Practice Areas Lamont Lawyers Lamont Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Lamont Pedestrian Accident Lawyers

A reckless driver can cause immense damage when they lose control of their vehicle. Laws protect pedestrians against aggressive drivers, and our lawyers in Lamont know how to pursue every legal avenue for protecting the rights of pedestrians who have been hit by a car—whether the accident happened in a crosswalk or a roadway.

Time is of the utmost importance in every legal case, so make sure to keep our phone number handy in case you need it. You can always rely on Chain | Cohn | Clark’ top-notch litigation as Lamont pedestrian accident lawyers.

Pedestrian Accidents In Lamont

Data from 2020 shows that pedestrian deaths in the United States jumped 21% from 2019, when numbers were already at a 30-year high. And California’s death rates are increasing well above national averages.

According to a report from the Governors Highway Safety Association, California’s pedestrian death rate jumped well above the national average increase of 3%.

Beyond fatalities, another study, this time from the CDC, showed that some 137,000 pedestrians were treated via emergency care in 2017.

Another report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) showed that nearly half of all pedestrian accidents were related to alcohol use.

What Is a Pedestrian Accident?

Pedestrian accidents usually look different than other types of accidents. When a pedestrian accident occurs, an individual without a vehicle collides into a moving force—such as a bicycle, motor vehicle, or even a horse. While they are less common than vehicle-on-vehicle crashes, pedestrian accidents often result in even more damage.

How Do Pedestrian Accidents Happen?

 Pedestrian accidents have a wide variety of causes, the most common cause being driver negligence. Pedestrians can sometimes be at least partially responsible for an accident, but here are some more likely causes:

• A driver not yielding to pedestrians
• A driver going too fast to properly stop their vehicle in time
• A driver not abiding by the speed limit or other rules of the road
• A driver who is distracted (driving while eating, texting, calling, etc.)
• A driver who is under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol
• A driver who turns before looking both ways at an intersection
• A crosswalk design flaw, such as a failure to consider adaptive traffic flows

A lack of visibility can make rural areas much more dangerous at night than cities and suburban towns. But whether you are on a country road or a crowded urban street, you should always be mindful as a pedestrian.  

Steps to Take After a Pedestrian Accident in Lamont

Pedestrian accidents can be incredibly traumatic. Injuries sustained will likely be both mental and physical. This may become overwhelming, but there are steps you can focus on that will help ensure that your Lamont pedestrian accident case has the best possible outcome:

• Whenever possible, the first thing you should always do is move to a safe location to check for bodily harm. Call 911 for yourself and/or for others if it is needed. And be mindful that sometimes an adrenaline rush can prevent you from realizing an injury has occurred.
• After ensuring you are safe and free of harm. Gather contact information and witness accounts, if possible. You also want to get the driver’s identification, insurance, and license plate information.
• It is also important to see a medical professional who can make a full report of any injuries you have received. This will be helpful later when presenting your case. Additionally, it is always important to get checked out for internal bleeding, especially if you believe you’ve broken a rib.
• Finally, keep track of your communication with the insurance companies after the accident. Most importantly, don’t discuss the accident with them without your attorney present. Never admit fault. The insurance companies are not on your side. Everything you tell them has the potential to decrease your final settlement amount.

Dealing with insurance companies on your own will almost certainly decrease your benefits in your Lamont pedestrian accident claim. Working with an experienced pedestrian accident attorney from Chain | Cohn | Clark can help ensure that no money is left on the table.

In Kern County, Pedestrian Accidents Are Far Too Common

The greater Bakersfield/Lamont area is one of the most dangerous places in the state of California to be a pedestrian. Pedestrian accidents have been rising at a dangerous rate. Between 2008 and 2017, the Bakersfield area saw a total of 247 pedestrian deaths, bringing the annual pedestrian fatality rate to 2.83 per 100,000 residents, according to the report titled “Dangerous By Design” from Smart Growth America.

According to the same report, while the number of pedestrians only increased by 1% between 2008 and 2017, pedestrian fatalities rose by an astounding 35.4%. To top it all off, the Bakersfield area was ranked among the 20 worst cities for pedestrians.

Types Of Injuries Suffered In Pedestrian Accidents

Typically, pedestrian accidents are more severe because there is direct contact between the human body and a motor vehicle. A car-on-car accident includes a protection barrier. When a car hits a person, that individual is much more vulnerable.

Here are some inures you may face in a pedestrian accident:

• Head injuries: Concussions, traumatic brain injuries, and other damage to the skull or brain
• Spinal injuries: Damage to the spinal cord can cause paralysis, nerve damage, or loss of physical function
• Deep cuts: Also called lacerations, these can result in high volumes of blood loss
• Bruises: Also called contusions, these can be extremely painful and make daily activities difficult
• Orthopedic injuries: Any damage to your bones or musculoskeletal system
• Dental/facial injuries: Damage caused to the teeth, mouth, nose, or eyes can result in impairment of the senses or scarring of facial tissue

Since pedestrian accident injuries can be so severe, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible. In many unfortunate circumstances, death can result from an untreated injury.

Pedestrian Deaths: A Growing Problem 

California experiences slightly over one death per every 100,000 people every year, making it ninth in pedestrian deaths in the U.S., behind New Mexico, Hawaii, Florida, South Carolina, Arizona, Louisiana, and Nevada.

According to the Governors Highway Safety Association (summarized in this article), these high accident rates are the result of three main causes:

• SUVs: Pedestrians struck by a large SUV are twice as likely to be killed as those hit by a car. Over the past 10 years, the number of pedestrian deaths involving SUVs went up 81%, well above the increase in passenger-car-related deaths.
• Speeding or unsafe behavior: Alcohol impairment—by either the driver or pedestrian—was involved in nearly half the crashes that led to fatalities in 2018.
• Visibility: Over the past decade, nighttime pedestrian deaths went up 67%. Daytime fatalities were up 16%.

Smartphones are also a distraction in every way imaginable, especially when coupled with the fact that many roads have wide lanes with high speed limits and almost no sidewalks to speak of.

Pedestrians can also be hit on railroad tracks where traffic patterns are abnormal.

Common Pedestrian Accident Locations in Lamont

Some of the roads with the highest rates of pedestrian accidents in Lamont include Highway 184 and Panama Road.

Let Us Help You With Your Lamont Pedestrian Accident Claims

One of the most important aspects of a successful Lamont pedestrian accident case is documentation. Simply put, documents are the facts that support your case. Using these facts, our attorneys can help navigate your case.

Contact Our Lamont Pedestrian Accident Law Firm

If you or someone you know was hit by a car, our Lamont pedestrian accident attorneys are here and at your service.

A reckless driver can cause life-changing harm to people who are walking. Medical bills can be costly. That is why filing a Lamont pedestrian accident claim can help you get the financial resources you need to manage those costs. Chain | Cohn | Clark has a consistent track record of success, and we would be honored to help you or your family during these difficult times.