Turlock Pedestrian Accident Lawyers
A pedestrian in Turlock faces danger every day. These accidents can leave victims with severe injuries, including those that often result in long-term disabilities. Fortunately, in many cases, victims can recover compensation by retaining a Turlock pedestrian accident lawyer from Silva Injury Law.
After your pedestrian accident and injuries, Silva Injury Law is on your side. We believe in the right to walk safely and seek justice for anyone with preventable injuries. Seek a free case evaluation from our legal team today.
Pedestrian Risks In Turlock
In a recent year, the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) reported that pedestrian deaths accounted for 25.6 percent of all state traffic fatalities, and hit-and-run drivers killed one in every four pedestrians.
OTS statistics further show that Turlock ranks third in the state for crashes involving pedestrians younger than 15 years of age, with four such crashes in 2020. There were also four accidents involving pedestrians 65 years of age or older. The state also reported 34 hit-and-run crashes in Turlock and 318 total hit-and-run accidents in the Turlock area, including 24 crashes involving pedestrians 65 years of age and older and 23 involving pedestrians younger than 15 years of age.
Despite recent initiatives to make Turlock more bicycle and pedestrian-friendly, people walking through Turlock face risks.
Many pedestrians in Turlock are visiting one of the area’s several attractions, such as the Carnegie Arts Center, the Monte Vista Crossing Shopping Center, or the Turlock Historical Society Museum. Pageo Lavender Farm, Tuolumne River Trail, and the Great Valley Museum are famous.
California State Route 99 (SR 99) and Golden Gate Boulevard are two major roads running through Turlock, so many streets crossing paths with those thoroughfares can be dangerous for pedestrians. Canal Drive, Main Street, and Fulkerth Road are common sites for pedestrian accidents.
Silva Injury Law is thoroughly familiar with the risks and locations of pedestrian accidents in the Central Valley. We are the right team to handle your pedestrian injury claim.
Choosing The Right Turlock Pedestrian Accident Lawyer For You
If you have suffered injuries in a pedestrian accident, Silva Injury Law can help. We have a significant amount of experience handling various pedestrian accident claims. We fully understand that many people involved in pedestrian accidents have no idea who was driving when a motor vehicle struck them. We also have the resources to commence our investigation into a pedestrian accident. We might even assist law enforcement in apprehending the offender in your case if they are still at large.
We can always update you on what is happening with your case and will take the time to explain everything we are working on. Our firm will conduct our independent investigation into your accident and know how to secure all of the most important forms of evidence relating to your case.
You will also want Silva Injury Law on your side when an insurance company wants to begin settlement negotiations. Accident victims should never try to negotiate settlements on their own, as insurance companies know how to get people to settle for less. A skilled attorney will know how to obtain a fair and full settlement or take the case to trial if an insurer is unwilling to provide an acceptable offer.
Our firm can also ensure you obtain all the appropriate medical care you need and deserve. We will be committed to seeing to it that you can achieve the fullest possible recovery from your injuries.
Serious Pedestrian Injuries And Damages
Types of injuries people may suffer in pedestrian accidents can vary depending on multiple factors, but the truth is that injuries are often quite severe for most victims. Any person involved in a pedestrian accident must seek medical attention immediately after an accident, even when they do not think they suffered an injury.
Our Turlock pedestrian accident lawyers regularly work with people who have suffered:
- Fractures or broken bones
- Concussions
- Closed head injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Crush injuries
- Back injuries
- Knee injuries
- Leg injuries
- Neck injuries
- Arm injuries
- Internal injuries
- Skull fractures
- Permanent nerve injuries
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Severe burn injuries
- Wrongful death
After a pedestrian accident, people have the right to seek multiple kinds of compensatory damages. Special or economic damages typically involve tangible costs that can be calculated and proven.
Common kinds of economic damages include:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Property damage
General damages or non-economic damages are far more subjective and difficult to quantify.
They may include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium
Wrongful death damages apply in cases involving a person’s death. Certain categories of family members or other parties with legal interests in a decedent’s property can recover wrongful death damages.
Punitive damages are rare in personal injury cases. Still, they might receive more as a way of punishing people for misconduct that demonstrates a wanton disregard for human life or extreme cruelty. A punitive damage award may be appropriate in a pedestrian accident involving a hit-and-run offense.
Regardless of the categories of damages available to you in your case, you should always keep in mind that the other side does not want to pay you what your claim is actually worth. In fact, they may even tell you that you are not entitled to certain types of damages when you legally are or simply deny your claim. For this reason, you must retain a Turlock pedestrian accident lawyer as soon as possible after an accident.
Common Causes Of Pedestrian Injuries
No two pedestrian accidents will ever be the same, so each crash will involve its unique set of factors – including the cause. It is not always easy to determine the cause of a pedestrian accident, but most cases involve some form of driver negligence.
