Long Beach is one of the safest cities for pedestrians in California. It stands to reason that with so many attractions on the waterfront and such a vibrant downtown area, people should be able to take a stroll and feel protected.
There are also residents waking up each morning in Long Beach neighborhoods like Bixby Knolls or Alamitos Heights ready to walk or run for exercise. Others set out to walk to work, school, or to the store.
Unfortunately, some walks put pedestrians in close proximity to the rush of traffic, and even with clearly marked crosswalks, accidents can occur. When a careless driver is responsible for hitting and injuring someone on foot in Long Beach, victims should demand full support with the help of a pedestrian accident injury claim.
Schedule a Free Consultation with a Long Beach Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Healing and getting back on your feet again are the most important goals after your pedestrian accident. And once injuries have been stabilized, financial recovery must also be a focus. Unfortunately, insurance companies for at-fault drivers don’t always make it easy for injured victims to secure the financial support they need to pay medical bills and recover income lost at work.
You are entitled to a free legal consultation with Maison Law. It’s a chance to talk directly to a real Long Beach Personal Injury Lawyer. During this confidential informational session, you’ll learn about benefits available to you that an insurance company was never going to mention. Contact us before speaking with any insurance company to find out how much your case is worth.
Pedestrian Accident Dangers in Long Beach
Long Beach can focus on safer intersections and building more walking paths, but walking anywhere on foot won’t get that much safer until drivers start to take the welfare of pedestrians seriously.
Drivers can read a text on a cellphone and then act surprised when they don’t see a pedestrian crossing Studebaker Road. Motorists can also travel at unsafe speeds that leave little chance of stopping when they suddenly notice a pedestrian entering a crosswalk.
California’s Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS) tracks pedestrian accidents each year across Los Angeles County. TIMS documented 332 total pedestrian accidents in Long Beach involving injuries in 2021. Those accidents led to 17 tragic deaths.
These incidents can leave pedestrians off their feet for weeks or months. Recovery can involve expensive surgeries, physical therapy, and major changes to lifestyles. A skilled Long Beach Pedestrian Accident Lawyer works to make sure victims can focus on healing while at-fault drivers do the worrying over how to pay medical bills.
What To Do After a Pedestrian Accident in Long Beach
Defenseless pedestrians traveling Long Beach are quite vulnerable when involved in a collision with a 5,000lb SUV or an 80,000lb big rig. The injuries can be severe. Seeking out the best medical care available and the proper rehabilitation program could cost tens of thousands of dollars.
Pedestrian victims shouldn’t have to concern themselves with these enormous bills. Yet, without strong proof that a driver was 100% at fault, insurance companies will attempt to escape responsibility for those charges.
For pedestrians looking for powerful evidence to base an insurance claim on, there’s no better place to find it than on the scene of the accident. If you are strong enough after your Long Beach pedestrian collision, try to gather these details:
- Contact 911 emergency dispatch. Have an ambulance and Long Beach Police Officers or the CHP respond. Allow emergency crews to check you out and transport you to the emergency room if necessary. Inform officers of what you observed as the accident occurred. This information helps them build a collision report that will be evidence in your favor.
- Take pictures. If you are able, take photos on the scene, or ask someone with you or a good Samaritan to help. Show the damage the collision caused to the car, including broken windshields, dented hoods, and busted mirrors. Show any visible injuries you suffered. Get photos of lane markings and crosswalks.
- Get contact information from witnesses so your Long Beach Pedestrian Accident Attorney can reach out to them to obtain testimony.
- Don’t comment on what happened to the driver involved. Statements of speculation on who was at fault and how badly you are hurt can be twisted and used against you later. Also, beware of phone calls from insurance representatives after an accident. They’ll be hoping to talk you into giving a recorded statement about what happened that they could use to reject your case.
- Get checked out by your own physician. Follow the doctor’s instructions and recommendations to see specialists.
- Keep any damaged clothing and personal items. Preserved bloody clothing. Don’t wash those items. Don’t throw evidence out.
Common Injuries in Long Beach Pedestrian Accidents
Each time you add evidence and supporting documents to your case, you increase your chances of maximizing your pedestrian accident injury claim. This is critical because the often severe nature of pedestrian injuries can leave victims short on funds to pay their bills, even after a settlement check has arrived.
These are just some of the most common serious injuries that emergency department doctors at Long Beach Medical Center treat after pedestrian accidents:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) – Pedestrians can suffer brain trauma after a blow to the head from a vehicle, from the pavement, or even against other objects like a bench or telephone pole. Victims might suffer concussions, memory loss, seizures, and the loss of the ability to speak.
- Bone Fractures – The arms, wrists, legs, and ankle bones can suffer blunt force trauma and fracture, but they can also be shattered when run over by the full weight of a vehicle. The collarbone and the breastbone in the upper chest also commonly fracture. Skull fractures are also possible and could send bone fragments into the brain.
- Amputation – When limbs are run over by tires, the crushing force can make repair and recovery a longshot. Doctors might have to perform a surgical amputation. The care and support of a Long Beach pedestrian accident victim would become critical. The cost of care and education on learning to live with a disability over a lifetime would be sought from an insurance company.
- Paralysis – An accident may result in a permanent loss of mobility. This would include the loss of the ability to control your own body after a spine or brain injury. An injury settlement would need to include lifetime financial backing for medical equipment, home renovation, and job training to help victims find work they are able to perform comfortably.
- Facial and Dental Injury – In some cases, it’s the pedestrian’s face that takes the brunt of an impact. The nose and cheekbones might suffer a fracture. Teeth will get loosened or knocked loose. A permanent and very visible disfigurement may be the result.
What Kind of Damages Will Factor into My Pedestrian Accident Insurance Settlement Check?
Long Beach pedestrian collision victims must not only demand financial support for their current medical bills, but they must also consider the expenses they may face in the years to come. A Long Beach pedestrian accident lawyer will total every medical bill for clients and get accurate estimates for the cost of care anticipated in the future.
This protects the victim from signing off on an insurance settlement, only to experience an injury relapse later and have no money left to provide for additional care. Getting the most out of a pedestrian injury claim is key for victims and the families who depend on their support.
Victims and their families can also seek compensation for the lost wages while the victim must miss work. The toll physical pain and emotional trauma take on the victim must also be accounted for in a settlement check.
Other Frequently Asked Questions We Hear from our Clients
Can my family receive financial support after a loved one has been killed in a Long Beach pedestrian accident?
Yes. California allows a spouse, partner, or children of the victim to file a wrongful death claim on behalf of the family. This civil claim seeks money to help with funeral costs. It also asks for support to replace the income the deceased can no longer provide.
What is the statute of limitations on a Long Beach pedestrian accident injury claim?
Two years. Long Beach pedestrian victims have up to two years to file an injury claim. Turning over your case to a skilled Long Beach Lawyer as soon as possible is beneficial. Fresh evidence will be more readily available, and witnesses will be easier to locate.
Should I talk to the driver’s insurance company after a pedestrian accident?
No. You may offer them basic contact information, but don’t allow them to record a statement from you. They like to twist your words in order to weaken your injury claim later. Refer them to your pedestrian accident attorney.
Contact a Long Beach Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one suffer a serious injury due to the careless actions of a Long Beach driver, don’t allow an insurance company to determine what you’ll receive in compensation. A pedestrian collision might leave you off your feet, unable to work, and with no way to pay your growing hospital bills.
Take advantage of a free case consultation from Martin Gasparian, the founder of Maison Law. This evaluation comes with no obligation to you or your family. Make sure you are treated fairly and receive the support you need to fully recover and rebuild your finances.
