Yes. Drivers in Ceres can be held accountable in pedestrian accidents, even if the victim wasn’t crossing the street in a crosswalk. Victims can seek help with medical bills and their lost wages while they must miss work.
California generally no longer allows those on foot to be stopped for “jaywalking” and doesn’t cite anyone crossing in the middle of the street unless it’s done in an unsafe manner.
Don’t let an insurance company try to talk you out of filing a claim. You should have everything you need to heal and rebuild your life.
Contact Maison Law of Ceres today for a free, confidential consultation. We want you to be able to hold a car insurance company fully responsible and have the support you require to get back on your feet.
Who Is Responsible for a Pedestrian Accident That Happens Outside a Crosswalk?
California drivers are held to a higher standard in pedestrian accidents. They can be held responsible in collisions, even if a pedestrian isn’t crossing the street in a safe place.
This extra accountability is due to the vulnerability anyone on foot has when trying to pass in front of fast-moving, metal vehicles.
Drivers must slow down when they see a pedestrian, no matter where they are. They must be going slow enough to be able to stop to avoid an impact if necessary. When they don’t uphold this duty, drivers can be held partially or fully liable in accidents.
What If I’m Found Partially to Blame for My Pedestrian Accident?
In some cases, California allows drivers and pedestrians to share blame in accidents. It allows pedestrian victims suffering injuries to gain some financial support after a collision.
This concept is known as “comparative negligence.” It means that a driver and a pedestrian victim may each be assigned a percentage of the blame. For example, a pedestrian might be given 30% of the blame by a judge for stepping out into traffic in the middle of the street. The driver may have to accept 70% percent of the blame for going too fast to slow down adequately after seeing a pedestrian entering the road.
The pedestrian victim could still receive a judgment in the case, but it would be reduced by the 30% fault the pedestrian was responsible for. For example, the judgment might be $10,000, but the victim would only receive $7,000 of the award.
Of course, if you have a skilled Ceres Pedestrian Accident Attorney handling your case, your attorney would fight to get your blame reduced or all the way down to zero. By presenting powerful evidence, a lawyer would show that a careless driver deserved all of the blame and financial responsibility.
What Kinds of Things Can Earn Compensation After a Pedestrian Accident?
A devastating collision with a car at a busy intersection like Hatch Road and Mitchell Road can leave victims stuck in a hospital bed and unable to earn a paycheck. This shouldn’t be the victim’s worry. I should be he at-fault driver’s concern.
The victims of a Ceres pedestrian accident can sue for compensatory damages, which include:
- Totals on all current medical bills and those expected in the future
- Estimates on lifetime care if victims are left with permanent physical disabilities
- Totals on the paychecks and benefits the victim loses while they are down
- Replacement or repair of any personal property damage
- Support for the pain experienced by victims
- Support for the emotional trauma victims must cope with
Emotional damages can include the loss of enjoyment of life while victims are immobile and must give up their favorite activities. A difficult recovery can lead to depression and anxiety.
A Maison Law attorney would seek the maximum in compensation for these and other hardships experienced by the victim.
Contact a Ceres Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury in a pedestrian collision caused by a careless driver, discuss your case with a skilled Ceres Pedestrian Accident Lawyer as soon as possible.
We help all local victims, including those hurt across Stanislaus County. Accident victims should never be left to face the costs of recovery alone, no matter whether they were crossing in a crosswalk or not.
Contact Maison Law to make sure you are clear on the rights you have as a victim and the benefits that are available to you and your family. We offer a free, no-obligation case evaluation to all bicycle accident victims and their families. We want to make sure victims get the support they need to recover and return to the road again.
