Riverside Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

A Riverside Pedestrian Accident Lawyer understands that if you have been hit by a car as a pedestrian, it can be a devastating experience, resulting in catastrophic injuries and immense financial strain. You deserve to have your medical expenses paid for by receiving financial compensation from the negligent driver who hit you.

However, after you have been hit, the driver and their insurance company will often try to unfairly blame you to reduce their liability and deny a rightful claim. While it is rare for the pedestrian to be the one at fault in these types of accidents, it is important that you take steps to protect yourself. You need a skilled Riverside pedestrian accident lawyer to fight for you.

When you work with our team at Kohan & Bablove Injury Attorneys, you give yourself the best opportunity for making a full recovery a reality. Our team specializes in these complex cases. We hold negligent drivers accountable and pursue the maximum compensation for your medical care, lost wages, and suffering. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation to protect your rights and secure the justice you deserve.

Why Choose Kohan & Bablove Injury Attorneys for Your Pedestrian Accident Case?

When you’ve been injured as a pedestrian, your choice of attorney is the most important decision for your recovery. At Kohan & Bablove Injury Attorneys, we are defined by our results and our unwavering commitment to our clients. Our track record of securing maximum compensation includes millions of dollars for victims, proving our ability to hold negligent drivers accountable. We make elite representation accessible with The “No Fee Unless We Win” Guarantee—you pay absolutely nothing unless we successfully recover money for you. From day one, we stand up to insurance companies for you, managing every complex negotiation and aggressive tactic so you can focus on healing. The powerful testimonials about what our past clients say about us reflect our dedication to achieving justice while providing compassionate support.

Critical Steps to Take Immediately After a Pedestrian Accident

The moments following a pedestrian accident are terrifying and chaotic. It can be difficult to think clearly while dealing with shock and severe pain. However, the steps you take in the immediate aftermath are critical. They can have a significant impact on your physical health and your ability to secure the financial compensation you will need to recover. Following this guide can help you protect yourself in the aftermath of a collision.

1. Seek Immediate Medical Attention for Your Injuries

Your health and well-being are the absolute top priority. Even if you think you can walk away from the accident, you must seek an immediate medical evaluation. The adrenaline that floods your system during a traumatic event can easily mask the symptoms of serious and potentially life-threatening injuries, such as internal bleeding, organ damage, or a concussion. Going to the emergency room or seeing a doctor right away ensures you receive a proper diagnosis and the treatment you need. It also creates a crucial medical record that officially documents your injuries and directly links them to the time and date of the accident, which is vital evidence for your claim.

2. Report the Accident to the Police

Always call 911 to have law enforcement respond to the scene. An official police report is an invaluable piece of evidence in any pedestrian accident case. The responding officer will create an objective, third-party account of the incident. They will document the scene, gather information from you and the driver, speak with any available witnesses, and often include a preliminary assessment of who was at fault based on the physical evidence and statements. Never let a driver convince you to handle the situation “off the record” without involving the police.

3. Document the Scene and Gather Witness Information

If you are physically able, use your smartphone to gather as much evidence as possible. Take photos and videos of the vehicle that hit you (including the license plate), your injuries, the crosswalk or intersection where the accident occurred, and any relevant road conditions or traffic signals. It is also critical to get the driver’s name, contact details, driver’s license number, and insurance information. If there were any witnesses who saw the accident, be sure to get their names and phone numbers. Their testimony can be incredibly powerful in supporting your case.

4. Contact an Experienced Riverside Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Before you speak with the driver’s insurance company or sign any documents, it is essential to consult with an experienced attorney. Insurance adjusters will try to get you to provide a recorded statement that they can use to devalue your claim or offer a quick, lowball settlement that won’t cover your future needs. The legal team at Kohan & Bablove Injury Attorneys can protect you from these tactics, handle all communications on your behalf, and ensure your rights are protected from the very beginning, allowing you to focus on your recovery.

Understanding the Dangers Pedestrians Face in Riverside

While Riverside offers many walkable neighborhoods and commercial areas, pedestrians remain incredibly vulnerable when sharing the road with motor vehicles. Lacking any physical protection, a person on foot is no match for the force of a car, truck, or motorcycle. When a driver’s distraction or carelessness leads to a collision, the consequences are almost always devastating for the pedestrian. At Kohan & Bablove Injury Attorneys, we understand these dangers and are dedicated to fighting for the rights of those who have been wrongfully injured.

Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents

The vast majority of pedestrian accidents are preventable and stem directly from driver negligence. Our experience shows that the most common causes of these tragic incidents in Riverside include:

• Distracted Driving: Drivers who are texting, talking on the phone, or otherwise not paying full attention to the road. 
• Failure to Yield in Crosswalks: Drivers who fail to stop for pedestrians in marked or unmarked crosswalks, especially while making turns at intersections. 
• Speeding: Drivers traveling too fast in residential areas, school zones, or commercial districts, which reduces their reaction time. 
• Driving Under the Influence (DUI): Impaired drivers whose judgment and reflexes are compromised. 

Common and Catastrophic Pedestrian Injuries

When a vehicle strikes a pedestrian, the body absorbs the full impact, often leading to catastrophic injuries that can alter a person’s life forever. These frequently include:

• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) 
• Spinal Cord Damage and Paralysis 
• Multiple Bone Fractures, especially to the legs, hips, and pelvis 
• Severe Internal Organ Damage and Bleeding 
• Permanent Scarring and Disfigurement 

These injuries often require a lifetime of medical care and result in overwhelming financial and emotional burdens.

Dangerous Roads and Intersections for Pedestrians in Riverside

While an accident can happen anywhere, certain areas in Riverside pose a higher risk due to high traffic volume and complex intersections. These include major thoroughfares like Magnolia Avenue, University Avenue near the UCR campus, Arlington Avenue, and the busy downtown streets around Mission Inn Avenue.

A Pedestrian-Hit-by-Car Accident Can Be Devastating

When a pedestrian is hit by a car, the impact of the accident can be absolutely devastating. The sheer size difference between a person and a vehicle, along with the vehicle’s weight and the speed at which it was traveling, will all factor into how severe the injuries that result are.

Common injuries in pedestrian accidents include all of the following:

• Broken bones
• Head injuries and concussions
• Bruising and swelling
• Internal bleeding
• Back and neck injuries
• Sprains and strains

Fighting Back Against Common Insurance Company Tactics

After you have been injured, the at-fault driver’s insurance company is not on your side. Their primary objective is to protect their bottom line by paying out as little as possible. To achieve this, they employ a range of tactics designed to shift blame, devalue your injuries, and pressure you into a quick, lowball settlement. An experienced pedestrian accident attorney anticipates these strategies and acts as your dedicated shield, ensuring your rights are protected at every turn.

Rejecting Unfairly Low Settlement Offers

One of the most common tactics is the quick, lowball settlement offer. An insurance adjuster may contact you shortly after the accident, acting friendly and offering what seems like a reasonable amount of money. They do this hoping you are under financial pressure and will accept the offer before you understand the true, long-term cost of your injuries. Accepting this initial offer is almost always a mistake, as you will be required to sign away your right to any future compensation. We meticulously calculate the full value of your claim and reject these unfair offers, fighting for the amount you truly deserve.

Countering Attempts to Unfairly Blame You for the Accident

In pedestrian accident cases, a primary defense tactic is to blame the victim. The insurance adjuster may take your words out of context or twist the facts to argue that you were jaywalking, not paying attention, or were otherwise responsible for the accident. Under California’s comparative negligence rule, any percentage of fault assigned to you will reduce your final settlement. We aggressively fight back against these baseless accusations, using the powerful evidence gathered in our investigation to establish the driver’s full liability.

Uncovering All Available Insurance Policies to Maximize Recovery

Maximizing your recovery often requires identifying every potential source of compensation. While the at-fault driver’s auto insurance policy is the primary source, it may not be the only one. If the driver was working at the time of the crash, their employer’s commercial policy may also apply. In cases where the driver is uninsured or their policy limits are too low to cover your catastrophic injuries, you may be able to file a claim under your own Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage. We conduct a thorough investigation to uncover all available policies.

Correctly Valuing Your Claim

The financial and personal costs of a pedestrian accident are often staggering. A fair settlement must account for every single loss you have suffered and will suffer in the future. A Riverside pedestrian accident lawyer from Kohan & Bablove, Injury Attorneys can properly value your personal injury case, ensuring that you are properly compensated for what happened. We take into consideration all aspects of your life that have been impacted by your injuries when determining what you should settle or sue for.

Insurance companies are focused on minimizing their financial exposure and will often make quick, lowball offers that fail to cover the true, long-term impact of your injuries. You could receive compensation for any expenses and damages directly related to your pedestrian accident, which are typically divided into two categories:

Economic Damages (Medical Bills, Lost Wages, Future Care)

Economic damages are the direct and calculable financial losses you have sustained due to the accident. These damages form the financial foundation of your recovery. A thorough claim must include:

• All Past and Future Medical Expenses: This includes everything from the initial ambulance ride and emergency surgery to ongoing physical therapy, rehabilitation, medication, and any necessary lifelong medical care. We will account for all Medical bills (current and future). 
• Lost Wages and Earning Capacity: You are entitled to full compensation for the Wages lost due to an inability to work during your recovery. If your injuries have permanently affected your ability to do your job or earn a living, you can also be compensated for this devastating long-term financial loss. 
• Other Out-of-Pocket Costs: This can include Transportation expenses (to the doctor, rehab, etc.), Expenses associated with hiring a caregiver, the cost of assistive medical devices, home modifications, and any other financial losses you have suffered as a result of the accident. 

