Pedestrian Accident Lawyer in Rancho Cucamonga, CA

Pedestrian accidents can happen any time and anywhere. Whether you’re out for an evening stroll in your neighborhood or just walking through a busy parking lot, a reckless driver can change your life and the lives of your loved ones in an instant.

The Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas is here to help. We’ve proudly advocated for San Bernardino County accident victims for decades, and can provide bilingual legal services to our Spanish-speaking neighbors.

For a free case evaluation with an experienced pedestrian accident lawyer near you, contact our law firm in Rancho Cucamonga, CA. Our law office is on your side.

How Common Are Pedestrian Accidents in the Rancho Cucamonga Area?

According to data from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), there were 33 pedestrian injuries and fatalities in Rancho Cucamonga in 2022. Looking at OTS numbers for San Bernardino County, there were 677 pedestrian injuries and deaths in the county in 2022. Breaking down these countywide numbers further, OTS found that 61 of the pedestrian accident victims who were injured or killed were under age 15. As for victims who were seniors, OTS recorded 71 pedestrian injuries or deaths for people over 65 years old.

While these numbers are not as steep as the numbers of injuries and deaths from motor vehicle accidents, they still reveal the serious dangers that all pedestrians face in and around our city.

How Long Do I Have to File a Pedestrian Accident Lawsuit in California

In the state of California, you will typically have two years from the date of a pedestrian accident to file a personal injury claim. Once that two-year statute of limitations has passed, you will not be able to seek legal action.

It’s worth noting that there are exceptions to the two-year deadline depending on the circumstances of your pedestrian accident. That’s why it’s best to contact our law firm in Rancho Cucamonga as soon as you can to discuss what happened with an experienced attorney.

Why Choose the Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas

Founded in 1995, the Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas bring compassion and focus to every case we work on. In addition to high Avvo ratings and numerous accolades from legal organizations, there are other reasons why people in San Bernardino County come to us when they need a trusted and capable catastrophic accident lawyer.

Experience Working for Insurance Companies on Accident Cases

Attorney Fernando D. Vargas started his legal career in 1987 working as a defense lawyer for insurance companies. He knows how insurance companies operate, and the tactics they use to lowball settlement payouts and argue cases in court. He uses that firsthand experience to negotiate better settlements and build stronger cases for his clients.

Personal Attention to the Needs of the Client

You, your family, and your future matter to us. Attorney Fernando D. Vargas will personally work on every pedestrian accident case. He will always be available to clients when questions or concerns arise. We encourage you to read our past client testimonials to get a sense of what our law firm can offer families in need of legal help after a serious injury causes a long-term or permanent disability.

Se Habla Español: Legal Services in Spanish

To best serve the Hispanic community in San Bernardino County and the Inland Empire, it’s important to have fluent Spanish speakers. Fernando D. Vargas is fluent in Spanish, and many of his legal staff are fully bilingual as well.

Free Legal Consultations

After any kind of serious injury or accident, your primary concerns are making a full recovery and planning for the future. At our Rancho Cucamonga law office, your first consultation is free of charge. This allows you to get honest advice from a qualified neck and spine injury lawyer without incurring any additional financial burdens.

Representation on a Contingency Fee Basis

Our team works on a contingency fee basis. That means if we work on your pedestrian injury case, we will only get paid if we can secure a settlement or win damages from a jury in court. If we can’t win, you owe us nothing. Families affected by bike or pedestrian accidents know they have our full support when they come to our law office.

Request a Free Consultation with a Rancho Cucamonga Pedestrian Accident Attorney

After a serious accident, you need a lawyer who will fight for you and make sure your household is cared for. Fernando D. Vargas and his team are here to offer guidance and care as you recover from your injuries. To speak with an experienced attorney near you about your pedestrian accident, contact our law firm in Rancho Cucamonga, CA.

Common Causes of Auto Accidents Involving Pedestrians

Many injuries to pedestrians are associated with serious car accidents. Below are just a few common causes of these kinds of incidents.

Low Light and Poor Visibility

Low light and poor visibility are major contributing factors in serious pedestrian accidents. According to the Federal Highway Administration, 76% of pedestrian accident fatalities occur at night. Even if a pedestrian wears bright or reflective colors and remains on well-lit sidewalks while out for a walk, it’s important to exercise additional caution given these facts.

Reckless Driving

When drivers are speeding, taking risks, and not abiding by the rules of the road, the chances of hitting a pedestrian increase. Our law firm can hold reckless and aggressive drivers accountable if their actions caused or contributed to the serious injury or death of a pedestrian or bicyclist.
Drunk Driving

Operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol puts countless lives at risk. When an intoxicated driver hits a pedestrian, our law firm can hold the intoxicated driver liable for their actions, seeking damages to compensate the accident victim and their family.

Driver Distraction

Driver distraction can take many forms, from texting behind the wheel or looking up directions to eating while driving. Whenever a driver’s eyes are off the road or hands are off the wheel, it greatly increases the risk of hitting a pedestrian or another person responsibly sharing the road.