Common causes of pedestrian accidents include drivers failing to yield the right of way. Two of the most common failure-to-yield violations involve vehicles entering areas with stop signs or intersections where they are required to yield and failing to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians at crosswalks.
People driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs or alcohol is another common cause of pedestrian accidents. This is also one common reason that explains hit-and-run decisions in these cases. Drivers who flee the scene do not want to be arrested for DUI and may become more willing to turn themselves in while they are sober.
Left-hand turns can be another common cause of pedestrian accidents because many drivers performing these turns are more focused on the traffic they are dealing with, so pedestrians often go overlooked. It is necessary to note that distracted driving in general, especially people trying to use cell phones while driving, is another common cause of pedestrian accidents.
Unmarked crosswalks can be another common factor in pedestrian accidents because drivers may not be watching for pedestrians in areas without clearly marked crosswalks. Speeding is a common traffic offense committed by many drivers all over California, but speeding can also play a significant role in many pedestrian accidents.
Defective traffic lights can also factor into some pedestrian accidents. Inclement weather can also play a significant role in many pedestrian accidents.
Many people will try to pin the blame on pedestrians in these cases, possibly stating they were distracted or wearing dark clothing at night that made them difficult to see. Make sure you have a lawyer who can defend your rights.
What To Do After Your Pedestrian Accident
The first thing you should do after a pedestrian accident is seek medical care. All people should receive medical attention, even when they do not believe they suffered serious injuries. Many injuries can involve delayed symptoms, and treating all injuries appropriately as soon as possible after an accident can ensure the best possible recovery.
When you see a doctor, it will also create an official medical record that you can use as evidence when it comes time to make a claim. Remember, insurance companies are in the business of making money, and they do so by paying out as little as possible on every claim they receive. Without a medical record supporting your claim, they can argue that your injuries are not as serious as you claim they are.
In fact, do not communicate with any insurance company that contacts you regarding your accident. The things you say after your accident can significantly reduce how much compensation you can recover—or whether you can recover compensation at all. If an insurance company contacts you, you should inform them that you are retaining a lawyer and that your attorney will be in touch.
Additionally, you should never sign any paperwork or accept any money from the at-fault party before talking to a lawyer. Doing so can jeopardize your chances of getting the compensation you deserve under California law.
Finally, you should contact an attorney as soon as you can after you suffer injuries in a pedestrian accident. Once a lawyer represents you, your attorney will evaluate your case and determine whether you are entitled to compensation. In addition, your attorney will advise you as to what steps you can take to maximize the chances of getting the compensation you deserve. Finally, your lawyer will handle all communications with the insurance company for you, allowing you to focus on your personal and physical recovery.
We Seek The Compensation You Deserve
Silva Injury Law does not take on any case we are not prepared to present to a jury. When you hire us, we will be willing to represent you in your case as long as it goes, even to trial.
Our firm begins by conducting our independent investigation into your pedestrian accident. We will consult with professionals and collect evidence relating to your case.
Silva Injury Law can help you manage your medical records and employment documents relating to your case and also handle property damage claims. We can send a demand letter to an insurance company for the negligent party. You should be aware, however, that most demand letters are just the first step in settlement negotiations. As a result, you should not count on your case settling at this stage.
If we cannot come to a satisfactory settlement, we will likely file a lawsuit on your behalf in the appropriate court. If we file a lawsuit, it may lead to a settlement, but it also may lead to a trial. Insurance companies strongly prefer settlements because litigation can be expensive, and juries can be unpredictable. Although trials do not happen as often, they are not out of the question, and you will want to have a lawyer representing you at trial.
Silva Injury Law knows how to take charge in these cases and engage in constructive settlement negotiations that often result in you getting a much better offer than whatever the insurance company might first extend. The bottom line is that our firm will evaluate all possible avenues for you to pursue to recover compensation in your case and work hard to ensure that any settlement or award fully compensates you for your losses.
Consult Our Turlock Pedestrian Accident Attorneys Today
If you suffered injuries or your loved one died in a pedestrian accident in the Turlock area, it is extremely important that you not delay in finding yourself legal representation because you will only have a limited amount of time to hold the negligent party accountable. Silva Injury Law can assist you in handling your case, even if a hit-and-run driver struck you and you have no idea who is to blame for your accident. Reach out to Turlock personal injury lawyer.
Our firm has a wide range of experience handling all kinds of pedestrian accident claims in communities throughout California, so we understand what needs to be done to prove another party’s negligence in these cases and help people recover appropriate awards that cover all of their costs. You can call (209) 600-4389 or contact our Turlock pedestrian accident lawyer online for your free consultation.
Our Turlock Office Address
2130 Geer Rd
Suite A
Turlock, CA 95382
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