Every year, nearly 5,000 deaths and more than 64,000 injuries result from auto versus pedestrian accidents in the U.S. Driver negligence is often the cause of these accidents. Victims are often left to face substantial medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering.

Pedestrian accidents usually occur in the following situations: school children walking to and from school, elderly persons crossing busy streets and pedestrians in the crosswalk. These accidents happen all too often because a driver is distracted, looking at traffic or driving negligently.

In California, our cities and streets are crowded. This means pedestrians, cyclists, cars and trucks have to share the roadways. Many crosswalks have yellow flashing warning lights to alert motorists when a pedestrian is crossing the road. Unfortunately, not all drivers pay attention to the blinking lights.

According to http://www.ghsa.org, California was among the top states for pedestrian accidents in 2010. In 2010, there were 15,319 pedestrians under the age of 15 who were struck by motor vehicles in California, and there were 1,183 fatal accidents.

Due to the significant size difference between motor vehicles and pedestrians, these accidents are almost always serious in nature. If you are in an accident, and you are able, it is critical to do the following:

• - Insist that a report is filed with the authorities
• - Obtain contact information, insurance, license plate and driver’s license numbers of everyone involved
• - Gather witness information
• - Take photographs
• - Seek medical attention
• - Contact a reputable attorney
• - Do not give statements to an insurance representative
• - Sign nothing without first discussing your rights with a knowledgeable attorney

If you have been injured in a pedestrian accident, please contact us for a free case consultation. At Harris Personal Injury Lawyers, our attorneys are prepared to investigate your accident and help you recover the compensation you deserve.