Taking a walk or jog around Bakersfield, California should not put your safety at risk. Unfortunately, due to reckless and careless drivers, pedestrians in Bakersfield can suffer serious injuries in traffic accidents.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a pedestrian accident, help is available at Jacoby & Meyers. Our Bakersfield pedestrian accident attorneys can protect your rights as you pursue financial compensation for your crash.
We’ve represented injured accident victims in California since 1972 and have recovered over $2B for our clients.* Our law firm is staffed with experienced Bakersfield personal injury lawyers who handle serious injury cases.
Contact us today for a free consultation at (661) 402-8934 or fill out our online form.
*Past results depend on the specific facts of each case and do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Pedestrian Accidents in Bakersfield
Pedestrian accidents affect thousands of people each year. The California Office of Traffic Safety reported 136 pedestrians injured or killed in traffic accidents in Bakersfield in 2022. Ten pedestrians were under the age of 15 and ten were over the age of 65. In Kern County as a whole, 291 pedestrian accidents resulting in injury were reported in 2022.
Common locations for pedestrian-vehicle collisions in Bakersfield include intersections, such as Ming Avenue and New Stine Road, Gosford Road and Ming Avenue, and Real Road and Wilson Road. Residential streets and pedestrian-heavy areas, such as downtown Bakersfield, also present potential risks.
Types of Pedestrian Accidents and Common Causes
Pedestrians can be struck by vehicles in Bakersfield for various reasons that are often traced back to human error. Negligence, or the failure to act with reasonable care, can contribute to pedestrian accidents. In these cases, the negligent party may be held accountable through the insurance claims process.
The top causes of pedestrian collisions in Bakersfield include:
- Driver distraction or inattention
- Speeding, especially in residential areas
- Failing to yield the right-of-way
- Red-light or stop-sign running
- Ignoring pedestrian traffic signals
- Making an unsafe turn
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Illegally passing a school bus
Common types of pedestrian accidents include intersection collisions, crosswalk accidents, failure-to-yield accidents, parking lot accidents, back-over accidents, and hit-and-runs. It is important to understand your rights as a victim of any type of pedestrian accident in Bakersfield, as you may be eligible to pursue financial compensation.
Your Rights as an Injured Pedestrian
Motor vehicle drivers have a legal obligation to respect the rights of pedestrians. This responsibility includes following traffic signs and signals, coming to a complete stop at red lights and stop signs, and yielding to pedestrians who are crossing the road. Violating this duty of care can make a driver legally responsible for a pedestrian injury or death.
Drivers must obey California’s pedestrian right-of-way laws under Vehicle Code § 21950. This law states that drivers must yield to pedestrians who are crossing the roadway within any marked or unmarked crosswalk at an intersection. However, pedestrians may not suddenly leave a place of safety, such as a curb, to enter the path of a vehicle that is too close to reasonably brake.
If you are injured by a driver who is found to be at fault for the crash in Bakersfield, you may be eligible to pursue financial compensation from the driver’s car insurance policy. All motor vehicle drivers must maintain minimum amounts of liability insurance to pay for accidents that they cause. You may also have the right to pursue claims against multiple parties, such as a driver and a government entity for a road defect, depending on the cause of your crash.
Common Injuries and Compensation
Pedestrians have limited physical protection in vehicle collisions, which can result in serious injuries.
Common injuries are:
- Broken bones
- Soft-tissue injuries
- Bruising and contusions
- Head and brain injuries
- Neck and spine injuries
- Herniated disks
- Permanent paralysis
- Lacerations and road rash
- Facial and dental injuries
- Internal injuries and organ damage
- Permanent scarring or disfigurement
- Amputations
- Fatal injuries
- Psychological injuries
Financial compensation in a pedestrian injury case may include medical costs, therapies and rehabilitation, ongoing health care, lost income and benefits, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and wrongful death damages, depending on the facts of the case.
Since pedestrian accidents can involve serious injuries, settlements and verdicts may consider future care needs when supported by evidence. It is important to carefully review any settlement offer to ensure it reflects documented current and future damages.
How a Bakersfield Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Helps
An experienced attorney with knowledge of pedestrian accident cases in Bakersfield can help you protect your rights as you navigate your claim and pursue financial compensation for your injuries and losses. An attorney can assist you with legal services tailored to your needs and circumstances.
Legal services can include:
- Addressing your specific needs and concerns
- Investigating the pedestrian accident
- Reviewing police accident reports
- Interviewing eyewitnesses
- Gathering photographs and surveillance footage of the crash
- Hiring expert witnesses
- Preserving and collecting evidence to prove liability
- Handling communications with insurance companies
- Evaluating the value of your claim based on documented damages
- Negotiating a fair insurance settlement
- Bringing your case to trial, if necessary, to recover compensation
An attorney works on your behalf. Your attorney can assist with preparing legal documents and representing you in court if litigation becomes necessary, while you focus on your recovery.
Contact a Bakersfield Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
At Jacoby & Meyers, you can request a free consultation, where you can tell your story to a pedestrian accident lawyer and receive information about your legal options. If you have grounds for a claim, we may offer representation throughout the legal process.
Our address
2020 Eye St,
Bakersfield, CA 93301
24/7 hotline:
Call us to book an appointment at our local law office. If you are seriously injured and unable to travel, we may be able to discuss alternative meeting arrangements. Our law firm offers flexible appointment scheduling. Contact us now for more information.