Anaheim is home to Disneyland and has served as a tourism district, which houses restaurants, clubs, shops, and other entertainment venues. Walking is a routine part of everyday life in this bustling Orange County city.
An Anaheim pedestrian accident lawyer at Bisnar Chase know that in a city where walking is prevalent, there are bound to be pedestrian accidents. Pedestrian accidents are common, affecting over 340,000 residents and millions of tourists annually.
The experienced Anaheim pedestrian accident lawyers at Bisnar Chase have a long and successful track record of protecting the rights of injured victims and their families.
For more than 46 years, we have fought for the rights of injured victims in Orange County. We offer a free consultation and have recovered $850 million in wins for our clients.
If you have been involved in a pedestrian accident in Anaheim, call our Anaheim personal injury lawyers now at 949-203-3814.
Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Anaheim
How Much Do Personal Injury Attorneys Charge in California?
No Upfront Fees: One of the advantages of a contingency fee arrangement is that our clients do not have to pay upfront fees, making legal representation more accessible to those who might not be able to afford to pay hourly attorney rates.
- Medical Liens: We will work with all your healthcare providers to get your medical bills placed into a lien so that you won’t have to pay them until the case is settled. We’ll also work to negotiate a reduction in your medical costs.
Personal injury attorneys in California can charge between 33 and 42% of what they win in an accident case. The amount charged will be discussed with your attorney because costs and fees vary from case to case.
How Long Does it Take to Settle A Pedestrian Accident Claim?
While some cases may settle within a few months, it’s not uncommon for more complex cases to take a year or more. It’s important for the injured party to consult with on Anaheim pedestrian accident lawyer to get a better understanding of the expected timeline for their specific case.
Patience is necessary, as rushing to a settlement might result in less compensation than is appropriate for the injuries and damages you sustained.
There are many factors involved in processing a pedestrian accident lawsuit, including:
Severity of Injuries: More severe injuries often mean longer treatment times, which can extend the settlement process. It’s usually advisable to reach a point of maximum medical improvement (MMI) before settling so you fully understand the extent of your injuries and future medical needs.
Medical Treatment Duration: The length of medical treatment will impact the settlement timeline. Settlements are often delayed until the injured person has fully recovered or a clear prognosis is made.
Liability Disputes: If there is a dispute over who is at fault for the accident, this can prolong negotiations. Cases with clear liability tend to be resolved faster.
Insurance Company Negotiations: The willingness of the insurance company to negotiate and offer a fair settlement can affect the duration. Some insurance companies may offer a quick settlement, while others may engage in prolonged negotiations or disputes.
Call our Orange County law firm today to get started if you’ve been injured in an Anaheim pedestrian accident. Call 949-203-3814 for a free consultation.
California Pedestrian Accident Statistics
According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, the latest stats for California pedestrian injuries are:
- 2018: 893 pedestrians were killed on California roadways, a 26% increase from 2014.
- 2018: More than 14,000 pedestrians were injured.
- Pedestrian deaths rose 26% percent between 2014 and 2018.
- Nearly 7,500 pedestrians have died in California between 2009 and 2018.
- California’s pedestrian fatality rate is almost 25% higher than the national average.
- No state has more pedestrian deaths on its roadways than California.
- A study by Taylor and Francis found the following statistics on pedestrian injuries in kids: Child Pedestrian Injuries: The study found that child pedestrian collisions are nearly nine times more frequent in the poorest quartile of neighborhoods in Orange County compared to the wealthiest quartile. Factors such as neighborhood crowding, low levels of education and English-speaking ability, and Latino ethnicity were associated with increased pediatric collision risk (Chakravarthy et al., 2012).
- Pedestrian Crash Risk at Intersections: Another study in Alameda County, California, which might have parallels in Orange County, identified that more pedestrian crashes occurred at intersections with more right-turn-only lanes, nonresidential driveways within 50 ft, and more commercial properties within 0.1 mi. (Agran et al., 1996).
Crosswalk Accidents
Crosswalks, both marked and unmarked, can be found at different Anaheim intersections. Sometimes, crosswalks may not be located at a street intersection.
Regardless of where the crosswalks are located and regardless of whether they are marked or unmarked, California law requires that motorists yield the right-of-way to pedestrians in crosswalks.
California Vehicle Code section 21950 states: “The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection.”
The same section also states that the driver of a vehicle approaching a pedestrian within any marked or unmarked crosswalk “shall exercise all due care and shall reduce the speed of a vehicle or take any other action relating to the operation of the vehicle as necessary to safeguard the safety of the pedestrian.”
While motorists are responsible for stopping at a crosswalk and yielding the right-of-way to pedestrians, it is also the responsibility of pedestrians to cross the street safely and not jaywalk or cross against a light.
No life is worth the shortcut you may save by jaywalking. Pedestrian accidents are the number one source of business for injury attorneys. It speaks volumes about the number of pedestrian accidents across California annually.
Perhaps most of us think it will never happen to us, but being hit by a car while you’re walking can occur in a flash. If you or a loved one has been injured, call our Anaheim pedestrian accident attorneys for a free legal consultation. There is no fee if we don’t win your case. Call 949-203-3814.
Pedestrian Safety Tips
Most injuries to pedestrians occur when they are hit because the driver was inattentive or didn’t see the pedestrian in time to avoid the collision.
There are several safety measures pedestrians can take to ensure that they are not struck.
- Be seen: It is important that pedestrians dress to be seen by drivers. If you walk at night wear reflective or retro-reflective materials that reflect light when headlights shine on them.