Non-Economic Damages (Pain, Suffering, and Emotional Trauma)

While financial costs are significant, the most devastating impacts of a pedestrian accident are often the unseen ones. Non-economic damages are intended to compensate you for the immense physical and emotional toll the accident has taken on your life. This includes compensation for:

• Physical pain and suffering 
• Emotional distress, anxiety, and PTSD from the traumatic event 
• Permanent scarring and disfigurement 
• Loss of enjoyment of life and the ability to partake in activities you once loved 

Because these damages are subjective, insurance adjusters will fight aggressively to devalue them. The experienced attorneys at Kohan & Bablove Injury Attorneys know how to build a compelling narrative that effectively demonstrates the true human cost of your injuries to secure the full and fair compensation you deserve.

Protect Your Right to Sue

While you do have the right to file a lawsuit, it is important that you begin the process as soon as possible. A Riverside pedestrian accident lawyer from our firm will help you gather the necessary evidence and build a strong case that demonstrates the other driver’s negligence in causing the accident.

Correctly Valuing Your Claim

A Riverside pedestrian accident lawyer from Kohan & Bablove, Injury Attorneys can properly value your personal injury case, thereby ensuring that you are properly compensated for what happened. We take into consideration all aspects of your life that have been impacted by your injuries when determining what you should settle or sue for.

You could receive compensation for any expenses and damages directly related to your pedestrian accident:

• Medical bills (current and future)
• Transportation expenses (to the doctor, rehab, etc.)
• Wages lost due to an inability work
• Expenses associated with hiring a caregiver
• Any other financial losses you have suffered as a result of the accident

Suing the Right Party

Your Riverside pedestrian accident lawyer will determine who was responsible for your accident. This is critical because the only way to receive compensation is to prove negligence or fault.

After being in a pedestrian-hit-by-car accident, you may think it is obvious who you need to sue; however, this is not always the case. For example, a passenger could have partial negligence, the driver could have been working for an employer at the time of the crash, or a government entity could be partly responsible due to dangerous road conditions.

We can investigate the circumstances of your accident, identify all negligent parties, and name them in your lawsuit.

Statute of Limitations in California

You only have two years in which to file a civil lawsuit against the negligent party that caused your pedestrian accident. If you wait to sue the driver until you are fully recovered, you may inadvertently wait too long. Once the statute of limitations has been reached, your case can be thrown out of court without it ever being heard.

If this happens, you will be at a severe disadvantage because without the threat of going to court, the other party will have little motivation to negotiate with you or make a settlement offer.

Additionally, if you were hit by a government vehicle, you should call us immediately. In California, you only have six months to start the process when a government agency is involved, and you must first file an administrative claim with the agency before going to court. We can assist with this process.

Wrongful Death from a Pedestrian Accident

In some cases, the injuries sustained in a pedestrian-hit-by-car accident are severe enough to cause the pedestrian to either die at the scene or as a result of the injuries later. If your loved one has died after being hit by a car, motorcycle, or truck, you have the right to hire an attorney and file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the deceased’s estate.

Only people with a particular relationship to the deceased may file a wrongful death lawsuit in California:

• The spouse or domestic partner
• Children (a guardian will need to sue on their behalf if they are minors)
• Someone in line to inherit the estate—siblings, for example
• Stepchildren or parents who can prove they were dependent upon the deceased for financial support

If you are unsure of whether you are entitled to file a wrongful death lawsuit, speak with a Riverside pedestrian accident lawyer from our office about the nature of your relationship with the deceased and what, if any, financial dependency you had.

Schedule a Consultation With Riverside Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

If you’ve been injured as a pedestrian, don’t wait to seek legal guidance. Contact our law firm today at Kohan & Bablove Injury Attorneys to schedule your no-obligation case evaluation. During this free, confidential meeting, a dedicated Riverside pedestrian accident lawyer will listen to your story, answer your questions, and explain your legal options. We handle the complex legal process and fight the aggressive insurance companies on your behalf, allowing you to focus entirely on your recovery. Take the first step toward securing the justice and compensation you deserve by calling us now.

To schedule your free case evaluation, fill out the form below or call us at 949.848.5487