Palo Alto Pedestrian Accident Attorneys

California suffers some of the highest rates of pedestrian fatalities in the nation. Our Palo Alto pedestrian accident lawyers know the adversity victims of these accidents face, from a profound impact on their careers and finances to the debilitating pain and trauma involved in the treatment and recovery process. If you have been injured in a pedestrian collision, contact Harris Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation. Our team is available to answer your questions 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and we can come to you if you are unable to travel. Give us a call at 1-800-GO-HARRIS to get started.

Common Causes of Vehicle-Pedestrian Collisions

A single moment of inattention is all it takes to injure or kill an innocent pedestrian. In the moment, few motorists consider the devastating impact of a pedestrian collision. In many cases, the driver is to blame: Texting while driving, driving while impaired, disregarding traffic laws, and generally failing to use reasonable care while behind the wheel can have a deadly impact on pedestrians. We have found that the most common forms of negligence that lead to pedestrian collisions include the following:

• Distracted driving 
• Impaired driving 
• Drowsy driving 
• Speeding  
• Running red lights 
• Driving without headlights 
• Failing to yield to the pedestrian’s right of way 
• Ignoring crossing signals 

Depending on what caused the accident, our attorneys will employ different tactics, from hiring an accident reconstructionist to replicate the accident scene, to proving a driver was acting unreasonably or dangerously while behind the wheel. We understand the laws binding both motorists and pedestrians and will build a case that is tailored to recouping the maximum amount of compensation available to you.  

What If It Was My Fault?

In some cases, pedestrians can contribute to their accidents, for instance, if they were jaywalking at the time they were hit. If you suspect that you were partially responsible for your accident, you may wonder whether the law would bar you from pursuing a claim. In some cases, it might. However, before you dismiss your claim entirely, meet with a personal injury attorney to discuss the specifics: California has a “comparative negligence” law that allows victims to recover even if they contributed to their injuries.   This is how the comparative negligence law works: You can still pursue damages even if you contributed to your accident, but your recovery will be reduced. For example, if you were 40% responsible for your accident and the liable party was 60% responsible, you can recover up to 70% of your total economic and non-economic damages. So if your claim is worth $10,000, you could recover $4,000 from the other party.  Our attorneys know and understand the laws impacting injured pedestrians and we have a track record of success pursuing favorable outcomes for our clients, even when they are partially at fault. We routinely negotiate with insurance adjusters to minimize our clients’ liability percentages so that they can walk away with at least some monetary compensation.

For a Free Consultation with our Palo Alto Pedestrian Accident Lawyers, Call 1-800-GO-HARRIS.

At Harris Personal Injury Lawyers, our experience representing pedestrian accident victims throughout California positions us to help you pursue maximum compensation for your injuries and other losses. Throughout the years, we have helped injured clients collectively recover more than $300 million in damages. A member of our legal team is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to answer your questions. Call us at 1-800-GO-HARRIS or send us a message online.