Los Angeles Pedestrian Accident Attorney

Jim Pocrass is a leading Los Angeles pedestrian accident attorney. He knows that though California says pedestrians have the right of way, that is no guarantee that a pedestrian or jogger will not be hit by a car, truck, taxi, emergency vehicle, bus, or bicycle.

Darkness, bad weather, inattentive drivers, and fast moving traffic all contribute to the possibility of a pedestrian – car accident.

Most at Risk

In 2008, 4,378 pedestrians were killed and 69,000 pedestrians were injured in traffic accidents throughout the country. This averages to one crash-related pedestrian death every 2 hours and a pedestrian injury every 8 minutes. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

And the situation is getting worse every year. A recent report released by the Governors Highways Safety Association says that unlike most of the country that saw dramatic upswings in the number of pedestrian fatalities, California had an 11% decrease in pedestrian deaths. Nevertheless, the report also states that “California has among the highest rates of per capita pedestrian deaths in the nation and pedestrians here account for a higher share of traffic fatalities – nearly 25 percent compared to a national average of 15 percent.”

Most pedestrian accidents occur in urban areas at non-intersections and at night. Though no one is immune to being a victim of a pedestrian – car accident, there are certain groups who are most at risk:

• Older Adults
  • Those who are 65 years and older accounted for 18% of all pedestrian deaths and an estimated 10% of all pedestrians injured in 2008.
  • The majority of older adults who were injured in a pedestrian accident resulted from an older adult falling and being hit by a motor vehicle.
• Children
  • In 2008, one in every 5 children between the ages of 5 and 9 who were killed in traffic accidents was a pedestrian.
• Drivers and Pedestrians Who are Alcohol-impaired
  • In 48% of the pedestrian accidents that resulted in the wrongful death of a pedestrian, either the driver or the pedestrian was alcohol-impaired.

Why You Need a Los Angeles Pedestrian Accident Attorney

Since in California the pedestrian has the right of way, some people think they do not need an attorney. To get the best possible results, you need an attorney because:

• Insurance companies and those who work for them are not your friend, no matter how nice they may seem. Their job – which they do day-in and day-out – is to make sure that the insurance company pays you as little as possible.
• Buses, trucks, taxis, and work-related vehicles may have state, county, and local laws that apply to them. Whether you sue them in superior court or state court also may depend on these laws. There also are deadlines by which a lawsuit and additional paperwork must be filed and must be filed in a particular format.
• The Los Angeles pedestrian accident attorneys at Pocrass & De Los Reyes assemble a team of experts to present testimony in such areas as accident reconstruction, medicine, psychiatry, and product engineering to prove your case and the liability of all parties involved.
• The Los Angeles pedestrian accident attorneys at Pocrass & De Los Reyes can work with your medical and rehabilitation specialists to arrange leins so that you get the care you need and they agree to wait for payment until your case is resolved.

We strongly suggest that even if you do not hire a pedestrian accident attorney you at least take advantage of the FREE, no-obligation consultation the Los Angeles pedestrian accident attorneys at Pocrass & De Los Reyes offer.

If you decide to hire the pedestrian accident attorneys at Pocrass & De Los Reyes, and if they agree to take your case, you pay nothing until your case is resolved.

Hit By an Uninsured Motorist

A pedestrian hit by an uninsured or underinsured motorist may still be able to recover damages. If your insurance includes uninsured motorist – or underinsured motorist – coverage, your own insurance company may be responsible for compensating you for your injuries. For those worried about their premiums spiking if they make a claim against their own insurance company, California has thought of that possibility. It is against the law for your insurance company to raise your premiums because you were forced to use your Uninsured Motorist Insurance.

Contact a Pedestrian Accident Attorney

For a FREE, no-obligation consultation, contact a Los Angeles pedestrian accident attorney at Pocrass & De Los Reyes.