Pedestrian-vehicle collisions are some of the most serious personal injury accidents reported in Orange County, California. If you get hit by a car while on foot, the injuries you suffer can have a wide range of consequences on your health, daily life and future.
At Bridgford, Gleason & Artinian, our Orange County pedestrian accident lawyers aim to reduce the impact of a pedestrian accident by helping our clients recover in every way possible. From identifying the party at fault to negotiating a fair settlement on your behalf, we will do everything it takes to help you restore your life.
If you’ve been injured or a loved one died in a pedestrian collision, contact us today for a free initial case review with one of our highly experienced Orange County personal injury attorneys to learn your rights. We have more than 75 years of collective courtroom and litigation experience.
Why Choose Our Pedestrian Accident Lawyers in Orange County?
- Our attorneys are highly experienced in motor vehicle accidents. We know how to handle even the most challenging and complex pedestrian accident cases in Orange County.
- We don’t charge any fees during pedestrian accident cases unless and until we win. Our lawyers operate on a contingency fee basis during the attorney-client relationship.
- We have a track record of nearly $2 billion in settlements and jury verdicts won for our clients. Our trial lawyers can seek justice for your serious or catastrophic injury in or out of the courtroom.
- Our law firm maintains a well-trained team of attorneys and staff ready to help you. You will receive undivided attention from your personal injury lawyer, not a paralegal or assistant.
What an Orange County Pedestrian Accident Attorney Can Do for You
A pedestrian collision could cause serious injuries that significantly impact your daily life and future. It is important to recognize the true financial value of your claim under California’s personal injury and insurance laws so you don’t accept a settlement that underpays you for your losses.
An insurance company will want to take advantage of you and convince you to settle for less, while a personal injury lawyer is in your corner. An OC pedestrian accident attorney has your best interests in mind. You can rely on your lawyer to handle your case in a way that protects your rights and aggressively pursues your individual goals.
While you take the time to heal from your injuries, your lawyer will navigate the legal process and negotiate with insurance companies in a way that leads to the best possible outcome. An attorney has the experience and resources to investigate your Orange County traffic accident, including analyzing the crash scene, reconstructing the crash, and working with police officers and experts to determine liability.
A lawyer also has experience negotiating with insurance claims adjusters and litigating personal injury cases in court in Orange County. An attorney will do what it takes to get the case results you need after sustaining a serious injury due to someone else’s negligence.
Orange County Pedestrian Accident Facts and Figures
Pedestrians are at the highest risk of suffering serious injuries in Southern California traffic accidents (and throughout the United States). They are the most vulnerable road users, with the highest odds of suffering catastrophic injuries in collisions.
According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, 892 pedestrians were injured and killed in accidents in Orange County in 2023. Eighty-two (82) of these injury victims were children under the age of 15. Negligence or the failure to use the proper amount of care is the number one cause of pedestrian accidents in California.
What Causes Pedestrian-Vehicle Collisions in Orange County?
Preventable driver errors are the primary reason behind pedestrian collisions in Southern California. Orange County drivers can make many careless mistakes and reckless decisions that endanger the lives of vulnerable pedestrians and cyclists.
Examples include:
- Distracted driving
- Texting while driving and other cell phone use
- Inexperienced drivers
- Speeding and reckless driving
- Running red lights and stop signs
- Ignoring traffic signals
- Failing to yield the right-of-way
- Failing to yield at crosswalks and intersections
- Illegal passing
- Driving while intoxicated or impaired
- Violating California’s traffic laws
- Reversing without looking (especially in parking lots)
Dangerous road design and sidewalk conditions, bad weather, low visibility, and auto defects also contribute to Orange County pedestrian accidents. An investigation of the crash is often necessary to determine causation and identify the correct liable parties.
How Do Pedestrian Accident Claims Work in Orange County?
California’s tort-based car accident insurance law means the party at fault for causing a crash is responsible for paying. When a motor vehicle strikes a person on foot, the driver’s automobile insurance policy can pay for the pedestrian’s bills, medical care and other losses.
All California drivers must carry a minimum amount of car insurance to pay for at-fault accidents. The required amounts are currently:
- $30,000 for bodily injury to one person
- $60,000 for bodily injury to multiple persons (per accident)
- $15,000 for property damage
Before a driver’s insurance policy will cover an injured pedestrian in Orange County, the victim must prove fault. The pedestrian must provide evidence that his or her injuries would not have occurred were it not for the driver’s negligence or wrongful act. The burden of proof is a preponderance of the evidence, or true with a certainty of over 50 percent.
Typical Types of Pedestrian Injuries From Car Accidents
The human body cannot withstand the forces created by a motor vehicle impact. Severe physical trauma can arise when a vehicle strikes an unprotected and defenseless person outside of the car. Sadly, this means the pedestrian may suffer life-altering injuries:
- Head injuries and skull fractures
- Concussion (mild brain injury)
- Traumatic brain injuries
- One or more broken bones
- Soft-tissue damage, such as muscle and tendon strains
- Whiplash and neck injuries
- Spinal cord injuries and back injuries
- Permanent paralysis
- Deep cuts and lacerations
- Road rash
- Crush injuries
- Internal bleeding and organ damage
- Amputations
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement
- Long-term disabilities
- Wrongful death
Depending on the severity of the pedestrian’s injuries, he or she may suffer high medical costs, the inability to return to work or make a living wage, and permanent disability. Emotional and psychological trauma are also common.
