdict against the insurers with a value of over $10,000,000 in available insurance coverage.

$5,750,000

Traumatic Brain Injury

A 16 year old developmentally disabled kid was hit by a bus while in a crosswalk. He suffered a concussion which turned into post concussive syndrome, where the symptoms of the concussion don't heal completely. This is also known as a mild Traumatic Brain Injury ("mTBI"). Our firm was hired as trial counsel 6 months before trial because of our expertise in TBIs as well as cutting edge trial techniques. When we first associated into the case, there was a very minimal settlement offer and it did not appear that the Defense was taking the case seriously. Our team of attorneys, experts and staff immediately immersed ourselves in the case as we prepared to demonstrate the catastrophic consequences of this incident. Shortly before trial, the Defense could see that we had put all the pieces together to prove liability and that full justice for our young client required damages in the many millions of dollars. The matter settled for $5,750,000.

$2,400,000

Disability Claim

Disability – Neurological Issues Our client became disabled from neurological issues. Our attorneys were able to work with the client and his physicians to quickly assemble all of the documentation necessary to support out client’s claim of total disability. The insurer agreed that our client was totally disabled and paid his claim.

$2,000,000

Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic Brain Injury to Child A three year old child was being carried across the street when she was struck by an oncoming car. The child suffered a serious traumatic brain injury when she hit the ground. Her injuries were so serious she had to be hospitalized for several months. Our firm negotiated a settlement of $2,000,000 by forcing the payment of all of the available insurance from the driver’s automobile insurer ($1,250,000), the entire amount of the homeowners insurance limits available ($500,000), and all of the amounts that the person carrying the little girl was able to recover from the negligent driver ($250,000). We then arranged for another firm to prepare and fund a large Special Needs Trust for the health and welfare of the injured child.

$1,800,000

Heart Condition Disability

Our client became disabled by a heart attack. The insurer refused to pay, claiming that our client was still able to perform his occupation. We met with all of our client’s doctors, obtained reports confirming the client’s inability to perform his prior occupation, and ultimately convinced the insurance company to pay the claim in full.

$1,700,000

Builder’s Risk/Collapse

A contractor suffered a severe collapse at one of his sites. The claim was submitted to the insurer and denied. Mr. Green reviewed all of the facts, researched the law, and brought together the necessary experts to prove that the Contractor’s Builders Risk insurer was responsible for a substantial portion of the loss. He also proved that a subcontractor was negligent and the subcontractor’s insurer also paid a substantial settlement. In total, Mr. Green was able to obtain more than $1,700,000 in compensation for his client.

$1,000,000

Heart Condition Disability

Our client had worked for the government for many years when she began suffering from a serious heart condition. All of her doctors told her that she could no longer work and if she continued to do so, she would be risking further injury to her heart or even death. Based on thi

$1,000,000

Traumatic Brain Injury

Our client suffered a mild Traumatic Brain Injury when heavy object struck her in the head. The responsible party denied all fault and insisted until the very end that our client had not suffered a brain injury and offered nothing to settle the case. Our firm assembled a team of world renowned expert‘s to demonstrate that our client had suffered a mild Traumatic brain injury. The case settled shortly before trial.

$985,000

Traumatic Hand Injury

Our client was working at a manufacturing plant. While operating a piece of machinery, his glove became caught in the machinery and part of his hand was severely injured. Ordinarily, this type of injury would be restricted to remedies available through Worker’s Compensation. However, through the knowledge, ingenuity, and creativity of our team of attorneys, we were also able to obtain a very substantial civil settlement for our client in addition to the workers comp settlement of his case.

$975,000

Aviation Death Settlement

A husband and father of two small children was killed in an aviation accident involving a small aircraft. Our firm represented the widow and two children against the pilot of the aircraft. By hiring experts in aviation (to prove negligence) and economists (to prove damages), and utilizing William Green’s expertise as an instrument-rated pilot, we were able to make a very powerful case and obtain a very favorable settlement that allowed the family to survive financially.

$700,000

Forklift Accident

A construction supervisor went to pick up some materials for a construction job. A worker at the yard neglected to set the parking brake on a piece of heavy equipment a few yards away. While the construction supervisor had his back turned, the machine rolled into him, pinning him against the side of his pick-up truck. He suffered several broken ribs, but that was the least of his injuries. Within several weeks of the accident, he had partially lost his sight. By working with medical experts, our firm was able to directly connect the sight loss to the injuries caused by the machine that rolled into our client. The case settled at Mediation without any need for a trial.

Words of Praise from Our Clients

“I had the pleasure of working with Sharon Delfino on my workmens comp case. She definitely had my best interest at hand. She was able to find me a great doctor and help me resolve my case. The staff there are always polite and friendly, never had an issue. It was a pleasure working with Delfino Green & Green !”

- Tabitha W

“I’ve known the firm’s founder, Bill Green, for many years and I can say that he is one of the best attorneys I’ve had the pleasure of working with. He and his associates at Delfino Green & Green are hard-working, highly responsive, and very professional, and they get the job done, without excuses. Bill is a great communicator, both with clients, and in Court, and invests time and money to include visual storytelling in his trials and mediations. You won’t find an attorney who cares more about you, and getting you an outstanding result for your case. Bill is one of the “good guys” in the legal profession…a great person to have on your side when dealing with the craziness of litigation.”

- Tim M

“A few years ago, I referred a friend of mine to the attorneys at Delfino Green & Green. He was extremely happy with the job they did on his case. He was severely injured when a car hit him when he was crossing a street and this event had the potential to ruin him in a number of ways – financially, physically, emotionally, etc. We kept in close contact during the lawsuit and he told me how great his lawyer and his assistant were throughout the process. Caring, compassionate and very knowledgeable. My friend ended up with a great result – fair financial compensation and great treatment for his injuries. Little did I know when I referred my friend that a few years later, I would need a lawyer for injuries I suffered, but I did. Based on my friend’s experience, I knew that Delfino Green & Green would be the right attorneys for me. So I hired Bill Green and his team to help and they jumped right into action. Now I can saw that I too have firsthand knowledge of just how great these guys are. They knew the law, they knew just how to handle my particular case, and they helped me get my life back after the horrible events that lead to my injury. I can’t imagine that you could do any better than hiring these folks. I’m so grateful for all they did for both me and my friend.”

- Evelyn A

“The work Delfino Green & Green did on my case was beyond excellent. The final result was superb, but I also truly appreciated how Mr. Green and the team kept me up-to-date at every stage of the case. I was able to reach someone whenever I needed something or had something important to report and the firm always let me know what was going on in my case. That was very important to me because I hadn’t found that to be true with other attorneys. In short, really top flight work, great people and results that met all of my expectations above and beyond.”

- Byron H

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