Woman Injured After Fresno Pedestrian Accident
A woman was injured after a pedestrian accident in southwest Fresno on the morning of February 26, 2020. The auto-pedestrian accident occurred shortly after 5:00 a.m. on Fruit Avenue and California Avenue near Edison High School. A woman was walking in the area when she was hit by a silver Honda Civic sedan, causing severe damage to the front-end and windshield of the vehicle. The woman was reportedly in a coma and was transported to the hospital, according to the Fresno Police Department. Updates regarding her condition were not immediately available.
How Are Medical Bills Paid After a Pedestrian Accident?
When a pedestrian is hit by a car and suffers injuries, that driver’s insurance company is generally responsible for covering medical expenses incurred, among other damages. If the motorist does not have enough liability coverage or none at all to pay for the injured pedestrian’s losses, that pedestrian may be able to be compensated through the uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage of their auto insurance policy. If the pedestrian did not own a vehicle, they can still make an uninsured/underinsured motorist claim with any relative with whom they were living with so long as they were not listed as an excluded member of the policy. For more details on what to do if the at-fault party has minimal insurance policy limits, watch the video below.
What is a Fair Settlement for a Fresno Pedestrian Accident?
A fair settlement for a pedestrian accident varies from case to case. Recovery is generally comprised of two types of damages, economic and noneconomic. Economic damages include past and future medical expenses and lost wages. Noneconomic damages include loss of consortium, or interference with marital relationships, and pain and suffering. However, specific factors may affect the value of the case. Factors that should be reviewed include the type of work the pedestrian did before the accident, the lifestyle they maintain, and how their life has been impacted by the injuries they have suffered. Arriving at an appropriate and fair settlement is often challenging as insurance companies are focused on their bottom line, meaning they will dispute the value of a case to pay as little as possible. This is why an injured pedestrian needs an experienced Fresno personal injury lawyer at their side to ensure they are not taken advantage of by insurance companies as they focus on recovering from their trauma.
How Comparative Fault Can Affect Pedestrian Accident Claims
California follows a system of pure comparative negligence. This means an injured pedestrian may still be able to be compensated for their injuries and losses even if they share partial fault in an accident. Insurance companies often use comparative fault as a defense for a pedestrian accident case to minimize their financial liability. They can do so by assigning a percentage of negligence to an injured pedestrian for jaywalking, wearing dark clothing at night, and walking against the flow of traffic. In such cases, it is essential to work with an experienced personal injury lawyer from Fresno. An injury lawyer can review the facts of your accident, look at traffic collision reports for errors, and discuss your potential options for recovery.
Should I Accept the First Offer From the Insurance Company?
Insurance carriers, even your own, increase their profits margin by diminishing, delaying, or denying personal injury claims. Any initial settlement offer from an insurer for a pedestrian accident is often less than what injured parties are entitled to receive. After a pedestrian accident, do not agree to a recorded statement or accept a settlement offer from an insurance claims adjuster until you have consulted with an experienced attorney.
Personal Injury Lawyer in Fresno
I’m Ed Smith, a Fresno personal injury lawyer. Receiving fair compensation for injuries suffered in a pedestrian accident is a challenging process. Financial recovery generally requires time and experience handling pedestrian accident cases in California. Receive the legal assistance you need by reaching out to a personal injury lawyer from Fresno. If you or a loved one has been injured after a pedestrian accident in Fresno, please call me at (559) 377-7676 or toll-free at (800) 404-5400 to receive my free, friendly advice.
Learn what our past clients have to say about working with us at:
I am a member of the Million Dollar Advocates and the National Association of Distinguished Counsel.
Look over cases our personal injury law firm has handled at our Verdicts and Settlements page.
Picture Credit: By “ElasticComputeFarm” via Pixabay
:ds llo [cs 762]