Salinas Pedestrian Accident Lawyers
When a car, truck, or even a motorcycle hits someone walking, the pedestrian will most likely experience severe injuries or even death. Pedestrian accidents are often a driver’s fault. However, proving that fault in court can be more challenging than you realize. Therefore, choosing an experienced Salinas pedestrian accident attorney with extensive knowledge of pedestrian rights is one of the most critical steps you will take if this happens to you.
Silva Injury Law cares about pedestrian rights and injuries in Salinas. We know you should not have to pay for medical expenses and other bills out of your pocket when someone else’s negligent actions caused your injuries.
If you want to learn about your legal rights following a pedestrian injury and believe you deserve compensation, we offer completely free case evaluations. Look no further than Silva Injury Law for support in this stressful time.
Hiring A Trusted Salinas Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Motorists should always safely drive and be on the lookout for pedestrians and those crossing the streets. However, Silva Injury Law knows this only sometimes happens. As a result, our attorneys take these cases very seriously and believe in holding the responsible parties accountable for their negligent actions.
A Salinas pedestrian accident lawyer from our firm understands the hardships and frustrations that you are going through. If you choose to hire us, we will encourage you to focus on your recovery while we handle all the details of your claim. Our attorneys will gather information, track down the individual who hit you and build a strong case against them.
Pedestrian Risks In Salinas
It is no secret that pedestrians face many risks in Salinas, California. Pedestrians often have to walk quite a ways to find a crosswalk or safe area to walk on. This reality can lead to dangerous situations for those on foot, as it only takes a few seconds for a distracted or reckless driver to make a mistake and collide with a pedestrian.
While the Salinas City Council works hard to address pedestrian safety concerns, the efforts have failed to reduce the number of pedestrians drivers hit in this area.
Laurel Drive is a very dangerous road for pedestrians. East Laurel Drive near Bolero Avenue is another location of recent pedestrian injuries. The crosswalk at North Main and Lamar is another dangerous area for pedestrians. The hit-and-run pedestrian accidents at this location include the case of a small six-year-old.
The California Office of Traffic Safety reported that 41 pedestrian accidents resulted in injury or death in Salinas in a single year. This number is alarming, and it should be enough to realize that something needs to change to prevent these types of accidents from occurring.
In the meantime, we can expect pedestrians in Salinas to continue suffering serious injuries. Silva Injury Law is ready to help when this happens.
Serious Injuries To Pedestrians
Pedestrian accident injuries can range from cuts or bruises to something as serious as a major traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, or paralysis. The human body cannot handle the force of a vehicle. Therefore, when these accidents occur, the pedestrian most likely suffers severe injuries, such as broken bones, concussions, shattered bones, crush injuries, internal organ damage, and more.
Fractured or broken bones
Fractured and broken bones are some of the most common injuries pedestrians experience when struck by a vehicle. These injuries include broken and fractured fingers, arms, legs, hips, toes, and hands. People generally can handle these types of injuries, but they cause much pain, suffering, and physical therapy.
Concussions and traumatic brain injuries
When an individual experiences a blow to the head, they will often have a concussion. If the pedestrian hits their head on the concrete, vehicle, or another object nearby, a doctor should always check for a concussion. A concussion can lead to temporary or permanent cognitive symptoms and impairments.
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is another type of head injury. It is very serious, as individuals with TBIs often have life-altering issues for the rest of their lives. Some symptoms of this type of injury are confusion, inability to concentrate, vision issues, and irritability.
Spinal cord injuries
When a lot of force hits a pedestrian, they may land on the pavement on their back. This position can lead to spinal cord injuries, which come with pain, weakness, and numbness. Some spinal injuries completely paralyze the victim, and their condition is irreversible.
Internal organ damage
An individual hit by a motor vehicle may have internal organ damage or bleeding. These injuries can come from force to the kidneys, liver, stomach, lungs, and more. Only medical imaging can identify such life-threatening injuries.
Amputation or loss of limbs
Pedestrians involved in accidents with motor vehicles might have their body parts run over. This occurrence can result in needing an amputation, which means the hospital will remove one of their limbs that surgeons cannot repair.
Neck injuries
Neck injuries develop when a person gets hit by a car with extreme force. The human body cannot handle sudden and forceful movement. Therefore, when a pedestrian accident occurs, it is common for the individual to have a broken or injured neck.
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When a person experiences severe injuries, they may become unresponsive and unable to wake up. This lack of response usually happens when a severe head or spinal injury occurs.
Always remember that most pedestrian accidents result in the victim suffering severe injuries. A passenger vehicle weighs between 2,000 and 10,000 pounds, while a human typically weighs between 100 and 300 pounds. Therefore, when a vehicle collides with a human, the result is usually severe injuries or even death.
Most serious injuries from a pedestrian accident will require costly and ongoing care. This need is especially true for catastrophic injuries, including TBIs, amputations, spinal cord injuries, and paralysis. Catastrophic injuries lead to extensive losses, and this can complicate the claim process.
