Auto-Pedestrian Accidents: Cause, Liability, and Injury

Common Causes

Los Angeles is a bustling and crowded city; therefore, auto-pedestrian accidents occur more frequently than they should. The most common cause of these accidents is negligence, which is careless and unlawful behavior. It’s important to understand that negligence could occur from both parties, not just the driver. The pedestrian could be responsible for jaywalking, illegally walking in the crosswalk, or walking on the road instead of the sidewalk. If the driver is at fault, he or she could’ve been running a red light, not stopping at a stop sign, speeding, utilizing a cell phone, eating, talking to another passenger, looking in the opposite direction, falling asleep at the wheel, or driving under the influence.

Determining Liability

There are some cases where both the pedestrian and driver both commit negligence simultaneously, ultimately resulting into an accident. A driver could be utilizing a phone while a pedestrian is jaywalking, in which both parties would be responsible for committing negligent acts. In California, when both parties are liable, then the situation falls within the bounds of comparative negligence.

There are some cases where even if the pedestrian was partly at fault, insurance companies would still cover damages. For example, if a pedestrian was walking a little outside of the crosswalk, but was hit by a speeding car and suffered injuries or death, then an insurance company would still cover medical and funeral expenses.

To avoid accidents, pedestrians should make sure to wear bright colors at night, abide by crosswalk laws, and pay attention to their surroundings. In the event that an accident still occurs, if a pedestrian followed all laws but was still hit, then the pedestrian would not be held liable.

Common Injuries

Auto-pedestrian accidents can cause severe, catastrophic, or fatal injuries because the pedestrian has no protection against a vehicle’s impact. A human body is no match to a vehicle weighing thousands of pounds and going at a rapid speed. Some common injuries include broken bones, nerve damage, internal organ issues, head injuries, brain injuries, and spinal cord injuries.

Although survival is possible, a large percentage of auto-pedestrian accidents are fatal. Pedestrian accidents are more likely to be fatal if a pedestrian is struck directly and the fatalities increase with the size of the vehicle

Los Angeles Injury Lawyer

Unfortunately, California has the highest auto-pedestrian death rates in the nation. In fact, pedestrian death rates are superseding traffic accident death rates every year. At Los Angeles Injury Group, we understand the devastating effects auto-pedestrian accidents have on our clients. We know that injuries can be severe, catastrophic, or fatal, which drastically changes our clients’ lives. Our clients and their family members should be fairly compensated for medical expenses and loss of wages, especially if the accident was a result of negligence on the driver’s behalf. If you, or someone you love, was hit in an auto-pedestrian accident, call 310-954-7248 for a free consultation. We will evaluate your case and determine the next best legal steps.