Bakersfield Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

When a 4,000 lb. passenger vehicle collides with a pedestrian, the pedestrian is vulnerable to serious or fatal injuries. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), reports that nearly 6,000 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes in a recent year.

If you or your loved one has been seriously hurt in a pedestrian accident, contact Faulkner Law Offices for the legal representation you need. Our Bakersfield personal injury attorneys are dedicated advocates for injured pedestrians.

Why Choose Us?

Our attorneys have been focused exclusively on personal injury matters, representing injured people since 1974. We believe that gives us the knowledge, legal skills, and resources to help maximize the compensation you recover for pedestrian accident injuries. Our experienced pedestrian accident lawyers can negotiate skillfully for a fair settlement on your behalf or fight for your rights in court if necessary.

Pedestrian Accident Statistics

According to NHTSA statistics, 5,495 pedestrians were killed and 70,000 were injured in traffic crashes in the U.S. in 2015, the most recent year for which injury statistics are available. On average, a pedestrian was killed every 1.5 hours in traffic crashes during 2016.

The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) reports that pedestrian fatalities statewide increased by 5.9% in 2016 from the previous year, with a total of 867 pedestrian deaths in 2016. Fatalities among pedestrians ages 65 and older increased by 13%, jumping from 193 to 218.

Causes of Pedestrian Accidents

Pedestrians get hit by automobiles for many different reasons. Common causes of pedestrian accidents include:

• Drunk driving: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that nearly half (48%) of traffic crashes causing pedestrian fatalities involve alcohol impairment.
• Distracted driving: Drivers engaged in an activity such as texting that pulls their attention away from operating a motor vehicle are more likely to cause pedestrian accidents.
• Speeding: Vehicles traveling at higher speeds increase both the risk of pedestrians being hit and the severity of their injuries.
• Drivers turning left at intersections: Many pedestrian accidents occur when pedestrians crossing with the light are struck by vehicles making left-hand turns who fail to see the pedestrian in the crosswalk.
• Failure of drivers to yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian in crosswalks.
• Drivers disobeying traffic signs or signals.
• Failure of drivers to signal when turning.
• Lack of signaled crosswalks: As stated by CDC, most pedestrian traffic deaths occur in non-intersections in urban areas at night.

Who Is Liable for Pedestrian Accidents?

A pedestrian may recover damages for injuries suffered in an accident that was caused or contributed to by the negligence of another. Negligence consists of failure to do (or not do) what a reasonable person in a similar situation would do to protect others from foreseeable risks. To recover damages from a driver at fault for a pedestrian accident, the injured pedestrian must prove that:

• The driver owed the pedestrian a duty of care.
• The driver was negligent and breached that duty of care.
• The driver’s breach of duty was a substantial factor in causing the pedestrian’s injuries.

Get in Touch with Our Firm Today

If you have been seriously hurt in a pedestrian accident, you need an experienced personal injury lawyer by your side to help you pursue compensation for your losses. Contact Faulkner Law Offices in Bakersfield today. We operate on a contingency-fee basis, which means you pay us no fees until we recover compensation for you.