Torrance Pedestrian Accident Attorney

Located in the South Bay of Los Angeles, Torrance is a beautiful coastal community with a lot to offer its residents and visitors alike. Taking in the miles of pristine beaches and growing food scene, seeing Torrance on foot can be a great way to take in the city. However, pedestrians must be on constant lookout for cars, trucks, motorcycles, and bicycles who may cross their path. Serious pedestrian accidents occur frequently in L.A. If you or someone you know was injured in a pedestrian accident, our Torrance pedestrian accident attorney.

For clients who were hit by a vehicle while walking, running, or jogging, our legal team in in Torrance and the South Bay has obtained millions in dollars of settlements. We offer a completely free consultation to get to know you and your case. Call us at (424) 571-4994 to schedule an appointment with our personal injury law firm today.

Pedestrian Accidents Are Increasing in Los Angeles

Los Angeles isn’t known as being particularly pedestrian-friendly, and the rise in serious and fatal pedestrian accidents has many concerned about safety. In 2021 alone, there were 128 pedestrian fatalities, which marked a 6% increase over 2020. Additionally, non-profit organization Streets Are For Everyone released a study showing that pedestrian fatalities increased 19% in 2022, signaling a worrying trend in catastrophic accidents between motor vehicles and pedestrians.

Los Angeles County is known for having extremely busy freeways and intersections, including Highway 1 (Pacific Coast Highway) and Hawthorne Boulevard, a major north-south thoroughfare cutting through Torrance. Pedestrians crossing intersections lawfully might find themselves with a serious or life-threatening injury if a driver is distracted, under the influence, or speeding and hits them.

How a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Can Help

Pedestrian accidents are among the most serious types of personal injury cases. They often result in severe injuries such as broken bones, head trauma, spinal cord damage, or even death. You need a compassionate and dedicated pedestrian accident lawyer to help you if you have suffered an injury or lost a loved one in a pedestrian accident in Torrance, CA.

Our experienced and robust legal team can assist you with every aspect of your claim, from filing the paperwork to dealing with the insurance company to pursuing litigation if needed. We at South Bay Accident Lawyers can handle any pedestrian accident case in Torrance and surrounding areas with our experience and skill. We will fight for your rights and seek the maximum compensation possible for your injuries and losses. Contact us today for a free consultation and let us take care of everything.

Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents

Falling behind New York City, Los Angeles ranks as the second-deadliest city for pedestrians in the U.S., according to one study analyzing data from the NHTSA over a ten-year period. What are some of the reasons why most pedestrian accidents happen in LA? One reason is the design and layout of the city. Los Angeles is a sprawling metropolis with wide and busy streets that are not very pedestrian-friendly. Many areas lack sidewalks, crosswalks, or traffic signals that can protect pedestrians from vehicles.

Another reason is the weather and visibility conditions. However, a more common factor is driver error or negligence. Drivers may be speeding, drunk, or texting while driving. Below are some of the most common causes of pedestrian accidents in Los Angeles:

Distracted driving: Distracted driving has become a dangerous epidemic across the country. Drivers who are texting, talking on the phone, eating, or doing anything else that takes their eyes off the road are more likely to hit pedestrians who may be crossing the street or walking on the sidewalk.
Impaired driving: Even with a blood-alcohol level slightly higher than the legal limit, drivers who drink and drive pose a serious threat to pedestrians on the road, especially at night. Drunk driving is one of the leading causes of fatal traffic accidents in the U.S.
Speeding: Speeding is one of the main factors that determines the severity of a pedestrian accident, and whether injuries are minor or severe. The size of the vehicle speeding also plays a huge role.
Failure to yield: Motorists must yield to pedestrians at unmarked and marked crosswalks and intersections when they have the green light. Drivers who fail to yield can strike a pedestrian and cause serious injuries, even at a low speed.
Left-hand turns: According to crash data, left turn accidents represent a quarter of all pedestrian accidents involving motor vehicles in the U.S. This is due to the fact that drivers who are making left turns are looking more at the cars that are coming and the chance for their turn, and they may ignore the pedestrians who are crossing.

The goal of a pedestrian accident lawsuit is to recover compensation for the injured victim. If you have been hit by a car or another vehicle while walking, you may be entitled to recover various types of damages from the responsible party. Damages are the legal term for the compensation you can receive for your losses. Damages can be classified in two types: economic and non-economic.

