Los Angeles Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Los Angeles Pedestrian Accident Attorney

Los Angeles is one of the busiest and most densely populated metropolitan areas in the United States. Traffic is notoriously congested in the city, and most Californians consider Los Angeles one of the worst places in the state for driving. However, while the area can be troublesome for motorists, it can also be very dangerous for pedestrians. When a motor vehicle driver hits a pedestrian, the victim is likely to suffer catastrophic or even fatal injuries.

Helping Injured Pedestrians Recover in Los Angeles, CA

If you or a relative recently experienced a pedestrian accident in Los Angeles, it is crucial to know your legal options for recovering from the incident. The at-fault driver is liable for all of the damages they caused, but you are required to prove how they caused the accident and prove the causation between their actions and your claimed losses. An experienced Los Angeles pedestrian accident attorney is the ideal resource to consult for this process.

Easton & Easton has a team of experienced attorneys who have successfully represented many past clients in a wide range of personal injury claims in Los Angeles, including car accidents and accidents involving pedestrians. Our firm has helped many injured victims recover the compensation they need after experiencing the effects of other parties’ negligence and misconduct. If a driver caused your pedestrian accident, we could help hold them accountable.

Los Angeles Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Why You Need Legal Representation for Your Pedestrian Accident Claim in Los Angeles

Many people believe that if a driver hits a pedestrian, they are automatically responsible for all associated damages. While this is mostly true, the reality is that a variety of factors can potentially come into play to complicate a civil suit. The average person with no formal legal experience is likely to struggle to maximize their compensation when they attempt to handle their case alone. They would also contend with demanding procedural requirements through the court system while managing the medical effects of their accident.

When you have an experienced Los Angeles pedestrian accident attorney representing your case, you are better prepared to confront these challenges. Your legal team can help meet all procedural deadlines your case entails and help construct a compelling civil suit that seeks maximum compensation from the defendant. Time is a crucial consideration for anyone intending to file a civil claim for damages. Not only will swift legal action ensure you meet the statute of limitations, but it will also preserve the integrity of evidence and reliability of witness testimony that you may need to succeed with the claim.

The attorneys at Easton & Easton excel at handling complex personal injury cases, and we know the legal obstacles you are likely to encounter when you must file a civil suit for a pedestrian accident. We will carefully review the details of how your accident happened, help identify the parties responsible for the damages, and guide you through the process of holding them accountable. If you are concerned about the damages you can seek from the defendant who injured you, our team can thoroughly explore every channel of compensation that may be available to you to increase your final case award as much as legally possible.

Proving Fault for a Pedestrian Accident in Los Angeles

Pedestrians are expected to follow the traffic signs and crossing signals in the Los Angeles area, and drivers are expected to yield to pedestrians whenever necessary. Some common ways that drivers cause pedestrian accidents in Los Angeles include:

  • Distracted driving. If a driver is not paying attention to their surroundings, they could easily cause serious harm to a pedestrian. Your Los Angeles pedestrian accident attorney can help prove the at-fault driver was driving distracted by obtaining their cell phone records, traffic camera footage, and testimony from eyewitnesses.
  • Driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs or alcohol. This is illegal and punishable by jail time, fines, and a suspended driver’s license. These penalties automatically increase when the defendant has injured or killed someone with their actions.
  • Whenever a driver speeds, they have much less time to reach changes on the road, such as a pedestrian stepping out in front of them. Any time a driver hits a pedestrian, they can easily cause catastrophic injuries, but this risk is much greater at high speeds.
  • Traffic violations, such as performing illegal turns or running through red lights. Pedestrians expect drivers to follow the rules of the road, and when they commit moving violations, they can easily injure pedestrians in crosswalks.

Before you can claim any compensation for your losses, you are required to prove how those losses manifested and who caused them. In almost all cases, a motor vehicle driver who hits a pedestrian is to blame for the pedestrian accident. All drivers have a duty of care to prevent injuries to pedestrians, even when those pedestrians cross the street outside of the designated crosswalk. However, it is possible for a pedestrian to incur partial fault for their accident if they stepped directly in front of an oncoming vehicle and the driver had virtually no time to react.

The state upholds the pure comparative fault rule when multiple parties share liability for an accident. If a pedestrian is found partially at fault for their damages, they will lose a percentage of their award under the pure comparative fault rule. For example, if the judge determines that the pedestrian jaywalked and gave the driver very little time to react, they may assign the pedestrian a fault percentage to account for this behavior. The plaintiff’s fault percentage is the percentage of the award they lose, so 10% fault means losing 10% of the case award.

