Fresno Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

If you or a loved one have been involved in a pedestrian accident in Fresno, you may feel overwhelmed, confused, and quite unsure where to turn. Pedestrian accidents often cause severe, life-changing injuries that can have disastrous financial effects; thus, having the proper legal support is critical. That is where a pedestrian accident lawyer from SSD Law Firm PC – Star Accident Injury and Immigration Law Firm comes in. Our team of experts is committed to assisting victims in seeking due compensation and holding the negligent parties responsible.

In this blog, we’ll cover everything you need to know about pedestrian accidents in Fresno, from common causes and injuries to legal options and steps to take after an accident. By the end, you will clearly understand how SSD Law Firm PC – Star Accident Injury and Immigration Law Firm is the one to help protect your rights and move you forward.

Why Choose Us as Your Fresno Pedestrian Accident Lawyer?

Hiring an attorney is one of those critical and crucial decisions that can help determine the outcome of a pedestrian accident case. At SSD Law Firm PC – Star Accident Injury and Immigration Law Firm, we pride ourselves on comprehensive and compassionate legal support, tailoring our services to meet the particular needs of our clients in Fresno, California.

Here is what makes us uniquely qualified to represent you:

• Proven Experience: With many years of experience, our firm has successfully prosecuted thousands of cases involving pedestrian accidents, always striving for excellent client results. You can trust us to navigate the complexities of your case with skill and dedication.
• Client-First Approach: We prioritize open communication, ensuring you’re informed and supported at every step of the process. Your needs and concerns are at the heart of everything we do.
• No Upfront Fees: We are contingency-based. You do not pay us one penny unless we win a settlement or verdict for you. That fully aligns our goals with getting the compensation you need.
• Aggressive Advocacy: We’re committed to standing up for your rights, taking on insurance companies with a determination to secure maximum compensation for your injuries and losses.

Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Fresno

Unfortunately, Fresno’s busy streets and growing population increase the likelihood of pedestrian accidents. Understanding the common causes will create awareness and hopefully prevent these accidents from happening.

Distracted Driving

The major reasons for pedestrian accidents include distracted driving. Activities such as texting, eating, adjusting the radio, or even conversing with passengers quickly take away one’s attention from the road. These distractions can be fatal; often, even a split-second of diverted focus can result in devastating consequences for pedestrians. Whenever drivers do not pay the right amount of attention to driving, pedestrians become the most vulnerable, where an accident and associated injury can occur.

Speeding

Speeding is another major cause of pedestrian accidents, considerably reducing the time a driver can react to emergencies. Whether it is a child stepping onto the road or any other sudden movement of traffic, high speeds reduce the ability to avoid a collision. Of more concern, though, is the fact that higher speeds in collisions result in serious injuries or fatalities. But the risks, of course, are much greater for pedestrians who lack physical protection. Therefore, the importance of adhering to speed limits in residential areas or school zones cannot be gained.

Failure to Yield

Failure to yield is one of the most common but avoidable driving practices. Most drivers do not know or disregard the right-of-way rules concerning pedestrians, especially on crosswalks. Such practices are negligent of lives and impose unnecessary risks to pedestrians to ensure their safe passage across the roads. It is important that drivers remain alert and give pedestrians the right of way to minimize the occurrence of injuries or death.

Drunk or Drugged Driving

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is still one of the major risks to pedestrian safety. Impaired drivers usually have poor coordination, slower reaction times, and reduced judgment, factors that predispose them to accidents. Pedestrians involved in such accidents often suffer life-changing trauma or worse. Such accidents do call for strict enforcement of DUI laws and public information campaigns, which would help deter people from driving under the influence of drugs.

Poor Visibility

Poor visibility at night or in badly lit streets contributes to higher incidences of pedestrian accidents. Drivers may poorly perceive pedestrians who cross streets, walk along the roadway, or stand near an intersection. Visibility is even more greatly reduced when there is rain or fog; hence, pedestrians are more dangerous. Proper installation of better street lighting with the encouragement of wearing reflective clothes is needed to mediate these risks and make roads safer for everybody.

Identifying such common causes can help victims and their families make sense of their situations and perhaps prevent similar accidents in the future through support and awareness.

Common Injuries in Fresno Pedestrian Accidents

Pedestrian injuries can be critical since pedestrians do not have protection like drivers of vehicles. In 2021, motor vehicle traffic incidents are responsible for deaths among pedestrians at 90%, hospitalizations at 86%, and visits to the emergency departments by 73%, while others are other forms of pedestrian injuries.

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)

Traumatic brain injury commonly results from severe head trauma and results in long-term disabilities in cognitive, physical, and emotional functioning. The symptoms range from headache, and memory loss to severe neurological deficits, which disable an individual’s daily functioning level. Treatment is often very long, with extensive therapy involved, which cannot guarantee the full recovery of all that is lost.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries are generally sustained through car accidents, sports injuries, and falls. The injury can cause partial or complete loss of sensation and mobility in the body. These critical injuries may need surgery, physiotherapy treatment, and a lifetime of support while learning to adapt to new challenges if paralysis occurs, for instance.

Broken Bones

Bone injuries can range from minor stress fractures to complicated breaks that require surgery. Healing includes several stages, including immobilization, physical therapy, and sometimes even months, which may be needed to strengthen the limb to pre-injury functioning levels.

Lacerations and Bruises

The lacerations and contusions may initially appear minor; however, deep cuts could cause infections or heavy bleeding if not treated in due time. A medical intervention comprising sutures, wound care, or even reconstruction could be necessary.

