California pedestrians often enjoy their walks out in the sunshine, but some get understandably nervous when it comes time to cross a busy boulevard. Crosswalks can span eight and ten lanes and leave those on foot out in front of careless drivers for 30 seconds or more.
A driver looking at a cell phone and not at traffic lights can miss a red light and run right into a defenseless pedestrian. Victims might suffer dangerous neck injuries and risk a lifelong disability.
The potential for serious consequences is the reason a skilled California pedestrian accident lawyer will fight so hard to get victims enough in compensation to fully cover all hardships and damages.
A Free Legal Consultation for California Pedestrian Accident Victims
If you or a loved one were injured by a driver’s carelessness, speak to a skilled California pedestrian accident lawyer before speaking with anyone else. Car insurance companies for reckless drivers will tell you your injury is worth very little or nothing at all. Our California neck fracture pedestrian accident lawyers will inform you of what your injury is truly worth, and how to demand more from an unfair insurance provider.
Schedule a free consultation with a real lawyer so you fully understand your options. If you decide we can help you get the most out of a pedestrian injury claim, you won’t need any upfront money to hire Maison Law. We don’t get paid unless we win your case. Then our fee comes out of the settlement you are awarded.
Neck Fracture Dangers for California Pedestrians
UCLA Health explains that a neck fracture is referred to as a cervical fracture. It’s when there’s a break in one or more bones in the neck that make up the upper part of the spinal column. A fracture in the cervical vertebrae is what is meant when people say “broken neck.”
The USC Spine Center adds that a neck fracture may also include a cervical dislocation. This is when there’s a ligament injury in between the vertebrae. The high-energy trauma involved in a traffic accident is more than enough to cause these major injuries.
In a collision involving the weight of a vehicle, pedestrians may have their neck vertebrae and ligaments stretched to the breaking point. An impact could also compress the vertebrae to cause damage.
Victims may suffer whiplash when pedestrians have their necks moved back and forth violently. Whiplash involves painful soft tissue damage. Pain can persist for two to three months. In some cases, victims have recurring pain, and arthritis in the neck throughout their lives.
Any injury involving any part of the spine is dangerous, and even a hairline crack in a vertebra can involve thousands of dollars in medical bills for doctor examinations, X-Rays, CT scans, or MRIs. A California Pedestrian Accident Lawyer would look at every hardship a client had faced and will face when determining how much to demand in an injury claim.
Neck Fracture Outlook for Pedestrian Accident Victims
These painful neck injuries can heal over time, although victims will have their daily routines greatly affected as they deal with pain and difficulty in movement. Nerve damage can radiate out to the arms and legs.
Victims may spend a lot of time and money at the doctor’s office and in physical therapy trying to get chronic pain to end.
In more serious cases where the spine is destabilized, surgery will have to be performed. Patients may be kept in a rigid cast for two to three months. Traction may also be used in recovery. This is the process of pulling on the neck and spine to slowly get alignment. Ropes, pulleys, and weights are used.
Of course, surgery, surgeon fees, and long-term physical therapy will quickly rack up enormous medical bills. These are bills that can send a patient into bankruptcy without help from an at-fault driver and the driver’s car insurance provider.
A California Neck Injury Pedestrian Accident Lawyer fights to make sure victims and their families never have these costs dropped in their laps. A lawyer rejects any settlement offer that won’t cover every hardship the victim endures and demands more.
Compensation Available to Car Accident Victims with Neck Fractures
A skilled California personal injury lawyer fully investigates what happened to you and investigates the driver responsible for the accident. Accident reports and medical evidence is collected to form a strong case to present to the car insurance company. This evidence is key in keeping an insurance adjuster from trying to turn blame away from their policyholder or casting doubt on the severity of your injury.
The size of a pedestrian accident neck injury settlement check will be determined by these and other factors:
- Totals on medical bills.
- Rehab and physical therapy treatment.
- Estimates on long-term support if your injury ends up causing a permanent disability and makes it impossible to return to your job.
- Travel costs to medical appointments while you are unable to drive.
- Physical pain endured.
- Emotional trauma endured. The anxiety you suffer after an accident. The depression you battle during a long, difficult recovery.
- Loss of enjoyment of life.
- Loss of intimacy with a partner.
- Lost income from work including the expected future lost income anticipated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I seek help with recovery costs if I wasn’t in a crosswalk when I was hit?
The answer is often yes. California is a comparative negligence state and that means a driver and a pedestrian can share blame in a crash. Victims who crossed the street outside of a crosswalk could still earn a settlement but would have their percentage of blame deducted.
How long do I have to file a personal injury accident claim?
Two years. You have two years from the date of your pedestrian accident to file an injury claim. You shouldn’t wait. Evidence can disappear and witnesses can be hard to track down if you wait to contact a personal injury lawyer.
What if I can’t afford to pay a personal injury lawyer?
You can still get quality legal representation. Maison Law works on a contingency fee. It means we don’t get paid unless we win your case. Then our fee comes out of the pedestrian accident settlement you are awarded.
Contact a California Neck Injury Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one have suffered a pedestrian accident injury due to a careless driver’s mistake, contact a California Pedestrian Broken Bone Attorney with Maison Law. We offer a free, no-obligation consultation to all California accident victims and their families. It’s a no-risk way to find out what your neck fracture is worth and how to demand a fair settlement from an insurance company.
