Southern California cities like Simi Valley are an excellent place for pedestrians to escape sitting in traffic with the mild climate and sunny weather year-round; that is, until you’re injured in an accident with a car, truck, bus, train, or bicyclist. From the moment you hire us, the experienced Simi Valley pedestrian accident attorneys at the Walch Law Group will start fighting for you to get the money you deserve as soon as possible. Robert and Gary Walch understand you want to get your life back on track quickly, so we make sure there are never unnecessary delays or that you feel you aren’t in the loop on your case’s status. Call us today to see why having our team in your corner is a good idea.
How Common are Pedestrian Accidents in Simi Valley?A city of over 128,000 near Los Angeles, Simi Valley is a walkable city where most errands can be accomplished around on foot downtown by pedestrians trying to be eco-friendly, get exercise, or save money on transportation. However, walking in this busy city in Ventura County doesn’t come without risk of accidents, injury, or even death – in 2017 alone, the City of Simi Valley reported 15 victims were injured and killed in accidents between pedestrians and motor vehicles. In 2019, a woman walking in the Studio Movie Grill was struck by a car and suffered injuries requiring hospitalization. Years earlier, Metrolink trains struck and killed two pedestrians in 2 days near Madera Road.
Can I Win My Case?To win your case and be eligible to recover compensation after a pedestrian accident, another party must have harmed you while engaging in wrongful behavior. Most victims file a personal injury lawsuit claiming that a defendant was negligent. If you can prove the defendant had a legal duty of care to you, breached it by a wrongful act or failing to act when needed, and this caused you harm, they’re liable for your damages.
Victims in Simi Valley can also create the presumption of negligence if they demonstrate the defendant was breaking a law, rule, or regulation meant to protect people when the injury-causing accident occurred. This could include traffic and civic regulations such as speeding, jaywalking, or failure to yield. These can be tricky arguments to make, so hiring an experienced Simi Valley pedestrian accident attorney is a wise idea to avoid mistakes in your personal injury case.
How Much Can I Recover for My Injuries?Because pedestrians lack protections that vehicles offer their occupants, catastrophic injuries and massive medical expenses are often real consequences when accidents occur. To compensate victims that establish another’s negligence caused their harm, courts award damages for proven injuries – physical, mental, and financial. Victims may be compensated for a variety of injuries including lost wages, hospital bills, pain and suffering, or permanent disability.
Will I Still Get Damages if I’m Partly at Fault for the Accident?It’s still possible to recover damages in Simi Valley if you were partly responsible for your accident. California uses a comparative fault theory, meaning the court hearing your pedestrian accident case will review the facts and decide how much blame each party involved bears for what happened. The amount you can recover is reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to you. So, if you were awarded $100,000 but were found 50% at fault, you could only receive $50,000 compensation.
Is There Any Information That Will Help My Case?Several key pieces of information could greatly help with your chances of recovery – both physically and financially. Getting medical attention and treatment immediately after your accident not only help you physically recover; it generates valuable records establishing the date and nature of your injuries as well as the treatment cost. It may also save your life. Some injuries such as brain injuries don’t present symptoms immediately but can be fatal if left untreated.
In addition to medical records, contact information for any eyewitnesses and photos of the accident scene can be helpful. You should also notify law enforcement after an accident and cooperate with responding officers to help generate an accident report. However, no matter who you talk with do not admit fault, apologize, say you are ok or are not injured, or agree to provide a recorded statement without first consulting with a Simi Valley pedestrian accident attorney.
Contact Us Today with Your QuestionsWe understand the time after an accident is overwhelming and confusing. To give yourself peace of mind, call highly rated local pedestrian accident attorneys Robert and Gary Walch today to set up a risk-free, no obligation initial consultation and have your questions answered, learn about pedestrian accident lawsuits, and see how we can help you get the most money possible as quickly as possible.