Azusa Pedestrian Accident Attorneys 

Switching from the driving seat to life on foot can help you minimize your carbon footprint, get healthy, and skip the traffic. However, California’s roads can be a dangerous place for pedestrians. Busy intersections, reckless drivers, and distracted motorists can turn a day out on the town into a fight for survival. If you were injured by a motorist, our Azusa pedestrian accident attorneys might be able to help you recover compensation for your damages. At HPIL, we provide personalized representation, tailoring our approach to the unique circumstances of your case. Simply put, your claim will get the attention it deserves. To discuss your options with a personal injury attorney in your area, dial 1-800-GO-HARRIS today.

What Are Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents?

According to recent news reports, the number of pedestrians killed on California’s roads is steadily rising. With its congested roads, the state is a high-risk zone for those on foot. In 2019 alone, 6,590 pedestrians were killed by motorists and many more injured. Let’s take a look at some of the most common causes of pedestrian accidents in the state:

• Distracted Driving: Cellphone use while driving leads to around 1.6 million collisions every year. However, even those eating and drinking behind the wheel cause accidents on a daily basis. The reality is that performing any task that takes your attention away from the road will significantly increase the chances of causing a crash.

• Speeding: In the modern era, it often feels like life is moving at a breakneck pace. Many of us are working harder, trying to squeeze as much as we can into every minute. This attitude has carried over to the road, with millions of drivers ignoring speed limits and flooring the accelerator. Unsurprisingly, speeding has become one of the leading causes of accidents, causing millions of injuries and deaths each year. Not only does travelling at faster speeds give you less time to react to hazards—or pedestrians crossing the road—pushing the needle increases the chances of causing more severe injuries in a crash.

• Driving Under the Influence: It’s estimated that 17% of fatal pedestrian crashes involve an intoxicated driver. Alcohol slows your reactions, impairs your judgment, and affects your vision, ultimately increasing the odds of an accident.

• Failure to Signal Before Turning: Drivers who fail to signal before turning often cause pedestrian accidents. Using their signals helps broadcast their intent to other road users. Without this signal, a pedestrian will have no warning that they could be walking into the vehicle’s path.
• Failure to Respect Pedestrians’ Right-of-Way: Typically, a pedestrian will always have right-of-way when crossing an intersection—regardless of whether the crosswalk is marked or not. Unfortunately, many pedestrians are killed after getting hit at intersections because of negligent drivers to not adhere to these traffic laws.

Why Might the Insurer Dispute My Pedestrian Accident Claim?

When you file a personal injury claim, the insurer will usually have a strong incentive to dispute your version of events to reduce how much they pay out—especially if you are seeking a considerable sum. While there are strict laws requiring insurance companies to negotiate claims in good faith, there are still many situations where a claims adjuster will challenge aspects of a pedestrian accident case. Let’s explore a few common reasons why the insurance company might dispute your claim:

• You Were Partially Liable: If you were partially responsible for causing the accident—for instance, you were jaywalking when you were struck by the motorist—your claim may be denied, or the eventual settlement could be reduced by your share of the liability. Keep in mind that due to California’s pure comparative negligence standard, you could still be entitled to damages even if you are deemed more than 51% liable for the collision. Even if the insurer disputes aspects of your claim, you may still be able to recover 100 percent of your damages. Our pedestrian accident attorneys can help you collect the necessary evidence to counter any liability disputes that may arise during proceedings.

• You Delayed Seeking Medical Care: If you don’t take your treatment seriously after the accident—either by delaying the diagnosis or going against your doctor’s orders—the insurer may argue that you failed in your responsibility to take reasonable steps to mitigate damages. This could lead to reductions to your financial award or the outright denial of your pedestrian accident claim.

• You Do Not Have Adequate Evidence: The insurer will only pay out a settlement if they absolutely have to. As a result, if you do not have clear and convincing evidence to support your version of events and/or cannot demonstrate your damages, it’s likely that the insurance adjuster will dispute your claim.
• You Made Mistakes: Did you post about the accident on social media? Your comments could be used to challenge your case. Did you return to work even after your doctor instructed you to rest? The insurer may assert that you were negligent and thus are partially liable for your damages. There are many missteps that could affect the outcome of your claim. Our attorneys can help guide you through the claims process and advise you on how to avoid some of these common errors.

Connect with a Pedestrian Accident Attorney in Azusa Today

Pedestrians rarely survive accidents unscathed. As such, you have probably endured immense pain and suffering since the collision. Fortunately, our legal team might be able to help you hold the at-fault parties financially responsible for the damage they’ve done. Call 1-800-GO-HARRIS or drop us a message via our contact page to line up a free case assessment.