Pedestrian accidents can happen anywhere, anytime, even when you think are paying attention. Perhaps, before crossing a street, you checked left and right and saw that the coast was clear of cars. Or you saw a car and believed that you and a driver made eye contact and it was safe to cross the street, but the driver didn’t slow down. Long story short? Accidents between motorists and pedestrians in Woodland Hills are common. If you are a pedestrian who was hit by an automobile driver, there are several things you should know.
First, the driver of the car, truck, or motorcycle may face both civil and criminal liability. Civil liability means that as the injured pedestrian, you may sue for damages sustained as a result of the accident. An experienced pedestrian accident attorney will be able to help you with this. You may be able to recover medical expenses, lost wages, emotional distress, and for injuries suffered. Additionally, a local government agency, such as the District Attorney’s Office, could charge the driver with criminal liability. This means the state would prosecute the driver for injuries caused to you if the driver was determined to be breaking the law, such as driving under the influence or engaging in a hit and run. Criminal liability could result in fines, probation, jail time, and loss of a driver’s license.
Legal Obligations of Driver Who Hits a Pedestrian