Protecting Pedestrian Rights Throughout Pasadena
Whether you're walking along Colorado Boulevard, crossing at Fair Oaks Avenue, or strolling through Old Pasadena, you deserve to feel safe on our city's streets. Unfortunately, pedestrian accidents continue to devastate families across California, with the state recording 1,106 pedestrian fatalities in 2023 — the highest number in the United States — making walking increasingly dangerous despite ongoing safety efforts.
When driver negligence leads to a pedestrian accident, victims often suffer severe injuries, high medical bills, and uncertain futures. At Cohen & Marzban Law Corporation, our Pasadena pedestrian accident attorneys bring 40+ years of experience and have recovered over $2 billion by aggressively fighting for injured pedestrians against insurance companies that try to minimize payouts.
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Pasadena
Pedestrian accident cases typically result from driver negligence, hazardous conditions, and violations of California traffic laws. Our legal team has identified these common patterns:
- Distracted driving: Drivers texting or talking on phones fail to see pedestrians crossing at marked or unmarked crosswalks.
- Failure to yield right of way: Many drivers ignore California Vehicle Code Section 21950 requirements to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks.
- Excessive speed: High speeds reduce driver reaction time and dramatically increase injury severity when collisions occur.
- Driving under the influence: Impaired drivers cause nearly half of all fatal pedestrian accidents, according to traffic safety data.
- Unsafe left turns: Drivers making left turns at intersections often fail to check for pedestrians before completing their turn.
- Poor visibility: Inadequate street lighting makes it harder for drivers to see pedestrians, especially at night.
- Defective traffic signals: Malfunctioning signals create confusion for both pedestrians and drivers at intersections.
- Road defects: Cracked sidewalks or debris can cause pedestrians to stumble into traffic unexpectedly.
- Parking lot incidents: Drivers backing up or rushing through parking lots frequently fail to watch for pedestrian traffic.
- Hit and run accidents: Some negligent drivers flee the accident scene rather than providing assistance to injured victims.
Understanding these causes helps our experienced pedestrian accident lawyers build compelling cases that demonstrate driver negligence and establish liability for maximum compensation.
Maximum Compensation for Pedestrian Accident Victims
Our goal is to recover every dollar you're entitled to after a pedestrian accident. Compensation typically includes:
- Medical expenses: All past and future healthcare costs, including emergency care, surgeries, hospital stays, rehabilitation, and medical equipment.
- Lost wages and lost income: Reimbursement for time missed at work and reduced earning capacity when injuries prevent returning to your previous occupation.
- Pain and suffering: Compensation for physical pain and discomfort experienced during and after the accident.
- Emotional distress: Damages for anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other psychological impacts.
- Loss of enjoyment of life: Compensation when injuries prevent participation in activities you once enjoyed.
- Property damage: Replacement costs for damaged personal belongings.
In cases involving particularly reckless conduct, such as hit and run accidents or DUI, we may pursue punitive damages to hold negligent drivers accountable.
Catastrophic Injuries in Pedestrian Accident Cases
When a pedestrian is hit by a car, the lack of protection often results in severe or fatal injuries:
- Traumatic brain injuries: Head trauma can cause permanent cognitive impairment and personality changes requiring lifelong care.
- Spinal cord injuries: Damage to the spine may result in partial or complete paralysis.
- Broken bones and fractures: Multiple fractures often require surgeries and extensive rehabilitation.
- Wrongful death: When victims lose their lives, families face grief alongside mounting medical expenses and lost income.
- Internal injuries: Organ damage may not be immediately apparent but can be life-threatening without immediate medical attention.
Seeking immediate medical attention after any pedestrian accident is critical for your health and for documenting injuries for your claim.
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