Pedestrian Accident Lawyer in Woodland Hills

Because of the great year-round weather of Southern California, it is no wonder why there is so much pedestrian activity throughout Woodland Hills with people out walking and jogging day and night. If you have been injured in a traffic accident, you’ll need an experienced Woodland Hills pedestrian accident lawyer to help you through the legal process. Working with a personal injury attorney in San Fernando Valley ensures you’ll receive maximum compensation for your case.

Woodland Hills is a beautiful place to live and one of the most desirable residential neighborhoods in the San Fernando Valley part of the city of Los Angeles. This lush and green neighborhood is home to nearly 68,000 residents (2021) and is bordered by other popular neighborhoods such as Calabasas, Tarzana, West Hills, Canoga Park, Winnetka, and sits along the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains.

But it’s not only a residential neighborhood. Woodland Hills is also home to thriving business areas such as Warner Center, as well as many elementary, middle, and high schools. The Los Angeles Pierce College which is part of the LA community college District is also located in Woodland Hills.

Woodland Hills still has many major roads throughout the area, and whenever there are pedestrians sharing space and roads with any size motor vehicle, there are bound to be serious accidents.

Why Contact a Woodland Hills Pedestrian Accident Lawyer?

We truly hope you will never be injured in a Woodland Hills pedestrian accident, but if you are you can get the help you need by contacting The Law Offices of Daniel Kim.

Daniel Kim and his legal team are experienced attorneys that only handle motor vehicle-related accidents, so we have the knowledge and track record to deal with Allstate, Progressive, Geico, and any of the major insurance companies.

Woodland Hills Pedestrian accident lawyer, Daniel Kim, has a proven history of winning cases and has well over 1,000 positive reviews from previous clients on websites such as Yelp, Google, and Facebook singing the law firm’s praises.

After you’ve been injured in a pedestrian accident in Woodland Hills, you may not know what to do next or where to begin the process of being compensated for your injuries and the medical bills that inevitably start piling up.

Our team of legal professionals is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to answer all your questions and help guide you through this difficult time. Contact us today for a free consultation and initial case review. No pressure, and no fees until we win your case.

Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents

Whilst all motor vehicle accidents are unique, the sad reality is that pedestrian accidents will usually result in far greater injuries than somebody inside a car or truck.

Pedestrian accidents are also more likely to affect people of all ages, from children to senior citizens, than a car-on-car accident.

The top 5 most common reasons for pedestrian accidents are:

1. Distracted driving – Even though distracted driving accident rates are on the rise every year because of the increase in the use of mobile phones, GPS, satellite radio, and other tech devices, distracted driving has been long regarded as one of the most common causes of all pedestrian accidents. And many of these reasons such as eating, applying makeup, talking to other passengers in the car, daydreaming, and even singing along to the radio still cause accidents and serious injuries to this day. In fact, the NHTSA crash data collection has reported that 10% of all fatal crashes and 15% of all pedestrian crash injuries in 2015 were caused by a distraction of some sort. Even though California has strict texting while driving laws, drivers continue to do it. Put the phone down, the life you could save may be your own.
2. Speeding – Driving too fast is the most common reason for all motor vehicle accidents in the United States. Speeding and driving recklessly above the legally posted speed limit can drastically increase your chance of being in a crash. The University of California at Berkeley released a study that showed for every 1% increase in a motor vehicle speed, the chance of being involved in an accident increased by 2%, the chance of being seriously injured increased by 3%, and the chance of being killed in a car accident increased by approximately 4%. Slow down, it can wait.
3. Failing to yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk – Not stopping or yielding to pedestrians in either marked or unmarked crosswalks is one of the most common reasons for pedestrian accidents in California, with 20% of all fatal and nonfatal accidents citing this as the primary reason for the collision. Failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk is almost always ruled as the driver of the vehicle’s fault, as California’s crosswalk laws state that pedestrians have the right-of-way at all marked and unmarked crosswalks.
4. Driving under the influence – Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is incredibly dangerous and highly illegal, and it’s even more hazardous to pedestrians. A study released by the IISHS Highway Loss Data Institute reports that 13% of all pedestrian accidents are caused by intoxicated drivers. Even a single alcoholic drink can reduce a driver’s ability to operate a vehicle safely. And the more drinks or drugs consumed the worse it gets. Increased lack of judgment, reduced reflexes and reaction times, slow muscle response times, and lessened inhibitions are all a recipe for disaster. And in this day and age where rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft are available practically everywhere, there is absolutely no reason to operate a vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
5. Bad weather – Although Woodland Hills has a fantastic climate with practically year-round sunshine and very little rain, when it does rain or the weather turns nasty the roads become incredibly chaotic very quickly. Streets get very slippery thanks to the built-up oil deposits on the road, and because drivers are not used to operating their vehicles in these types of conditions, they often cause major accidents. Pedestrians can be very hard to see in bad weather, particularly at night. If you are out walking or jogging in the rain or any form of inclement weather, you should wear brightly colored and reflective clothing, obey all road laws, take the headphones off, and stay alert. If you are driving in an area where you know there is significant pedestrian activity, pay extra attention and make sure to give pedestrians the right-of-way and plenty of time to cross streets.