Your Los Angeles pedestrian accident attorney can help recover the evidence needed to prove liability for the accident in question. This may include physical evidence, digital records like traffic camera recordings, and testimony from witnesses who saw the accident happen firsthand. Once you have proven fault for your pedestrian accident, you can proceed with claiming compensation for your damages.

Recovery From a Pedestrian Accident in Los Angeles

Under the state’s personal injury laws, the victim is entitled to claim compensation for any and all damages a defendant inflicted on them. An important first step in your recovery efforts may be an auto insurance claim against the at-fault driver. All drivers are required to have auto insurance that meets the state’s minimum coverage requirements for bodily injury and property damage, but even if you maximize your settlement from the insurance company, this may not be enough to fully repay the entire scope of the losses you suffered.

After securing as much compensation as possible from the defendant’s insurance, your Los Angeles pedestrian accident attorney can help calculate the full scope of your claimable damages, which may include medical costs, lost income, and pain and suffering.

Economic damages like medical expenses and lost income are more straightforward and easier to prove with the right documentation. The defendant who injured you is liable for any and all medical treatment costs you incur for recovering from your injuries. This includes immediate and long-term healthcare costs if you require ongoing rehabilitative care for a serious injury, such as a brain injury or spinal cord injury. Many injured pedestrians suffer catastrophic injuries in these accidents, most of which will require years of medical treatment.

Lost income can also be recovered from the defendant who caused your accident. If you cannot work because of your injuries, the defendant who caused those injuries is liable for the income you cannot earn while you recover. Pedestrian accidents can easily cause severely disabling injuries, some of which prevent victims from returning to work at all in the future. Your Los Angeles pedestrian accident attorney can help prove the full extent of the lost earning potential you experienced due to the defendant’s actions.

Calculating Pain and Suffering and Other Compensation for Your Pedestrian Accident

Pain and suffering are non-economic damages and are more subjective. The average person is likely to wonder how one can place a monetary value on something like physical pain or emotional distress, but your Los Angeles pedestrian accident attorney can help determine a suitable amount to reflect the severity of your experience. Attorneys who handle personal injury claims for injured pedestrians may seek compensation based on the number of days it takes a client to fully recover, or they may use the multiplier method to seek a large lump sum. This is typically applicable in cases in which plaintiffs have suffered catastrophic and life-changing injuries.

Depending on how a pedestrian accident occurred, the plaintiff may also recover additional compensation like punitive damages or restitution from a criminal trial against the defendant. If the defendant caused the pedestrian accident through any illegal misconduct, such as DUI or reckless driving, the state would file criminal charges, and a judge will sentence them accordingly. When a criminal defendant has injured a victim, the judge is likely to award restitution to the victim as part of the defendant’s sentence.

If the defendant did not technically break the law, but their actions fall outside the general definition of standard negligence, a civil court judge has the discretionary power to award punitive damages to the plaintiff. As the name suggests, punitive damages intend to punish a defendant for their behavior, and the amount they pay typically depends on their overall economic status.

When you hire Easton & Easton to help you through your recovery efforts after a pedestrian accident, we will advise you as to whether any such variables could influence your final recovery. Our team has helped many clients recover far more compensation than they initially anticipated, and we excel at helping our clients maximize their recoveries by revealing every avenue of compensation available to them. We’ll seek to settle the case if possible, but we are entirely prepared to represent you in court if necessary. If you must participate as a witness against the defendant in a criminal trial, we can help you prepare for this as well.

How to Resolve a Pedestrian Accident Claim in Los Angeles

Your Los Angeles pedestrian accident attorney is the ideal resource to have assisting you with your recovery efforts. Once you have proven liability for the incident, secured as much compensation as possible through an auto insurance claim against the at-fault driver, and compiled your personal injury action, your case can go in two possible directions. If the defendant accepts responsibility for your damages and agrees to settlement negotiations, you can resolve your case outside of court, avoiding the time and stress that litigation would entail. If the defendant denies liability or disputes the amount of compensation you are seeking, the case will need to go to court, and a judge will have the final say on the outcome of the case.

When you select Easton & Easton as your legal representatives, we will aim to settle your case as quickly as possible while seeking maximum compensation for your losses. A swift settlement reduces the time it takes you to obtain the compensation you need to recover, but it does require the defendant’s willingness to compromise. If, for any reason, settlement fails or is not a viable option for resolving your case, we are fully prepared to represent you at trial.

