Average Payout for a Pedestrian Hit By a Car in California
The average payout for a pedestrian hit by a car in California is from $10,000 to up to millions of dollars for more serious injuries. Every claim is guided by the distinct circumstances involved, but this average speaks to how serious pedestrian accidents tend to be.
Consider two of our recent pedestrian accident settlements:
- $2.5 million: A broken foot in Sacramento
- $1.25 million: a TBI in Los Angeles
Your claim settlement will hinge on factors like the following:
- The extent of your damages, including your medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering
- Your ability to prove your losses, which correlates with seeking the immediate medical attention you need and carefully following your doctor’s advice and instructions
- The strength of your claim, which is based on the scope of the available evidence
- Your ability to prove the motorist’s fault in the matter
The sooner you have savvy legal representation on your side, the stronger your claim will be.
Need help with California pedestrian injury compensation?
Reach out to a capable Torrance pedestrian accident lawyer at Feher Law for the skilled legal counsel you’re looking for.
Pedestrian hit-and-run compensation
The average pedestrian hit-and-run compensation is around $100,000 for less serious injuries. For more serious injuries, hit-and-run compensation can be several million dollars.
When the at-fault driver leaves the scene of the accident, it can drive the settlement up because the negligent motorist – if identified – can be required to cover punitive damages that are designed to punish them rather than solely compensate the victim.
Ultimately, every pedestrian accident comes with its own unique set of relevant circumstances that guide the outcome of the attendant pedestrian accident settlement. The more serious the victim’s covered physical, financial, and emotional losses, the higher the settlement amount is likely to be.
When the injuries sustained are life-altering – or catastrophic – the settlement amount can easily exceed the $1 million mark.
Additional reading: average settlement for car accident back and neck injury in California
Pedestrian hit in a crosswalk settlement average
The average pedestrian hit in a crosswalk settlement is estimated at $75,000 nationally for less serious incidents, but this can vary dramatically depending on the severity of the victim’s injuries.
It’s important to note here that every pedestrian accident claim is a serious claim that is important to the victim’s future. Once the losses relate to life-altering consequences, however, the stakes are much higher, and the settlements increase accordingly.
You’re never more vulnerable to the impact of an accident than when you are on foot, and settlement amounts reflect this fact.
Additional reading: pedestrian hit by a car: what to do
How to maximize pedestrian accident compensation
Your pedestrian accident claim will be specific to your situation, but there are things everyone in your difficult position can do to help maximize the amount of compensation they receive:
- Obtain the immediate medical attention you need.
- Consult with a seasoned personal injury lawyer at your first opportunity.
- Carefully follow your medical team’s guidance throughout the process.
- Remember that the insurance company handling your claim is invested in keeping your settlement low, so let your trusted law firm do the communicating and the negotiating with them.
- Take a break from social media for the same reason as above.
- Don’t accept an early settlement offer – which is very likely an attempt to resolve your claim before you recognize exactly how serious your losses are – without your attorney’s guidance.
An experienced San Bernardino pedestrian accident lawyer at Feher Law will skillfully assess your losses, build your strongest claim, and fiercely pursue the compensation you deserve.
Factors that affect pedestrian injury settlements in California
A wide range of primary factors can directly affect the outcome of a lawsuit for a car accident settlement, and knowing these can afford you a better understanding of your claim.
Matter of fault
Pedestrian accident cases are based on negligence, and proving the motorist’s fault in your claim is critical to its success. Fault in these cases is determined per the available evidence, which your experienced personal injury attorney will ably gather and compile.
In the State of California, pedestrians have considerable rights that are designed to protect them from being seriously injured in traffic crashes. In fact, the state goes so far as always granting pedestrians the right of way in intersections – where dangerous pedestrian accidents are most likely.
Strength of the evidence
The stronger the evidence in your case, the stronger your claim will be – and the more likely you are to exact a just case settlement that fairly covers every category of loss you experience.
Common examples of evidence include:
- The police report and any additional documentation, including any traffic citations issued
- Photos and videos captured at the scene by eyewitnesses, dash cams, traffic cams, and security cams
- Eyewitness testimony
- Your doctor’s report regarding your injuries and health prognosis
- Income statements, which testify to your lost earnings
- Related medical bills
- Your telling of how seriously your life has been affected in the wake of the pedestrian accident – and statements that address the same topic by those who know you best
Severity of the victim's injuries
Pedestrian accidents remain a serious threat on California’s roadways, and resulting pedestrian cases tend to involve very serious injuries. When you’re on foot, you don’t have the protective shell of a car to help shield you from the full force of the accident’s impact. This means that you’re likely to sustain more serious injuries, which support a higher settlement.
Victim's total losses
In the end, your pedestrian accident settlement in California will reflect the covered losses you suffer as a direct result of the driver’s negligence, and these losses break down into the following categories:
- Related medical expenses: likely to be both extensive and ongoing in the aftermath of a serious pedestrian accident
- Lost income: may need to reflect losses related to your overall earning power
- Physical and emotional pain and suffering: referred to as non-economic damage and can exceed your other losses combined
A critical factor in every successful personal injury claim, including those related to pedestrian accidents, is a clear and accurate accounting of the victim’s losses that is difficult for the insurance company to refute.
Statistics on pedestrian accidents
Our recent pedestrian accident claims weigh in at an average of $1.88 million, including a settlement of $2.5 million involving a broken foot and a settlement of $1.25 million involving a serious TBI.
We’ll get you the maximum compensation you deserve for getting hit by a car
At Feher Law, we appreciate exactly how difficult it is for pedestrian accident victims to overcome their losses – and we spare no effort in our focused advocacy for settlement payouts that support our clients’ rights and their rightful compensation.
Our knowledgeable pedestrian accident attorneys dedicate their impressive practice to helping clients like you – who’ve suffered serious accident injuries – on the challenging path toward regaining their health and well-being.
If you’ve been injured in a pedestrian accident in California, you need a formidable personal injury attorney at Feher Law in your corner. We have the legal skill and insight to build your strongest claim and skillfully pursue its optimal outcome, so please don’t put off reaching out and contacting us for more information today.
Key takeaways on the average settlement for a pedestrian hit by a car in California
Pedestrian accidents are among the deadliest on our roadways, and they are on the rise. The physical and emotional injuries you suffer are likely to be overwhelming, but obtaining fair compensation can make a significant difference in your health outcome.
The most important step anyone in your situation can take is to seek the professional legal guidance of an accomplished pedestrian accident attorney early in the process.
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