According to a recent study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (also referred to as NHTSA), pedestrian accidents are unfortunately a lot more common than you might think. It is estimated that 5,000 pedestrians die in motor vehicle-related accidents each year. Roughly 76,000 people across the country were injured after getting hit by a car or truck in 2012 alone.
Whether you’ve been the victim of a pedestrian accident in San Bernardino or the surrounding areas or you’ve caused such an incident yourself, staying up to date on all relevant case law is always something that you should prioritize.
Pedestrian Accidents in San Bernardino
Whenever a driver gets behind the wheel of a car, it is expected that they exercise reasonable care in terms of the pedestrians and other drivers around them. Failure to do so is considered negligence, something that must be proved in order to successfully file a claim after such an incident has taken place.
Just a few of the examples of negligence in San Bernardino include but are not limited to ones like:
• Distracted driving (like driving while texting)
• Speeding
• Failing to fully yield to pedestrians at crosswalks
• Disobeying or outright ignoring traffic signs, signals and laws
• Not signaling while turning
• Failing to exercise the appropriate level of caution given current weather or traffic conditions
• Driving while under the influence of alcohol or other types of controlled substances
In the rare event where both the driver of the vehicle and the pedestrian they struck are found to be at fault, this is called “comparative negligence” in the state of California. All relevant insurance companies can then determine blame based on the specifics of the situation in terms of both parties. If a driver failed to yield to a pedestrian at a crosswalk but that pedestrian also walked into traffic without looking, it is very possible that they could both be found at fault. From a legal perspective, this would complicate the situation – which is why getting help from legal professionals is so important.
Harshbarger Law
At Harshbarger Law, we understand that pedestrian accidents can be an incredibly harrowing and stressful time for everyone involved – this is a large part of the reason why our number one priority in these situations is and will always be our clients, first and foremost. If you have any additional questions about pedestrian accidents in San Bernardino or the surrounding areas, or if you’d like to sit down and speak to a legal professional about your specific situation in a little more detail, please contact us today.