We want you to imagine for a minute that you are on your lunch break and you need to head to the restaurant down the street or the coffee shop for a quick picker upper. The only thing on your mind is getting there and back so you can get back to work.
What you do not expect is getting injured when a vehicle lands upside down in the parking lot you are walking through.
While we are grateful nobody was hurt, that is exactly what happened with a Dodge Challenger landed upside down in a Starbucks parking lot recently. The driver is suspected of driving intoxicated.
Police say the driver hit a curb as he made a turn and attempted to pull him over. He refused to stop and led police on a chase. The driver lost control as he attempted to turn onto Interstate 5.
We use this story to highlight just how unpredictable things can be, even if you are a pedestrian out for a walk. At Hiden, Rott & Oertle , LLP, we want to help you if you get into a pedestrian accident in San Diego.
PEDESTRIANS HAVE NO PROTECTION
When you set off on foot, whether for a relaxing walk or a pleasant jog, we know that you do everything you can to be safe. Unfortunately, you cannot control the actions of reckless or negligent drivers.
In California’s annual accident report, the title page comes with a reminder that “pedestrians don’t have armor.”
They are not protected from the force of a vehicle that weighs thousands of pounds. When they get hit, they get hit twice – once by the vehicle and once by the ground. Both of these impacts can cause severe bodily damage.
For the state’s latest reporting year, there were:
- 14,215 pedestrian injuries
- 867 pedestrian fatalities
In San Diego, there were 706 pedestrian accidents and fatalities.
Even at slower speeds, pedestrians can sustain major damage from a vehicle impact. Many of these accidents happen because vehicle drivers are distracted by their phones. Other times, like the story above, impaired drivers can jeopardize everyone’s safety, even those well away from the roadway.
Even something as simple as ignoring a pedestrian right-of-way can lead to major injuries.
Negligent drivers are a danger to pedestrians and should be held accountable when they cause harm.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Contact Hiden, Rott & Oertle , LLP today if you or someone you know has been injured in a pedestrian accident that was caused by someone else’s negligence. We know that the aftermath of an accident can be a confusing time, but the expenses will pile up quickly.
Insurance companies may drag their feet on a settlement or may not give you enough to handle all of your accident-related expenses. What if you have to miss work and lose out on the income you need to support your family?
Why should you have to suffer financially because of someone else’s mistake? You need the best San Diego pedestrian accident attorneys. You can contact us for a free consultation by calling at at our office.