Internal Injuries

Internal injuries, such as organ damage or internal bleeding, are particularly dangerous because they may not show immediate symptoms.  If diagnosis and emergency treatment are not timely, these can become life-threatening injuries requiring surgery or intensive care.

These injuries bring physical pain to the victims and emotional distress and financial challenges to the victims and their families.

Legal Options for Fresno Pedestrian Accident Victims

If you’ve been injured in a pedestrian accident, you have legal rights that your Fresno pedestrian accident lawyer can help you explore. First, it’s very important to understand liability and how to pursue a claim.

Determining Fault

California follows a comparative negligence law, which means multiple parties may share fault in an accident. Your attorney will investigate thoroughly to determine whether the driver, government agencies (due to unsafe road conditions) or even a vehicle manufacturer (defective parts) may hold partial or complete responsibility.

Filing a Personal Injury Claim

Most pedestrian accidents result in the filing of a personal injury claim against the insurance company of the driver at fault. Your attorney will communicate with adjusters, organize your evidence, and negotiate on your behalf for a fair settlement.

Taking the Case to Court

Suppose the insurance company is unwilling or unable to provide adequate compensation. In that case, your attorney may recommend advancing with a lawsuit for a trial decision, wherein your case will be brought before a judge or jury who can deliver a fair verdict.

Potential Compensation for Pedestrian Accident Victims

Whenever one is involved in a pedestrian accident, there is likely to be financial compensation for the victims. Compensation normally comes in two ways: economic and non-economic damages.

Economic Damages

• Medical expenses (current and future)
• Lost wages and income potential
• Rehabilitation and therapy costs
• Property damage (if applicable)

Non-Economic Damages

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Permanent disfigurement or disability

Your Fresno pedestrian accident attorney will work diligently to ensure all damages are accounted for and compensated fairly.

What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident in Fresno

The moments after a pedestrian accident can be chaotic and overwhelming; however, it is essential to take all the proper steps for your safety and legal case.

Seek Immediate Medical Attention

It is very important that you seek immediate medical care for your injuries, no matter how minor they may appear. Some injuries, including internal trauma, whiplash, and concussions, do not always immediately show symptoms and can become life-threatening if undiagnosed or left untreated. A checkup by the doctor confirms that everything is in the best shape and provides a formal medical record of your state of health that can be highly significant if one files claims afterward.

Contact Law Enforcement

The police report, usually involving a pedestrian, is filed immediately after the accident. It contains the facts of the incident, the statements of all parties involved, possibly some witness accounts, and evidence. This is a third-party description of what really happened, not predisposed or biased to any party involved. This is most valuable during insurance processing or legal action. Adding weight to your testimony, a police report gives considerable credibility to an account of an incident and strengthens the position of settlement or proof in court.

Gather Evidence at the Scene

If possible, physically, take your time to collect all the evidence possible at the accident scene. Take clear pictures of the scene with your phone, including vehicles involved, road or traffic conditions, injury, and the property damage observable. Capture the skid marks, traffic signs, or weather that may have been a factor in the accident. Obtain the contacts of all those who witnessed it, as their testimony might be important later.

Do Not Admit Fault

Be extremely cautious regarding what you say immediately after the accident to the other participants, eyewitnesses, and even the police. Refrain from making statements like “I’m sorry” or any statement that might imply that you take all the blame for the accident. Even the most innocuous comment may turn out against you in court later and hurt your chances of compensation. Just state the facts and wait until you have spoken with a lawyer before discussing who is at fault.

Contact a Lawyer

One of the first calls after attending to your immediate medical needs should be to an experienced pedestrian accident attorney. The attorney will navigate you through a largely complex process of recovering your losses, which also includes ensuring that your rights are not violated and that you do not make any missteps that could weaken your case. They will gather vital evidence, speak with the insurance companies, and represent you so your rights are granted with the compensation you deserve.

How Long Do You Have to File a Pedestrian Accident Claim in Fresno, CA?

California has a statute of limitation on filing any claims regarding personal injuries, including those of pedestrian accidents. You typically can file within two years from the date of your accident. Missing this crucial deadline may result in losing your right to pursue compensation for your injuries, medical expenses, and other damages.

However, there are exceptions, like claims against government entities, which usually have shorter deadlines. It is highly advisable to consult with a Fresno pedestrian accident attorney as soon as possible to ensure that all legal requirements are met and your rights are preserved.

Call Our Fresno Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Today

If you’ve been in a pedestrian accident, retaining sound legal counsel is wise. SSD Law Firm PC – Star Accident Injury and Immigration Law Firm will treat your case with care and work to assert your rights in every way possible.

Call us now at 559 342-2000 or visit us at 2170 N Winery Ave, Fresno, CA 93703, United States, for a free consultation with one of our experienced pedestrian accident lawyers in Fresno.

Client Reviews

What Our Clients Are Saying About Us

Jamie N.

January 2025

In December 2023 a woman completely blew a stop sign and nailed me on my bicycle in Old Fig Garden (Fresno, Ca.). This was my first experience dealing with this type of incident, and due to my injuries it was advised I seek legal representation. Mr. Sarwinder Dhanjan agreed to take my case. He clearly explained my case in a way that easy to understand and assured me that he would fight for a fair conclusion. His team stayed in contact with me throughout the process until its conclusion in October 2024. I was very happy with how his team handled my case and would recommend his team to anyone who is going through a similar situation.

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