What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident in Orange County
Whether you get hit by a car while walking down a Costa Mesa Corridor or trying to cross an intersection in Newport Beach, it’s important to take the right steps to start building a claim. If you can, here’s what to do after an Orange County pedestrian accident:
- Move out of the way of oncoming traffic, to a sidewalk or the shoulder of the road.
- Check yourself for potential signs of injury, such as swelling, bruising or bleeding.
- Get medical care immediately, even if you don’t initially feel hurt.
- Call 911 from the scene of the crash to report the accident without delay.
- Exchange contact information with the driver who struck you.
- If there are any eyewitnesses, write down their names and numbers for witness statements.
- Take pictures of where the accident occurred, your injuries and any damage to the vehicle that hit you.
- File an injury claim with the insurance provider of the at-fault driver.
- Do not give the insurance adjuster a recorded statement or accept fault.
- Before you accept a settlement, contact Bridgford, Gleason & Artinian to discuss your case.
The aftermath of a pedestrian accident in Orange County is often chaotic and overwhelming. If you cannot complete the recommended steps, don’t worry. You can still recover compensation with help from an attorney.
Types of Compensation Available
A pedestrian with serious injuries from an accident in Orange County could recover financial compensation or damages from an at-fault driver, an employer, a company, a government agency or another liable party. The damages available vary based on each unique case.
Common examples include:
- Existing and future medical expenses
- Surgeries
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Medications
- Personal property damage
- Lost wages
- Lost capacity to earn in the future
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Wrongful death damages (in fatal cases)
- Punitive damages, in rare cases involving gross negligence
The purpose of a pedestrian accident claim in Orange County is to make the injured victim whole again. Before accepting the value that an insurance claim adjuster assigns to your injury case, talk to our attorneys for an accurate representation of your potential settlement.
Statute of Limitations in California
Under state law, the standard personal injury statute of limitations or filing deadline is two years from the date of the accident (California Civil Code §335.1). This law means that if you wait longer than two years to attempt to hold someone responsible for your pedestrian collision, you can expect the court to bar your claim.
There are a few notable exceptions to the rule. If a government agency is liable, for example, a written notice to initiate the pedestrian accident claim must be filed within just 90 days. Cases involving delayed injury discovery, an injured minor, incapacitation and wrongful death also have unique filing deadlines.
It is recommended that you reach out to an Orange County lawyer about a potential claim as early as possible. Don’t wait and risk an expired statute of limitations getting in the way of your financial recovery after a pedestrian collision. Waiting too long also increases the odds of losing important evidence, such as reliable eyewitness statements and video footage of the collision.
Seeking Justice for a Fatal Pedestrian Accident in Orange County
Sadly, many pedestrians in California pass away from their injuries after being hit by motor vehicles. If you tragically lose someone you love in a deadly pedestrian collision in Orange County, you have two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death claim.
This type of case could return financial compensation for related economic and non-economic losses, including:
- Funeral and burial costs
- Lost wages and financial benefits
- Value of lost household services
- Loss of consortium (or companionship and affection)
- Loss of guidance and support that would have been provided to children
- Pain, suffering and emotional distress
If the driver is found to have been grossly negligent or reckless, punitive damages may also be available as a form of punishment or a deterrent against future acts of wrongdoing. Under California law, various family members such as a surviving spouse, child, grandchild or parent have the right to file a wrongful death claim.
Pedestrian Accident FAQs in Orange County, California
When do pedestrians have the right-of-way in Orange County?
Under California Vehicle Code §21950, motor vehicle drivers must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians when they cross the road within any marked crosswalk or unmarked crosswalk at an intersection. However, this does not relieve pedestrians from the duty to use due care for their own safety when leaving a curb and entering a roadway.
What steps should I take after a pedestrian accident in Orange County?
If you get hit by a car in Orange County, call 911 to report the accident. Police reports become important evidence. Get medical care immediately. Take photos at the scene of your injuries and any property damage.
If there are other accident victims or eyewitnesses, write down their information as well as the driver’s. When you’re ready to seek justice in the form of a pedestrian accident claim, contact the Orange County pedestrian accident lawyers at Bridgford, Gleason & Artinian.
How do I choose the right law firm for my pedestrian accident case in Orange County?
Not all pedestrian accident lawyers are created equal. As a pedestrian accident victim, you need to take the time to find a personal injury attorney who has the knowledge and resources it takes to maximize your payout.
The Orange County attorney who’s right for you will have years of experience handling injury cases in your practice area. If you were hit by a pickup truck, for example, look for a truck accident attorney who knows how to hold a truck driver or truck company accountable for pedestrian injuries.
Contact Us for a No-Cost Review of Your Pedestrian Accident Case in Orange County
If you or a family member was recently seriously injured in a pedestrian accident in Orange County or anywhere in California, the attorneys at Bridgford, Gleason & Artinian are prepared to guide you through each step of the recovery process, from filing your injury claim to accomplishing a fair settlement.
We know what you’re going through as a victim of a traumatic pedestrian-vehicle accident. Call (949) 831-6611 or contact us online today for a free consultation with our local pedestrian accident attorneys to find out how we can help. We take clients in Orange County, Los Angeles County, the Inland Empire, Huntington Beach and across Southern California. There are no fees unless we recover.