Accidents involving pedestrians are very common in California. The busy streets of Orange County’s biggest cities are particularly hazardous for pedestrians, since bumper-to-bumper traffic can make people drive more aggressively or carelessly than they usually do.
In these collisions, pedestrians on sidewalks and crosswalks are at serious risk of severe or fatal injuries.
Since people are completely unprotected while walking or jogging the injuries sustained after being hit by a vehicle can be life altering. After a crash, contacting an Orange County pedestrian accident lawyer should be one of your top priorities.
We have compiled a list of law firms throughout this page who take pedestrian accident claims in in Orange County, and have verified that these are local law firms with the California State Bar. All of these firms offer a free consultation and an opportunity to get your immediate questions answered.
The moments after a pedestrian accident can be overwhelming, especially if you were hit by a vehicle in an intersection or took a hard fall and suffered major injuries. However, making the right choices in these crucial moments could help you pursue compensation when you’re ready. After an accident while walking or running, make sure you:
Pedestrian laws outline the rights and responsibilities of a pedestrian on California roads. At an intersection, pedestrians have the right of way when using a crosswalk and obeying walk/do not walk signs. If there are no pedestrian signals, they must follow the traffic signals and cross only when it is safe to do so. Jaywalking is not permitted and is defined as failure to use a crosswalk when there is one available.
When crossing the road somewhere other than a marked intersection, pedestrians must yield to cars that pose an immediate risk to them. Before crossing, they must ensure that vehicles have time to stop safely.
An injury on a sidewalk can be caused by a property owner or city in a number of ways. Often times, this involves ignoring a safety hazard. Other examples include:
It’s important to know that holding a property owner or city liable for an injury on a sidewalk can be difficult. It must be proven that the injury was caused by the property owner or city’s negligence or failure to maintain the sidewalk in a safe condition.
Furthermore, when an injury involves a city, county or government agency your time limit to file an injury claim is reduced to 6 months (read more about the statute of limitations on personal injury claims). It’s critical to discuss your matter with a pedestrian accident attorney in Orange County who is experienced with injury claims against cities.
The pedestrian accident lawyers listed on this page serve clients in Anaheim, Santa Ana, Irvine, Huntington Beach, Garden Grove, Orange, Fullerton, Costa Mesa, Mission Viejo, Lake Forest, Newport Beach, Buena Park, Tustin, Yorba Linda, Laguna Niguel, San Clemente, La Habra, Aliso Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, Brea, Ladera Ranch and all courts throughout Orange County and Southern California. If you or a family member was injured on a sidewalk, street or crosswalk and need to talk to a lawyer and get your questions answered, call an attorney listed here today.
Pedestrian accidents can be incredibly expensive for victims. Even if you get hit by a car rolling through an intersection, you could suffer broken bones, deep bruises, traumatic brain injuries, and soft tissue damage. Your medical bills alone could cost tens of thousands of dollars.
Without an attorney, you’ll find it very difficult to get the type of compensation you deserve. The driver’s insurance company is likely to push back on your report, claiming that you jaywalked, failed to yield right of way, or exaggerated your injuries. An attorney can cut through these intimidation tactics and help you pursue the compensation you are rightfully owed.
It’s time to find an attorney who is passionate about helping the people of Orange County. All of the listings you’ll find here are confirmed to be local law firms in Orange County. Reach out to an attorney today and get the representation you deserve.