California Personal Injury Lawyers Blog
Rise in LA Pedestrian Accidents
Because Los Angeles streets are typically so crowded, it is very common for residents to travel on foot and walk to get where they need to go. Even now, with the current COVID-19 crisis, people still need to walk either for exercise or to get necessities at the store or visit the doctor. Anytime cars and pedestrians are in the same area, it is possible that there could be a pedestrian accident that results in injuries or even the death of the pedestrian.
According to ABC 7 News, pedestrian accidents were continuing to grow in the Los Angeles area at the beginning of 2020. While there may currently be a slight decline because there is less traffic on the roads due to the COVID-19 pandemic, these accidents still happen. When a traffic accident involves a pedestrian and a car, it usually results in very serious injuries or death to the pedestrian. Though sometimes a pedestrian accident is caused by a pedestrian, more often than not these accidents are caused because drivers are not paying attention. LAPD deputy Moses Catillo stated, “we’re really tired of having to tell loved ones that their family is either severely injured or dead” because of the dramatic increase in accidents involving pedestrians. In 2019, “more than half of the nearly 250 traffic deaths in the city of Los Angeles involved pedestrians” and “three-quarters of the deadly hit and runs in the city involved pedestrians.”
What to do if You are Involved in a Los Angeles Pedestrian Accident
Because pedestrian accidents are so common, it is important to take great care if you choose walking as your form of transportation in the Los Angeles area.
If you are injured in a pedestrian accident you should:
- Seek medical attention–this is important even if you don’t feel hurt. You may have injuries that are not painful immediately, but become painful later.
- Contact the police–the police can make a report that can be helpful later on to show what happened. You can ask any witnesses to make a statement as well.
- Get the information of the driver that hurt you–this will be important so you can be compensated for your injuries. If the driver that hit you did not stop, there may still be options for you to be compensated.
- Talk to a skilled Los Angeles pedestrian accident attorney right away–an experienced attorney can help you gather the information you need to start a personal injury claim so you can get the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
If you have lost a loved one in a pedestrian accident, it is important to still contact a skilled pedestrian accident attorney who has experienced handling wrongful death claims. A wrongful death claim is brought by the family members of the person who was killed in the pedestrian accident against the driver who caused the accident. A wrongful death claim allows the family members to be compensated for their loss.
Get Help With Your Pedestrian Accident Claim Today
If you have been injured in a pedestrian accident or have lost a loved one due to a pedestrian accident, be sure to reach out to the Los Angeles pedestrian accident attorneys at Walch Law right away. We have years of experience helping clients get financial recovery for both personal injury and wrongful death claims involving pedestrian accidents. Even during the COVID-19 crisis you can reach out to us as we are working remotely to provide free case consultations. Contact us online or call us today at 866-465-8792 to schedule your consultation.