Santa Monica visitors and residents don’t see a lot of clouds in the sky when they take in the sights, go shopping, or head off to work. A day out in Santa Monica usually involves a lot of sunshine and tourists and local walkers and runners take full advantage.
Unfortunately, any stroll downtown, along Ocean Avenue or Wilshire Boulevard will bring pedestrians near the constant flow of traffic streaming through Santa Monica. In many spots, these roads all feature wide crosswalks lights, and yet careless drivers still ignore these safety features every day.
An aggressive driver speeding through intersections or an inattentive driver pulling up apps on a cellphone can quickly cause a Santa Monica pedestrian accident. When these devastating accidents occur, it’s critical that injured victims are aware of their rights. They must also know the best way to present their case to unhelpful insurance companies to secure the most in compensation available.
Schedule a Free Consultation with a Santa Monica Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Healing and rebuilding your life 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 bills and make up for lost time at work.
It’s why you should take advantage of a free legal consultation with Maison Law. It’s a chance to talk directly to a real Santa Monica 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.
Santa Monica Pedestrian Accident Hazards
Knowing how much you should be demanding from a car insurance company after suffering an injury as a pedestrian is all the more important when you realize how dangerous travel on foot is around Santa Monica. It’s a city designed for foot traffic and tourism, but it also has its morning, afternoon, and weekend rush hours with countless drivers trying to commute or reach a vacation destination.
Dozens of pedestrians suffer painful injuries each year. In the worst cases, those on foot can risk their lives simply to cross the street. California’s Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS) documented 67 pedestrian accidents involving injury in 2021. Those accidents left 69 people injured and tragically claimed two lives.
Busy intersections like Pico Boulevard and 4th Street and Santa Monica Boulevard and Cloverfield Boulevard are high-traffic spots for cars, buses, big rigs, and motorcycles. These are some of the most dangerous spots for motorists, and that leaves defenseless pedestrians at even more risk.
Even a low-speed collision between a car and someone on foot can leave a pedestrian with fractured bones, brain injuries, and internal organ damage. It’s why experienced Santa Monica pedestrian accident attorneys work hard to ensure insurance companies can’t wiggle out of liability for recovering patients.
What to Do After a Santa Monica Pedestrian Accident
When you first speak with a Santa Monica Pedestrian Accident Lawyer, you’ll realize that insurance companies aren’t there to help victims get back on their feet. Insurance adjusters are trained to tear down your case, question the blame in an accident, and cast doubt on how badly you’re hurt.
The best response to their personal attacks is to provide solid evidence of what happened and concrete medical charts showing the pain and disruption your injury has caused.
The most compelling evidence is always found on the scene of an accident. Suffering a strike from a car or big rig might leave you on the pavement and unable to move, but if you are able to move, you should attempt to collect these details:
- Call 911. Give a full report to the responding Santa Monica Police officer. Get fully examined by an ambulance crew and head off to the emergency room if necessary. If you must leave the scene, ask someone with you or a helpful witness to gather evidence for you.
- Take photos of the scene. Show the vehicle involved. Looking at the damage to the car that your body may have caused may be hard, but broken windshields and dents in doors serve as effective proof of how hard you were hit. Get pictures of any visible injuries. Take shots of lane markings, crosswalks, and skid marks.
- Get contact information from witnesses. Your Santa Monica Pedestrian Accident Attorney will reach out to them for testimony.
- Scan the area for the potential of any security cameras. Jot down addresses where a business or home with a ring doorbell camera is located.
- Preserve all evidence. Put damaged or blooding clothing in a bag. Save damaged personal property.
- Visit your personal doctor as soon as you can. Follow the doctor’s instructions closely. Go to physical therapy appointments and see any specialist you are referred to. Save all medical invoices.
What Can I Earn Compensation for After a Pedestrian Collision?
After a serious pedestrian accident, you and your family may be facing a financial crisis. Hospital bills may be arriving daily in the mailbox. You could also be out of savings because you haven’t been able to go to work to earn a paycheck.
California encourages victims and family members to seek help through an insurance claim so they don’t face unfair burdens over an accident that wasn’t their fault.
Your Santa Monica personal injury lawyer will be compiling a list of every hardship you’ve faced during your recovery. These factors and more will all be used to determine the amount you’ll see on an insurance settlement check.
- Medical bills: The bills you have already received and any care you’re expected to need in the years to come. This can include a lifetime of support if you are left with a permanent physical disability.
- Physical pain and emotional trauma: Depression and anxiety issues are common after going through such a scary ordeal as being hit by a car. Your loss of enjoyment of life while an injury keeps you from doing the things you love also factors into an insurance settlement. You can be compensated for the pain you endure in a crash and in recovery.
- Loss of wages and benefits: The paychecks you’ve forfeited by having to miss work over your injuries. Your regular monthly bills like rent and car payments may be falling far behind without steady income.
- Travel costs: The expense of doctor visits and out-of-city trips to see specialists. All transportation becomes harder to arrange if you are immobilized and can’t drive.
- Wrongful death benefits for families: Close relatives such as a spouse or children of the victim may ask for financial help with funeral costs and medical bills. A wrongful death claim also seeks to protect the family in the future by replacing the steady income the deceased can no longer contribute to the family.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an attorney after a Santa Monica Pedestrian Accident?
If your injuries are more than just a few scrapes, you’ll probably need an attorney to ensure fair treatment. The more your medical care will cost, the harder insurance companies will try to limit what you receive.
What do I need to watch out for from insurance companies after a pedestrian accident?
You’ll want to avoid signing off on “lowball” settlement offers. If you receive a quick offer that likely means you aren’t getting everything available for your injury. Once you sign, you can’t ask for additional help later.
How long can I wait to file my pedestrian accident injury claim?
You have two years to file an injury claim. However, you should take action as soon as possible. The sooner your attorney can begin investigating your case, the easier it will be to secure evidence and locate witnesses.
Contact a Santa Monica Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one suffer a serious injury due to the careless actions of a Santa Monica 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. Anything less than full reimbursement for these damages is unacceptable.
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. It’s a no-risk way to determine how much you should expect and demand in an injury settlement. Make sure you are treated fairly and receive the support you need to fully recover and get back on your feet.
