Did you get hurt while walking in Solana Beach, CA? If someone’s negligence caused the pedestrian accident, you could have a right to legal compensation. A Solana Beach pedestrian accident lawyer can help you get money to pay for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers has over 20 years of experience. Our Solana Beach pedestrian accident attorneys will fight to put money back into your pocket.
Contact our Solana Beach, California office at (619) 344-0360 to learn more during a free consultation.
How Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Pedestrian Accident In Solana Beach
Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers can help you get compensation after a pedestrian accident in Solana Beach, CA. We have won more than $40 million for our clients since 2012. Our personal injury attorneys have experience handling complex cases, including pedestrian accidents.
When you hire our Solana Beach pedestrian accident lawyers, we will:
- Explain the law
- Calculate your damages
- Investigate the case
- Collect evidence
- File insurance claims
- Consult with expert witnesses
- Negotiate with insurance companies
- File a personal injury lawsuit
- Keep track of important deadlines and paperwork
- Represent you in court
We understand that every case is unique. Our Solana Beach pedestrian accident attorneys will work with you to develop a strategy designed to get you full damages. Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers is prepared to go to trial in every single case.
Call our office to schedule a free consultation today with our Solana Beach personal injury lawyers.
How Common Are Pedestrian Accidents In Solana Beach, CA?
According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, there were only three pedestrians injured or killed in Solana Beach between 2017 and 2021. However, this data only considers pedestrian accidents involving traffic on the road. Furthermore, it doesn’t include pedestrian accidents on highways.
Despite the low number, pedestrian accidents are often very serious when they occur. Pedestrians don’t have any protection like bicyclists, or drivers may have in an accident. This means that they may experience more trauma and significant injuries.
What Is My Pedestrian Accident Case Worth?
Every pedestrian accident case is different. Plaintiffs who have catastrophic injuries tend to have more valuable cases.
Some factors that will impact your case value are:
- The severity of your injury and your expected recovery
- The type of medical treatment that you received
- Whether you need medical treatment in the future
- If you are unable to work or have missed a lot of work because of the accident
- If you are unable to earn income in the future or advance in your chosen career
- If the injury has affected your overall quality of life
- If you no longer enjoy or can participate in the same activities as before the accident
- If you are partially responsible for the pedestrian accident
Even though personal injury cases revolve around money, they are also about getting justice. Every case is meaningful to our team. We know that even smaller payouts can make a huge difference for our clients. Our lawyers will work hard on your case regardless of its worth.
What Kind Of Damages Are Available To Pedestrian Accident Victims?
Pedestrian accident victims can recover compensatory damages. This includes economic damages and non-economic damages. In rare cases, they may have a right to punitive damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are financial losses. These losses are a direct result of the accident or injury. Most people think about economic damages first.
Some common types of economic damages are:
- Medical bills (past and future)
- Lost wages
- Lost future earning capacity
- Rehabilitation or physical therapy
- Therapeutic medical devices (like wheelchairs)
- Cost of medicine
- Property damage
- Out-of-pocket expenses
Economic damages can include other monetary losses that are unique to your situation. For example, some clients recover money for increased childcare or housekeeping costs.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are intangible losses. Non-economic damages pay a client for emotional losses and changes to quality of life.
Some examples of non-economic damages are:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Mental illness like PTSD, anxiety, or depression
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of companionship
- Permanent disfigurement or scarring
There are several ways to calculate non-economic damages. We can help you determine how much money you should get for your pain and suffering.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages punish a defendant for extremely reckless behavior. They are a form of exemplary damages because they make an example out of the defendant to deter future bad behavior.
You can only get punitive damages if you prove that the defendant acted with malice, oppression, or fraud. You must prove this by clear and convincing evidence. This is a greater burden of proof than for compensatory damages.
We can help you determine if you may have a case for punitive damages.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer?
Pedestrian accident lawyers are a type of personal injury lawyer. Personal injury lawyers charge a contingency fee.
A contingency fee is a unique payment arrangement. With a contingency fee, the client only pays their lawyer if they win money at the end of the case. The payment is a predetermined percentage of the damages. Usually, it is between 33% and 40%.
If the lawyer loses the case and the client doesn’t get paid, they don’t pay the attorney.
Here’s an example of how this may work in practice. A plaintiff wins $100,000. Their lawyer charges a 35% contingency fee. The lawyer takes $35,000 as their fee, and the client takes $65,000 home. On the other hand, if the plaintiff only wins $100, the lawyer will get $35, and the plaintiff will get $65.
Can I Recover Compensation If I’m Being Blamed for a Pedestrian Accident In California?
In most cases, yes. California applies pure comparative fault law. This means that each party’s percentage share of responsibility impacts their damages. At the end of the case, the court will assign a percent responsibility to each party. They will reduce their damages by that percentage.
For example, if you are 25% at fault, you can recover 75% of your damages. You are responsible for the remaining 25%. If you are 50% at fault, you can only recover 50% of your damages.
It’s best to avoid getting blamed for your accident so that you maximize your recovery.
We’ll Fight To Recover Compensation for All of Your Pedestrian Accident Injuries
Many pedestrian accidents cause serious injuries. Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers will help you recover the money you need to recover from your injury.
Our team has helped clients suffering from:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Amputations
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis and nerve damage
- Burns
- Concussions
- Chest injuries
- Back and neck injuries
We are dedicated to working with your medical team to understand your treatment plan. This will help us ask for full compensation so that you don’t have to worry about money while you heal.
Call us to get started on your case today.
What Causes Most Pedestrian Accidents In Solana Beach, California?
Some of the most common causes of pedestrian accidents in Solana Beach are:
- Scooters or bicyclists on the sidewalk
- Car doors opening onto the sidewalk
- Distracted drivers
- Unleashed dogs
- Children running on the sidewalks
- Running stop signs or red lights
- Drivers failing to yield to pedestrians
We can help you find out what caused your accident and collect evidence to support your case. This is one of the most important steps in a pedestrian accident claim.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a Pedestrian Accident In California?
Many people wrongfully assume that the person who caused the accident is always negligent. This isn’t the case.
Negligence has a specific legal meaning. It is crucial to prove negligence after a pedestrian accident. If the defendant wasn’t negligent, they are not obligated to pay for your damages.
There are four parts to every negligence claim in California:
- Duty of care: you must prove that the defendant owed the plaintiff a duty of care
- Breach: you must show that the defendant breached the duty of care
- Causation: you must prove that the defendant’s breach caused the accident and the plaintiff’s injuries
- Damages: you must show that you suffered monetary and/or non-monetary damages
Negligence boils down to the duty of care. Everyone has a general duty of care to act as a reasonably prudent person would act in a similar situation. They don’t have to be perfect, and they can make mistakes. However, if the mistake puts others at an unreasonable risk of danger, then they might be negligent.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Pedestrian Accident in California?
In California, you typically only have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit after a pedestrian accident. You also have two years to bring a wrongful death claim after losing a loved one in a pedestrian accident. If you fail to bring your case before the statute of limitations expires, you can be barred from recovering compensation.
Contact Our Solana Beach Pedestrian Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Call the Solana Beach pedestrian accident lawyers at Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation. There is no obligation or strings attached. The initial consultation is a great opportunity to learn more about your legal options and how we can help with your pedestrian accident case in Solana Beach, CA.