Our Salinas pedestrian lawyers will accurately determine what your claim is worth, and we will fight for full financial recovery in every case.
Common Causes Of Pedestrian Accidents
Drivers in Salinas should always be aware of their surroundings, check their blind spots, and prepare to slow down or stop at any given moment for pedestrians. Yet, no matter how much we advocate for drivers to do this, pedestrian accidents continue happening.
A few of the most common reasons include:
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Driving while under the influence
- Drowsy driving
- Texting and driving
- Not using a signal
- Not properly yielding
- Not using any lights
- Failing to check for pedestrians before turning or switching lanes
Steps To Take After A Pedestrian Accident
There are several steps we recommend taking after a pedestrian accident. First and foremost, you should seek the medical attention you need as quickly as possible. Even if you do not feel hurt or injured, you must schedule a check-up with your healthcare provider, as it is common for some injuries to be missed or show up later. Traumatic brain injuries are one of the most common injuries that show symptoms a few days or weeks later.
Once a doctor has checked you for injuries, they will most likely recommend ongoing medical treatments depending on your injuries. This follow-up may include surgeries, physical therapy, medications, medical procedures, etc. If you do not see a doctor or continue medical treatment plans, insurance companies can and most likely will argue that your injuries were not severe or that the accident did not cause your injuries.
Even though insurance companies might try to contact you countless times, you should not speak to them. We advise you to reject all communication with insurance companies because they will use anything you say against you. You do not want to give wrong or incorrect information that the defense can bring up in your court hearing. Insurance companies are always looking for ways to give a lower amount of compensation than the victim deserves, and they may find ways to make you think you should accept that amount if you speak to them.
Next, call a Salinas pedestrian accident attorney at your earliest convenience. Several different attorneys claim to be capable of handling these types of cases. Still, you will want to look for someone skilled, professional, educated, and experienced in pedestrian accidents. Our attorneys at Silva Injury Law know and understand the laws surrounding these types of issues and will stand up for your rights and ensure that your voice gets heard.
We have helped many clients who have suffered an injury in pedestrian accidents. Therefore, we know the stresses and frustrations they experience, which is why we do everything we can to guide our clients through the legal process. Our goal is to make the process as smooth as possible for our clients by explaining everything going on with their cases and ensuring they remain updated.
Suppose you hire our trusted lawyers at Silva Injury Law. In that case, we will speak to insurance companies for you, gather the necessary evidence, and stand up against the individual who put you in this situation. Call our Salinas pedestrian accident attorney as soon as possible to begin the legal process of recovering compensation for your injuries.
Seeking Full Compensation For Your Losses
Pedestrians struck by large, heavy motor vehicles often need medical attention and ongoing care for the rest of their lives. This will result in growing medical bills and ongoing treatment costs, making it difficult for the victim to return to work for a long period.
The good news is that a Salinas pedestrian accident attorney can help you file a claim against the at-fault party. By doing so, we will help you fight for fair compensation to cover your losses.
Depending on your case, we can recover:
- Emergency medical treatment
- Ongoing medical treatment, hospitalizations, surgeries, medications, etc.
- In-home assistance, care, and services
- Past and future lost income
- Psychological therapy or counseling
- Physical pain and mental suffering, including trauma and emotional distress
- Occupational therapy and physical therapy
- Home modifications
If you want to file a claim for your losses, you must schedule a meeting with one of our pedestrian accident attorneys within two years of your accident date. You must take advantage of the two-year mark, as this can affect your ability to get the compensation needed to cover your losses. At the time of your meeting, we will review your claim, listen to your experience, and give legal advice on what we think you should do.
If we determine that your claim is viable, we will begin collecting evidence and information to help your case. Important evidence we will look for includes photographs from the scene, video footage, witness statements, physician testimonies, medical records, police reports, and more. Gathering the appropriate evidence will help us build a strong argument against the responsible party and hold them accountable for their negligence.
While we cannot tell you the precise compensation you will receive for your pedestrian accident injuries, we are happy to meet with you and learn the details of your accident. Each case has its own set of unique circumstances. Therefore, we can only estimate how much your case is worth after we hear your story.
Consult Our Salinas Pedestrian Accident Attorneys About Your Case
Silva Injury Law is here to assist you if you or a loved one has suffered an injury after a car, truck, motorcycle, or even a bicycle hit you while walking. Insurance companies can be intimidating and powerful, but our attorneys will not back down from any challenge. We will use our advocacy experience and skills to stand up to them and demand that they listen to your story.
If this sounds like a good fit, please do not hesitate to get your free consultation with our firm by clicking here or calling (209) 308-8924. You do not need to worry about the costs of hiring a lawyer, as we will not charge you anything upfront. Instead, we will only collect our fee if we successfully acquire compensation for you. Thank you for considering Silva Injury Law!
We look forward to assisting you soon.
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30 E Joaquin St
Suite 204-A
Salinas, CA 93901
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