The Right Of Pedestrians

On the daily, people usually drive their personal cars wherever they need to go. Some may choose public transportation or a rideshare. Others like to walk. Walking is a great way to get your steps in for exercise as well as no polluting with carbon emissions. Walking can help calm you throughout the day. However, not everyone is into walking. Meaning, drivers, even though they have been sharing the road with pedestrians for decades are still not accustomed to watching out for those who decide to walk. As a pedestrian you have rights and our Pedestrian Accident Attorneys in San Mateo at Allegiance Law want you to know what they are:

1. “Pedestrians always have the right of way” is a false statement. California has a strict no jaywalking law. If you are walking without a crosswalk or designated walking area then you are liable for what happens to you. It may seem unfair, but when it comes to the roadway both pedestrians and drivers have to play their part.
2. Drivers should yield to pedestrians if using the appropriate crosswalks. If you are walking in a designated area then you should be able to cross without worry. However, if you are hit then you do have a better chance of not getting the blame because you were following the crosswalk signals and our designated area.
3. Don’t fall off the curb. If you are walking and let’s say you are goofing around, and you jump off the curb into the street and get hit by an oncoming car then you may be to blame. The law states that pedestrians should not walk off the curb as to cause “immediate hazard” to drivers on the road. Simply put, if your behaviors are crazy enough to land you on the road then you may be at fault.
4. Pedestrians need to be just as cautious as drivers. If you are walking across the street or thinking about walking anywhere near a road then it is important that you remain cautious of your surroundings.

Holding a driver liable for your injuries is harder than you think. Unless, for example, it is something obvious like a car driving up on to a sidewalk and hitting you. This happened near a San Mateo high school where a teacher and several students were injured after a car drove up onto the sidewalk hitting them. There is no known cause for why the driver did that, but if the driver was in control of the car and was distracted or under the influence when the car is at fault.

What To Do

Learning who is at fault in a pedestrian accident can be tricky. Let our San Mateo Pedestrian Attorneys at Allegiance Law be the legal guidance you need to ensure that you are getting fairly treated and fairly compensated. Pedestrian accidents are typically major injuries as getting hit by a car can lead to catastrophic injuries. While you concentrate on healing let our Pedestrian Accident Attorneys find justice for you. Call 415-404-6395 or click here to start a conversation with professional attorneys at Allegiance Law in San Mateo today.