Our firm has years of successful cases behind us because we vehemently defend our client’s rights in all the cases we accept. We know how stressful and uncertain the aftermath of any serious personal injury can be, and we know how to help navigate the various complex legal proceedings you face after a pedestrian accident. Time is a critical factor in any civil claim for damages, so it’s important to connect with an attorney you can trust as soon as possible after another party has injured you in a pedestrian accident.

Pedestrian Accident Lawyer FAQs

Q: Will the Driver Who Hit Me Go to Jail?

A: If you were hit by a driver while walking, they could face jail time if they caused the accident through illegal misconduct, an intentional desire to harm you, or through egregious negligence. If such a variable applies to your case, the defendant could face jail time and other criminal penalties. Your Los Angeles pedestrian accident attorney can help you understand how a criminal case against the defendant could impact your recovery.

Q: How Much Compensation Can I Claim for a Pedestrian Accident in Los Angeles?

A: The state’s personal injury laws allow you to seek full compensation for all economic damages you suffered, as well as pain and suffering compensation to reflect the severity of your experience. The total value of your personal injury claim depends on the severity of your damages and whether you have experienced legal counsel advising you. Having experienced legal counsel represent you is the ideal method of maximizing your final case award, and your attorney may reveal avenues of compensation you did not know were available to you.

Q: How Much Time Do I Have to Start a Personal Injury Suit?

A: There is a two-year statute of limitations or time limit for personal injury actions. This means you have two years from the date of your injury to file your civil action against the party responsible for the injury. Failure to file your claim within this time limit could mean losing your ability to claim compensation from the defendant. It is imperative that you consult a Los Angeles pedestrian accident attorney as soon as possible after you stabilize from your injuries.

Q: Why Do I Need to Hire a Los Angeles Pedestrian Accident Lawyer?

A: Even if the fault for your recent pedestrian accident seems perfectly clear, there is always a chance for unexpected variables to arise and complicate your pursuit of compensation for your damages. Hiring an experienced Los Angeles pedestrian accident attorney also means you will not need to worry about handling your civil claim on your own while managing your recovery from your injuries. You are more likely to win your case and maximize your compensation with the help of an experienced Los Angeles pedestrian accident attorney.

Q: How Much Will It Cost to Hire a Los Angeles Pedestrian Accident Attorney?

A: The attorneys at Easton & Easton operate on a contingency fee basis for our personal injury clients in Los Angeles. This means we take no upfront legal fees, nor do we charge ongoing attorneys’ fees during your case. Instead, our firm will take a percentage of the total case award we recover on your behalf, and only if we win your case. If our team cannot recover compensation for your damages for any reason, you pay nothing, so there is no risk to you by hiring Easton & Easton to represent your pedestrian accident claim.

The right attorney can make a tremendous positive difference in the outcome of your impending civil suit. When you select Easton & Easton to represent you, you are investing in years of professional legal experience and a team of attorneys dedicated to helping you maximize your recovery to the fullest extent possible under state law. If you are ready to explore your options for legal recourse with the help of an experienced Los Angeles pedestrian accident attorney, contact us today and schedule your consultation with our team.

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Firm Awards
Accredited Business Bbb Rating A+

The superior client service Easton & Easton provides has earned the firm an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Best Law Firms Orange County 2020

Easton & Easton is honored to have been chosen anew each year since 2014 by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers as one of the "Best Law Firms" for the Southern California Metro Area.

Reader's Choice 2019 Best Law Firm

Easton & Easton is honored to have been chosen by the LA Times Reader's Choice Poll as "The Best Personal Injury Law Firm in Orange County" for 2018.

Top 100 Trial Lawyers

Doug and Brian Easton have been selected as Top 100 Trial Lawyers for California each year since 2014 — honors given to less than 1% of attorneys.

The Best Lawyers in America

Doug and Matt Easton have each been chosen as one of The Best Lawyers in America for Plaintiff's Personal Injury Litigation. Best Lawyers lists attorneys who have earned selection through exemplary legal work that attracts the notice of their colleagues. Lawyers cannot buy their way onto this list.

Top 50 Personal Injury Verdicts in California 2016

Brian and Matt Easton were recently honored for their efforts in securing a $1,850,000 verdict for a client in 2016, which was selected as one of the Top 50 Personal Injury Verdicts in California by TopVerdict.com.

Super Lawyers

Doug and Brian have each been selected by Super Lawyers, an honor given to less than 5% of attorneys. Matt Easton has been selected among Super Lawyers' Up-and-Coming Top 25 in Orange County and Top 100 in Southern Califonia, an honor given to less than 1% of attorneys under 40 years old.