- Wear sturdy shoes that will give you a good level of grip.
- Use pathways and sidewalks whenever they are available.
- Walk facing oncoming traffic if you ever walk on or near the road so that the driver and you can see each other.
- Plan your routes so you avoid hazardous crossings.
- Stop. Look. Listen: Stop and look for traffic in all directions before you cross the street.
- Do not rely on traffic signs and signals. You would be well advised to look out for traffic even when you are in a crosswalk, walking with the light, or with the walk signal.
- Never jaywalk or dart into traffic lanes.
While it is important for pedestrians to take all possible steps to be careful and defensive, it is also important that drivers do their part to consciously look out for pedestrians on the roadway and always yield the right-of-way to pedestrians. Contact one of our Anaheim pedestrian accident lawyers at 949-203-3814.
Injuries Sustained in Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrians can be seriously injured in traffic accidents. Since pedestrians have very little protection, there is the potential for catastrophic injuries or even fatalities.
If a negligent driver or a dangerous roadway caused your pedestrian accident in Anaheim, you may be able to seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation, and other related damages.
If a dangerous or defective roadway caused the accident, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining the roadway can also be held liable. Please remember that any personal injury or wrongful death claim against a governmental agency must be filed within 180 days of the incident.
Pedestrian accidents can result in a wide range of injuries, varying in severity from minor to life-threatening. The typical injuries sustained in such accidents include:
1. Soft Tissue Injuries: Include bruises, sprains, and strains. Depending on the impact, soft tissue injuries can range from minor to severe.
2. Lacerations and Abrasions: Cuts and scrapes are common, especially if the pedestrian is thrown to the ground or against an object.
3. Broken Bones: Fractures are common in pedestrian accidents, particularly in the legs, arms, ribs, and pelvis. The severity can vary from simple fractures to complex, multiple breaks.
4. Head injuries: These can range from mild concussions to severe traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Head injuries are particularly concerning due to their potential long-term effects.
5. Spinal Cord Injuries: These injuries can be severe, potentially leading to paralysis (paraplegia or quadriplegia) or other long-term disabilities.
6. Internal Injuries: These include internal bleeding, organ damage, and internal bruising. Such injuries might not be immediately apparent, but they can be life-threatening.
7. Neck and Back Injuries: Whiplash, spinal fractures, and herniated discs are standard due to the sudden impact and force exerted on the body.
8. Crush Injuries: If a vehicle pins or crushes a pedestrian, it can result in serious internal and external injuries.
9. Psychological Trauma: Beyond physical injuries, pedestrians may suffer from psychological issues like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression following an accident.
10. Amputations: In severe cases, limbs or digits may be amputated either during the accident or surgically afterward due to extensive damage.
11. Facial Injuries: These can include dental injuries, jaw fractures, and eye injuries, often resulting from hitting the windshield, ground, or another object.
12. Road Rash: Severe skin abrasions can occur if the pedestrian slides across the pavement.
The severity and type of injuries depend on various factors, such as the vehicle’s speed, the angle of impact, the physical condition of the pedestrian, and the immediate medical response.
It’s crucial for pedestrians involved in an accident to seek nearby medical attention, as some injuries may not be immediately apparent. A pedestrian accident lawyer in Anaheim can help you determine financial compensation for your injuries.
What Injuries Are Hard to Prove?
In some personal injury cases, your injuries may not be obvious. These types of injuries often require follow-up medical treatment to prove they exist.
- Soft Tissue Injuries: These injuries involve damage to muscles, ligaments, and tendons and often don’t appear on X-rays or other imaging tests. Examples include sprains, strains, and whiplash.
- Psychological Injuries: Mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) resulting from an incident can be challenging to prove, as they require detailed psychological evaluations and are subjective.
- Chronic Pain: Conditions like fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome are hard to prove as they rely heavily on the patient’s description of their pain and fatigue, which can’t be easily measured or observed.
- Concussions and Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs): While severe TBIs can be detected through imaging, mild TBIs or concussions often do not show up on standard medical scans and can be challenging to diagnose and prove.
- Minor Internal Injuries: Some internal injuries may not be immediately apparent and can be difficult to link to a specific incident, especially if symptoms appear gradually.
- Repetitive Stress Injuries: Injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome or tendonitis develop over time and can be challenging to connect to specific activities or workplace conditions directly.
- Pre-existing Conditions: It may be challenging to demonstrate how a pre-existing condition worsened due to an accident.
- Occupational Diseases: Diseases that develop over a long period due to workplace exposure, like asbestosis or certain types of cancer, can be hard to prove as they require establishing a clear link between the disease and workplace conditions.
Proving these types of injuries often requires extensive medical documentation, expert testimony, and, sometimes, a detailed analysis of the individual’s medical history. We thoroughly investigate each client’s accident injuries to ensure maximum compensation. Contact our Anaheim pedestrian accident lawyer for a free consultation. Call 949-203-3814 today.
2024 Best Lawyers in America
Our pedestrian accident attorneys at Bisnar Chase have been legally representing clients in the Orange County region for more than 46 years, including pedestrians who have been injured in and near Anaheim.
We have a success rate of 99% and offer support to our clients through every step of the process, from recovery to recovering compensation.
- 2024 Best Law Firms in America
- 2024 Super Lawyers
- 2024 Litigation Lawyer of the Year
- 2024 Top Lawyer
If there is no win, there is no fee. Please call an Anaheim pedestrian accident lawyer at 949-203-3814 for more information or a free case review.