Whatever the reason for your accident, Woodland Hills pedestrian accident lawyer, Daniel Kim, can help you recover the financial compensation you deserve. Contact us today.

Common Injuries a Woodland Hills Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Can Get Compensation For

Pedestrian accidents usually involve the most serious and severe injuries of all motor vehicle-related accidents.

The sheer weight, size, and speed of a passenger car, SUV, or truck versus a pedestrian can cause catastrophic damages. After all, a pedestrian does not have the same safety measures a passenger car provides such as crash avoidance systems, airbags, and seatbelts.

Some of the most common injuries we see include:

• Broken fractured bones – broken wrists, ankles, pelvic bones, and hips are very common
• Neck and back injuries – bulging discs, whiplash, and spinal cord injuries
• Head injuries – concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
• Cuts and bruises – bruising is almost a certainty, and deep lacerations could require surgery
• Internal bleeding and organ damage – this may not be able to be seen immediately and requires medical diagnosis quickly

After being involved in a pedestrian accident, you must seek medical attention immediately. Some injuries may not have fully revealed themselves and could be masked by the shock or adrenaline rush following the collision. Any injury could be fatal if not addressed early enough.

Going directly to the hospital or emergency room following a pedestrian accident is a must, and will also help strengthen the validity of your injury case. After receiving treatment, working with a Woodland Hills pedestrian accident lawyer will help you win compensation to pay for those medical bills.

Woodland Hills Pedestrian Accident Statistics

Nearly everyone will be a pedestrian at some point during the day, whether it’s just a short walk from the car to the grocery store entrance, the bus stop to school, or going out to walk the dog.

You never really think about being involved in a pedestrian accident until it happens to you, and even if you follow all rules, use crosswalks and sidewalks, you simply can’t control other people or other motor vehicle drivers.

Woodland Hills and all neighborhoods in the San Fernando Valley have seen an increase in pedestrian motor vehicle accidents every year since 2011, with an average of 28 pedestrian deaths each year.

In 2016, Los Angeles County had more pedestrian accident-related deaths than any other county in the United States.

Across California between January 2017 in June 2017, there were an estimated 352 pedestrian deaths.

Most Dangerous Roads and Intersections in Woodland Hills

Because Woodland Hills is a very active neighborhood, there are many streets and intersections that pedestrians should be especially careful of.

Some of these roads include:

• Victory Boulevard
• Canoga Avenue
• Burbank Boulevard
• Woodlake Avenue
• Mulholland Drive
• Valley Circle Boulevard
• Fallbrook Avenue

The most dangerous intersections in Woodland Hills include:

• Victory Boulevard at Canoga Ave.
• Owensmouth Ave. at Victory Blvd.
• Topanga Canyon Boulevard at Victory Boulevard
• Burbank Boulevard at Owensmouth Ave.
• Canoga Avenue at Erwin Street