Economic Damages

Economic damages form the basis of personal injury claims in California. They represent the “objectively monetary losses” of the victim and can include:

Medical expenses
Lost income
Loss of earning capacity
Property damage

Non-economic Damages

Non-economic damages are a type of compensation that you can receive for your intangible losses that are not easily quantified. They can include:

Pain and suffering
Loss of enjoyment of life
Loss of consortium or companionship
Disfigurement or permanent disability

Punitive Damages

While rare, some pedestrian accident victims may be able to recover punitive damages. They are only awarded when the defendant’s behavior is found to be especially harmful, grossly negligent, or intentional.

Statute of Limitations in California

If you are a pedestrian accident victim in California, you should be aware of the statute of limitations that applies to your case. Typically, you have two years from the date of your pedestrian accident to file a personal injury claim. However, if your accident was caused by a government entity like a city bus, you only have six months to file.

Who Is At Fault in a Pedestrian Accident?

In a pedestrian accident claim, there are four elements of negligence to determine who was at fault for the accident. They are:

Duty of care: The defendant owed the plaintiff a duty of care. This means that the defendant had a legal obligation to act reasonably in order to protect the plaintiff from harm.
Breach of duty: The defendant failed to meet the standard of care required by the duty. For example, a driver who runs a red light breaches the duty of care to other road users.
Causation: The defendant’s breach of duty was the actual and proximate cause of the plaintiff’s injury.
Damages: The plaintiff suffered some kind of harm or loss as a result of the defendant’s negligence. Damages can include medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, property damage, and more.

Determining liability in a pedestrian accident case can get complicated. For example, if it was discovered that the pedestrian was jaywalking or distracted, they may be held partially responsible for the accident. While the pedestrian may be barred from pursuing compensation in certain states, in California, the pedestrian would still be able to recover damages. This is because California follows a pure comparative negligence rule, which allows victims to recover damages based on their degree of fault.

Pedestrian Accident Victim Common Injuries

Pedestrian accident victims can suffer from various types of injuries, depending on the speed and size of the vehicle, the point of impact, and the protective measures taken by the pedestrian. Generally speaking, the larger the vehicle, the more severe the injuries. SUVs can cause greater harm than a smaller passenger vehicle or motorcycle. Additionally, injuries in the lower half of the body are most likely to affect pedestrians. Broken legs, ankles, and feet can put someone out of work for weeks or even months.

Some of the common pedestrian injuries include:

Head trauma, including traumatic brain injury (TBI)
Broken bones
Spinal cord injuries
Soft tissue injuries
Internal injuries
Amputations
Wrongful death

Pedestrian injuries can have serious and lasting consequences for the victims and their families. They may require extensive medical treatment, rehabilitation, and emotional support. They are likely to affect the victims’ ability to work, study, socialize, or enjoy life. A pedestrian accident lawyer can help obtain compensation for pedestrian accident injuries.

What Should I Do After a Pedestrian Accident?

There are critical steps you need to take immediately following a pedestrian accident:

1. Check yourself for injuries

If you are able, move to a safe location away from traffic. If you are injured, call 911 immediately.

2. File a police report

Make sure the responding police officer creates an official accident report, and obtain a copy.

3. Exchange info with the driver

Get the driver’s name, contact information, and insurance information. If there are witnesses, get their contact info as well.

4. Gather evidence

Take pictures of the accident scene, your injuries, and any damage to your property. If you have a smartphone, you can use the camera to take these pictures.

5. Get examined by a doctor

Even if you don’t think you’re injured, it’s important to see a doctor to get checked out. Some serious injuries like a concussion may not be immediately apparent.

6. Call Torrance pedestrian accident lawyers

Before speaking with the other party’s insurance company or accepting any settlement offer, talk to a lawyer first.

Every year, hundreds of pedestrians are injured or killed by a negligent driver who fails to yield, speed, run red lights, or text while driving. If you are one of them, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and losses. However, getting fair compensation is not easy. You will need knowledgeable and aggressive pedestrian accident lawyers to advocate for your rights and interests.

At South Bay Accident Lawyers, our pedestrian accident attorneys have the expertise and resources to handle any type of pedestrian accident case. We will work hard to prove the driver’s liability, calculate your damages, and negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf. If they refuse to pay what you deserve, we will not hesitate to take them to court. Call us today for a free case evaluation and let us handle the rest.

Pedestrian Accident Lawyer - Torrance, CA