10 Best Personal Injury Law Firms in all of Southern California

Easton & Easton is honored to have been chosen as one of the "10 Best Personal Injury Law Firms” in all of Southern California" each year Since 2015 based on client satisfaction — one of the highest honors we could ever hope to achieve.

People Love Us On Yelp

Easton & Easton received the “People Love Us On Yelp” award in 2016 due to the exceptional client satisfaction reviews given by our clients over the years.

Premier 100 Trial Attorneys for 2015

Doug and Matt Easton have each been featured as Premier 100 Trial Attorneys for California since 2015 — honors given to less than 1% of attorneys.

Multi Million Dollar Advocates Forum

Brian and Matt Easton have each earned lifetime appointment to the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum — The Top Trial Lawyers in AmericaTM through the results achieved for their clients. This is an honor given to less than 1% of attorneys in the United States.

Top Rated Lawyers AV Preeminent

Doug Easton has held the “AV Preeminent” Rating for over 30 years and Matt Easton received this prestigious distinction in 2015. The "AV Preeminent" rating is the highest possible rating for both legal ability and ethical standards, and is based on the legal profession’s oldest peer review rating system, dating back to 1887.

10 Best 2015 Client Satisfaction

Doug, Brian, and Matt Easton have all been chosen as one of the "10 Best" Personal Injury Attorneys in Southern California each year since 2015 based on client satisfaction, an honor given to less than 1% of personal injury attorneys - and Easton & Easton houses three of them.

American Board of Trial Advocate

Brian Easton was selected to the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) in 2015. ABOTA is one of the most premier associations of trial attorneys and judges, requiring a certain number of jury trials as lead counsel and approval by a majority vote of the ABOTA board.

The National Top 40 Trial Lawyers Under 40

Matt Easton has been selected each year since 2014 as one of the Top 40 Trial Lawyers Under 40 for California by The National Trial Lawyers — an honor given to less than 1% of attorneys.

Avvo Rating Top Attorney Personal Injury

Doug and Matt Easton have each been chosen as one of The Best Lawyers in America for Plaintiff's Personal Injury Litigation. Best Lawyers lists attorneys who have earned selection through exemplary legal work that attracts the notice of their colleagues. Lawyers cannot buy their way onto this list.

Nation's Premier Top Ten Attorney Personal Injury

Both Doug and Matt Easton have been selected as Top Personal Injury Attorneys by Avvo with scores of 10 out of 10 based on their skill, experience, results, peer evaluations, and client reviews.

Nation's Premier Top Ten Attorney Personal Injury

Matt Easton has been selected as one of the Top 10 Personal Injury Attorneys Under 40 in California for 2015 by the National Association of Personal Injury Attorneys — an honor given to less than 1% of personal injury attorneys under the age of 40.

Nation's Top One Percent

Doug, Brian, and Matt Easton have all been selected by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel among the Nation's Top One Percent of Attorneys each year since 2017.

Orange County Personal Injury Lawyer | Costa Mesa Auto Accident Attorney | Catastrophic Injuries

“We look for the human story behind every injury or wrongful death. We prepare our cases for trial; reaching out to the jury with the most compelling evidence possible for the best verdict possible. Insurance companies know this and come to the table prepared to negotiate in good faith. Call us to see how we can turn your story into fair compensation.”

Partner W. Douglas Easton

What Our Clients Say

Coming out of my first auto accident as an adult, a very difficult and scary time to navigate and understand, I was so incredibly thankful to have been put in contact with Easton & Easton. I honestly was lost with how to handle paperwork, doctors, medical costs and what next steps were, and from the moment I spoke with Travis Easton and my case manager Katie, my mind was put at ease. They have made the entire process stress free for me as I recovered, and I am so grateful for them and their genuine care for my case. Communication from the start has been fantastic, especially making clear what my expectations for the entire process would look like, and I truly believe they have my best interest at heart. 100% I would recommend their firm for anyone that is needing representation! Read more…

Sara McClelland
My experience with Easton & Easton has been amazing! Gabriel Mendoza and my case manager Katie have been so helpful and taken so much stress off my plate. They’ve been super informative and honest and given me very clear expectations. They’ve taken such a terrible experience (my accident) and eased my mind about the outcome. I can’t thank them enough!! Read more…
Caila Dean

Ive used them twice and never been disappointed. Read more…

Lisa Bluemel

The Easton & Easton Law Firm is amazing! The entire team is very helpful and caring. They were always there to answer all my questions. They directed me through the entire process and stayed with me every step of the way. This team is outstanding and were wonderful to work with. Because of the tremendous effort they put on my case they were able to win my difficult personal injury case. I couldn’t have asked for a better law firm to handle my case. They are the Best! Thank you for your patience, professionalism, & guidance! I definitely recommend this firm to handle your case. They go out of their way to fight for your rights. THANK YOU… Read more…

