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Santa Maria Pedestrian Accident Attorney

Pedestrians being seriously injured or even killed on California’s highways and byways is a growing trend. An uptick in the number of people walking is partially to blame, but many times it is the negligence of drivers on the road that leads to serious accidents involving pedestrians. If you are among them, you may have grounds to file a pedestrian accident claim.

Pleasant weather and beautifully maintained streets make Santa Maria a lovely place to walk, whether for pleasure or necessity. But hidden dangers can lie around every corner for the pedestrian. At the Law Offices of John B. Richards, our Santa Maria pedestrian accident attorney serves as an aggressive advocate for clients injured while traversing the local area by foot. Discuss your claim with our team by scheduling a case evaluation or calling 805-683-2736.

The Prevalence Of Pedestrian Accidents

Pedestrians are being killed on the roadways in greater numbers than ever before, notes the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA). In fact, pedestrian deaths in 2019 were 46% greater than 2010 levels, whereas all other traffic deaths rose just 5% during the same period. 

California along with six other states share the unhappy distinction of being home to more than half of all pedestrian deaths in the country, with 54% of all pedestrians dying in those states. An estimated 485 pedestrians died on California’s roadways in 2020 alone, a figure that does not include the thousands more left with serious, sometimes debilitating, and disabling conditions. In 2018, the number of injured pedestrians was a mind-boggling number: more than 14,000. 

Drivers Must Yield

Under the California Vehicle Code, drivers are required to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians crossing at both marked and unmarked crosswalks at intersections. And while this does not give pedestrians free rein to just walk where they want, when they want, the law also states that drivers must exercise care to keep from hitting pedestrians who might enter the roadway at an inappropriate place. Further, California Vehicle Code says that drivers must take the presence of pedestrians into account when determining what speed to travel.

Unfortunately, drivers do not always use the amount of caution required to keep pedestrians safe, and people end up injured or deceased as a result. Some of the main causes of pedestrian v. vehicle accidents on California’s roadways include:

  • Drivers who are distracted by texting, talking on the phone, or other activities in the car. 
  • Driving who drive impaired while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. 
  • Drivers who are impatient and choose to drive around people walking or fail to give pedestrians the right-of-way.
  • Drivers who operate their vehicles recklessly or carelessly by not obey traffic laws, especially at crosswalks. 
  • Drivers making left-hand turns. Not all drivers pay careful attention to the signals at crosswalks. When cars turn left, drivers’ focus may be on making their way through a busy intersection child having to look straight ahead as opposed to looking in a leftward direction.
  • Road construction forces pedestrians to seek alternate, less familiar routes to get where they are going. 

Our Santa Maria Pedestrian Accident Attorney Can Help

If you sustained injuries while walking, you may have the grounds to file a claim against anyone who was negligent in causing your accident. The Santa Maria pedestrian accident attorney with the Law Office of John B. Richards wants to help. Get the ball rolling on our claim by reaching out to our team to schedule a case evaluation or call 805-683-2736.

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