Garden Grove Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Being involved in a pedestrian accident and dealing with the aftermath can be a traumatic experience. As a result of being in a pedestrian accident, you may have suffered serious physical injuries that require ongoing trips to doctors and specialists. You may also lose time at work, which results in lost wages. These factors could add more financial stress to your situation.

You do not have to go through this difficult period alone. If your accident was the result of another party’s negligence, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Knowing how to navigate the legal system can be complicated, though, so you may want to consider retaining a Garden Grove pedestrian accident lawyer. Contact a capable injury attorney today to schedule a consultation.

Pedestrian Accidents

Pedestrian accidents resulting in injury most often occur because of a collision between a pedestrian and a motor vehicle. The National Highway Safety Traffic Administration (NHSTA) reports that, in 2012, an estimated 76,000 pedestrians were injured due to traffic accidents.

Pedestrian accidents with motorists may occur for a variety of reasons, including when drivers:

  • Are distracted
  • Operate their vehicle while intoxicated
  • Fail to yield to pedestrians
  • Use their cell phones while driving
  • Speed or drive aggressively
  • Disobey traffic laws
  • Drive through unsafe road conditions or poorly maintained roads

These traffic-related actions may amount to negligence if a pedestrian is injured or killed due to them. Furthermore, that pedestrian or their surviving family members may be entitled to compensation.

Proving Liability for Pedestrian Accidents

When it comes to pedestrian accident cases in Garden Grove, the party seeking to recover compensation for their injuries due to another party’s negligence must show that:

  • They were owed a duty of care
  • The duty of care was breached
  • The breach of the duty was the actual and proximate cause of resulting injuries or damage

Generally, drivers owe a duty of care to others to operate their vehicle in a safe manner and obey traffic laws. Accordingly, a breach of this duty may mean that a driver was negligent.

Collecting an Award for Damages

While drivers have a duty to exercise reasonable care to prevent foreseeable harm, pedestrians must also take reasonable responsibility for their own safety. Failure to do so may result in a deduction from the financial award they may receive after a successful civil suit.

California negligence law recognizes what is known as “pure comparative negligence.” This means that if the injured party was also found to have some fault for their accident, a judge or jury can decrease their monetary award by the percentage for which they were found to be at fault. For example, if driver A is found to have been negligent in hitting pedestrian B with their vehicle but a jury also finds that pedestrian B was 25 percent at fault for causing the accident, pedestrian B’s monetary award would be reduced by 25 percent.

Talk to a Garden GrovePedestrian Accident Attorney Today

Understanding negligence law can be complex. An experienced Garden Grove pedestrian accident lawyer could help by assessing your situation and helping you determine the facts of the case. Furthermore, local attorneys could help fight for your rights and communicate with all relevant parties, including the defendant, insurance companies, and judges or juries.

If you were involved in a pedestrian accident, contact a Garden Grove pedestrian accident attorney today. You may be entitled to compensation because of another party’s negligence.