San Francisco is a wonderful city to explore on foot, and many residents and tourists take advantage of the walkability of the area to see the sights or commute to work, and with added traffic, accidents are bound to happen. Avrek Law Firm’s pedestrian accident attorneys in San Francisco help victims fight for the maximum amount of compensation they deserve for accident injuries and damages due to an accident.
A downside of walking in a city like San Francisco is the risk of being injured in a pedestrian accident. Despite pedestrians having the right of way in marked and unmarked crosswalks in California, a recent report released by the San Francisco Police Commission indicates that drivers were responsible for two-thirds of pedestrian deaths in San Francisco in 2019. Pedestrian accidents are often caused by the negligence of motor vehicle driver and can result in catastrophic injuries.
What Can Cause a San Francisco Pedestrian Accident?
Even though pedestrians have the right of way to cross a street or intersection, that does not always mean they are safe to do so. Pedestrians have little or no physical protection while on the road and face a high chance of injury when in an accident with a motor vehicle. According to Walk San Francisco, around 30 pedestrians are killed and more than 500 are severely injured each year on San Francisco streets. Unfortunately, senior citizens typically make up 40-50% of pedestrian fatalities, even though they are only 15% of the population.
An accident can absolutely be caused by a pedestrian who fails to cautiously cross a roadway. For example, do pedestrians have the right of way when jaywalking? In California, a driver should yield to a pedestrian whether they are in a marked crosswalk or not, but an experienced attorney can further answer this question based on the specifics of your case.
More often, driver’s negligence is instead to blame. Driver negligence can include:
- Aggressive or distracted driving
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Driver fatigue
- Pedestrian visibility
Injuries to a pedestrian in an accident with a motor vehicle can be life-threatening, and damages can include high medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
When to Call a San Francisco Personal Injury Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in a local pedestrian accident, contacting a knowledgeable San Francisco pedestrian accident attorney is critical to the outcome of your accident claim. Avrek Law Firm’s pedestrian accident attorneys fight to recover the maximum compensation for victim’s accident injuries and damages, and we proudly serve San Francisco and surrounding areas, including Oakland, San Jose and Sacramento. For a free case review to discuss your claim’s details, call our office today or fill out the online form today!