Pedestrian Accident Attorney in Bakersfield

If you have been injured as a pedestrian in Bakersfield, California, you have the right to get the compensation you deserve. Give us a call today.

Pedestrian accidents are a serious growing problem in the city of Bakersfield. According to the Bakersfield Police Department, there were around 45 fatalities that resulted from pedestrian and vehicle accidents in Bakersfield in 2020. In 2022, this number grew to 65 fatalities. Many officers from the Bakersfield Police Department estimate that the next coming years will be much higher as many employees return back to work and schools resume in person.

Wrongful Death Pedestrian Accidents In Bakersfield

Pedestrian accidents are very dangerous and could lead to catastrophic injuries and fatalities. If you have lost a loved one in a pedestrian accident in Bakersfield, you have the right to file a wrongful death action by stepping into the shoes of your loved one and filing a claim against the responsible party. Family members can hold the negligent parties responsible for the injuries that their loved ones suffered, along with their loved ones passing. It is a wrongful death action that allows family members to recover a variety of compensation, including the family member’s loss of income, the family members’ emotional distress, along the emotional toll that the death took on other members of the family. Give us a call today to discuss your wrongful death potential lawsuit in Bakersfield. We know that losing a loved one could be devastating, especially if your loved one was a pedestrian at the time of the incident and was not responsible.

Pedestrian Accidents In Bakersfield, California

Bakersfield is considered one of the deadliest cities in the entire country for pedestrians. Pedestrian accidents are very common all throughout the entire country, but pedestrian accidents are more likely to lead to fatalities in Bakersfield. Currently, the Bakersfield Police Department is looking at various solutions to prevent Bakersfield pedestrian accident fatalities. 

For example, the police department is looking to rehire retired public employees to develop safe policies and procedures when it comes to pedestrian laws. Police officers are also trying to increase the number of citations given to drivers who feel to stop at a red light. 

What are the most common causes of pedestrian accidents in Bakersfield?

According to the Bakersfield police department, below are the top most common causes of pedestrian accidents in the city:

• Speeding: when drivers speed at high rates, they may not be able to stop, and me lose control of their vehicle. When they lose control of their vehicle, they could collide with the pedestrian, or fail to see the pedestrian.
• Failing to stop at red lights: all drivers in California must follow California Vehicle Code when it comes to yielding to pedestrians. Drivers must yield to pedestrians. Drivers must stop at a red light. When a driver runs a red light, they could collide with a pedestrian.
• Pedestrians jaywalking: jaywalking was just made legal. But, prior to this law, jaywalking was considered illegal and many were fined. Jaywalking could lead to serious repercussions, such as a collision with a bicyclist or vehicle. 
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol: when you drive under the influence of drugs, your senses could be impaired, and you may not be able to notice pedestrians.

Where are pedestrian accidents most likely to occur in Bakersfield?

Pedestrian accidents could occur anywhere and at any time. But, there are specific locations where pedestrian fatalities are most common. The most common area for pedestrian accidents is Union Avenue. Union Avenue is an area in Bakersfield that is considered to be a low-income area. Because of this,  not many sidewalks exist for pedestrians. This could be very deadly, and lead to fatalities and injuries.  There has recently been a push to educate the community on pedestrian safety laws, jaywalking laws, and driver safety. 

Bakersfield Pedestrian Laws

Under Bakersfield Municipal Code 10.72.080,  pedestrian safety laws are outlined.  The municipal code states:

A. Pedestrians may cross the street at any midblock location within the parking mall after having yielded to traffic traveling down the driving lane.

B. Pedestrians crossing the intersections within the parking mall shall have all the rights of a pedestrian crossing at any other crosswalk and shall be required to obey all controls of traffic at that intersection.

C. No person shall cross at an angle within any intersection within the parking mall.

If a pedestrian fails to follow this municipal code in Bakersfield, and they are involved in a pedestrian accident, their damages may be decreased. Give us a call today to discuss. 

What if I was partially responsible for my pedestrian accident in Bakersfield?

California’s comparative negligence laws allow a pedestrian to continue to recover compensation even if they were partially responsible for their accident. As mentioned above, jaywalking is a very common cause of pedestrian accidents in Bakersfield. When a pedestrian jaywalks, they could increase the likelihood of being involved in an accident. If you were jaywalking at the time of the accident, and it has been determined that you are partially responsible for your injuries, you could still file a Bakersfield lawsuit.

However, the compensation that you seek to recover is decreased based on your responsibility and liability. For example, if jaywalking was determined to be 20% of the cause of the accident, then you may only recover 80% of your compensation. If you have $100,000 in damages, you may only recover up to $80,000 in damages from the other party.

How much does a Bakersfield pedestrian accident attorney cost?

Our Bakersfield pedestrian accident attorneys are contingency fee attorneys. Contingency fees allow our lawyers to take on your case without you having to worry about paying our attorneys upfront. We take $0 upfront and instead, only recover attorney’s fees when we win compensation for you. Give us a call today to discuss how you could have a contingency fee agreement with our top-rated pedestrian accident lawyers. 

Pedestrian Accident Injuries

Various injuries could result from a pedestrian accident in Bakersfield, including:

• Broken bones
• Lacerations
• Internal organ damage
• Amputations
• Scarring
• Disfigurement
• Spinal cord injuries
• Brain injuries
• Back injuries 

When an accident victim has a prior medical history, they could suffer more severe injuries. But, in the event of an accident, an accident victim could recover compensation even if they were immunocompromised or had a history of injuries. Give us a call today to see how you could recover compensation by holding the negligent party responsible.

You could recover compensation for your injuries, such as medical expenses and medical bills used to treat the injury. You could also recover lost wages, such as the past last wages and any future lost income caused by the injuries. For a more in-depth approach to your pedestrian accident case, call us today. 

Bakersfield Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Call our pedestrian accident lawyers to schedule a one-on-one case evaluation and to discuss how you could get compensated. Our highly experienced personal injury lawyers in Bakersfield are available 24/7 and have the expertise and top-rated legal resources to make sure that you get the compensation you need. A pedestrian accident could be a very traumatizing event, especially because a pedestrian is not protected and collisions with vehicles could be disastrous.