Sofia Sanchez

I could not be more pleased with the services provided by the Law Offices of W. Douglas Easton. The senior partner Mr. Easton took the time to meet with me and my wife while I was still in the hospital, where he gave my family hope that there was light at the end of a very long, and very dark tunnel. Matt Easton then worked my case, and because of his dedication, experience and expertise I received a settlement that was larger than I EVER thought possible. It was truly astounding! Matt and the entire team at Easton & Easton looked out for me throughout my recovery, and in the end they gave me my life back. Five stars is not enough. Thanks Matt! Thanks Easton & Easton! Read more…

Dan Campbell

Brian and everyone at Easton and Easton are simply the BEST at what they do. Brian is thorough, easy to talk to, and truly cares about his clients. If you want a family of attorneys with perseverance and determination to fight for you, give Easton and Easton a call. I am glad I did. Read more…

Kyle Keith

What an amazing law firm, talk about going above and beyond to make such a painful experience go so well. I have referred a co-worker and a family member to them as well and everyone had such a great experience as I had. Read more…

Logan Ross

I can’t say enough amazing things about my experience with Travis Easton at Easton & Easton. Travis and his entire team (Katie, Amy, Dee, Michelle, & Araceli) are phenomenal. It provided me a lot of comfort to know I was being so well taken care of. I was especially impressed that every document for the case was perfectly written and specific to me. Nothing was generic, which shows the level of care and attention they put into each individual case. I had such a great experience and would highly recommend Travis Easton and his firm to anyone going through a personal injury. Travis took a bad situation and made the best of it for me. Thank you again, I’m forever grateful!!

-Allee

Ashlee A.

Retaining Easton and Easton was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made! From the initial consultation to our final meeting, they were nothing short of exceptional. I was forced to retain their services after firing my previous attorney for not handling the case properly. I dealt with Gabriel and Brian (partner) exclusively throughout the case. They did as promised and were great communicators throughout the entire process. I will recommend them to anyone I know going through a personal injury case. They were ultimately able to untangle the mess caused by my previous lawyer and get a result that I was extremely happy with. Their staff is exceptional as well and provided top notch customer service. Amera was also extremely helpful and easy to deal with as well.

Jeffrey N.

I was in a pretty bad car accident and decided to have Easton & Easton represent me, Travis Easton to be specific. Travis Easton and his paralegal made the whole process effortless. They were so understanding and helpful! The entire thing was a gigantic mess, yet Travis managed to make it run like clockwork. I would HIGHLY recommend Easton & Easton! If you are ever in need of a personal defense attorney Easton & Easton is the firm to represent you!

Mark B.

They are the best law firm in Orange County period. Choosing them to represent me was the best decision of my life.
My life changed in a matter of seconds after a catastrophic spinal cord injury that left me disabled. Brian Easton and his team worked on my case non stop for 3 years and provided me the justice I deserved. I couldn’t have been more content.
I was treated with utmost respect and I felt like I was being represented by a close family member. The responses to my questions were quick and clear. What E & E has done for me is phenomenal.
My sincere thanks to Brian, Matt, Travis, Doug, Gabriel and Amera. They are what they are because of their dedication to provide high quality and professional service to their clients.

Vamsi P.

Brian Easton and his team, Gabe Mendoza and Amera Hajali, helped me during a very difficult time in my life. I had a significant injury from a car accident, and wound up seeking out Easton & Easton when I was having difficulties getting help from my doctors. The Easton team took a lot of stress off of me while acting as my advocates to help me get the care I needed, and saw my case all the way through to a healthy settlement.

They are the BEST!

Jennifer P.

I have nothing but good things to say about Easton and Easton. Brian handled my case professionally and communicated with me effectively throughout the process. He made sure that the process was effortless and as hands free as possible. This was super important for my busy schedule. I highly recommend Easton and Easton if you are ever found in a situation that you need an attorney.

Claudia C.

I would highly recommend Easton & Easton.
I was rear ended on my home and pushed into a semi-truck. I was not sure how to go about even using an attorney.
Brian, Gab and Amera were so good about helping me thru the process and representing me.
I was able to concentrate on getting myself better knowing they had my back, taking care of the details and keeping me informed along the way

Linda M.

The best Law firm by far. I would highly recommend Easton & Easton, LLP and ask for Gabriel Mendoza and staff. He and his colleagues did and exceptional service. Thank you for everything. Job well done!

Ericka P.

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