Left and Right Turns

Whenever a vehicle makes a turn, it’s crucial that the driver checks for other vehicles as well as pedestrians and bikes crossing the street. Neglecting to check for people in the crosswalk or waiting at an intersection to cross could lead to a serious pedestrian or bicyclist accident.

Poor Road Conditions

Poor road conditions that affect pedestrian safety include unmarked crosswalks, defective traffic signals, and broken streetlights. When these hazards are present, our law firm can determine if Rancho Cucamonga road authorities should be held liable for contributing to a serious pedestrian accident.

Pedestrian Accidents Involving Children

Children are especially vulnerable to serious pedestrian injuries. In addition to hazards around school zones and public parks in and around San Bernardino County, a bad driver in a suburban neighborhood could also seriously injure a child if they are not paying attention.

If your child was seriously hurt in a bike or pedestrian accident, the Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas will hold that reckless driver accountable for the harm they’ve caused.

Pedestrian Accidents Involving Senior Citizens

The elderly are also vulnerable to serious injuries if they are hit by a vehicle. This is a danger in various neighborhoods in the area, especially if there are senior living communities and nursing homes present.

If an elderly loved one was hit by a car while out for a walk around an assisted-living facility or retirement community in San Bernardino County, you can count on our law firm to provide legal support and guidance as you seek compensation.

Discuss Your Pedestrian Accident with Our Rancho Cucamonga Law Firm

If you were seriously hurt by a reckless driver, you can trust the Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas for sound legal counsel. Our bilingual legal team has helped injury victims throughout the Inland Empire. To discuss your situation with an experienced pedestrian accident attorney near you, contact our law firm in Rancho Cucamonga, CA.

Potential Injuries in a Pedestrian Accident

Below are some of the most common types of injuries we notice among survivors of pedestrian accidents.

Broken Bones and Joint Dislocation – The force of impact from a vehicle can potentially cause fractured bones or dislocated joints. This may require surgery or other invasive medical procedures.
Head Trauma and Brain Injuries – Head injuries could lead to a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Serious injuries to the brain could affect a person’s memory, cognition, motor skills, and mental health.
Neck and Back Injuries – Depending on how someone was hit, there’s a serious risk of neck injuries and injuries to the back. A ruptured disc or other injuries to the neck and back can seriously affect mobility.
Injuries to Internal Organs – All kinds of injuries could affect a pedestrian’s internal organs after getting hit by a motor vehicle. It’s crucial to seek medical attention to check on injuries that may not be apparent.

Pedestrian Accidents and Permanent Disability

When catastrophic injuries occur, they could have long-lasting consequences to a person’s quality of life and ability to perform certain tasks. In some pedestrian accidents, the injuries result in a permanent disability.

Serious injuries to the extremities could lead to loss of limbs, whether in the immediate aftermath of an accident or as part of a surgical amputation. In the case of serious spinal cord injuries, the accident survivor could experience paraplegia or quadriplegia (tetraplegia), which means wheelchair dependence and substantial changes to daily life.

Attorney Fernando D. Vargas can assess the full extent of your injuries, how your disability has affected your life, and seek compensation that is commensurate with the damages experienced during your pedestrian accident.

Damages in a Pedestrian Accident Injury Case

When seeking damages in a pedestrian accident case, our law firm will consider all kinds of losses caused by what happened. The damages sought will often cover the following:

Medical bills
Physical rehabilitation
Other future medical expenses
Lost wages
Loss of future earning potential
Renovations to accommodate a disability
Damage to property and personal belongings
Emotional pain and suffering

As we work on your case, our legal team can help you understand the value of your legal claim and the myriad ways your injuries have affected your life.

Fatal Accidents Involving Pedestrians

If you lose a loved one in a fatal pedestrian accident, the Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas can help you file a wrongful death lawsuit. These kinds of legal actions allow surviving family members or dependents to hold negligent or reckless parties liable for another person’s death.

As with pedestrian injury cases, people in California usually have about two years from the date of a fatal accident to seek legal action. There are exceptions to the two-year statute of limitations, so it’s best to discuss the loss of your loved one with our law firm as soon as possible.

Damages After a Fatal Pedestrian Accident

Damages in a fatal pedestrian accident case will cover funeral costs, loss of the deceased’s income to a household, grief counseling, and loss of consortium. Legal damages in a fatal pedestrian accident will also consider medical expenses, damage to property, and the other financial losses associated with the pedestrian accident claim.

Can I Still Seek Damages If I Was Partially at Fault in a Pedestrian Accident?

Potentially, yes. This is because California is a pure comparative negligence state. This means that a jaywalker or pedestrian who contributed to an accident can still seek damages even if they were 99% at fault for what occurred. The percentage of fault is deducted from the total amount of damages awarded.

Partial fault can have a major impact on the total value of your legal claim. When discussing your case with Fernando D. Vargas, he will let you know if it’s a better option to settle your pedestrian accident claim out of court rather than taking your case to trial.

Contact Our Rancho Cucamonga Law Office for a Free Case Review

Accident victims throughout the Inland Empire can trust attorney Fernando D. Vargas in their time of legal need. To request a free consultation with an experienced pedestrian accident lawyer near you, contact our law firm in Rancho Cucamonga, CA. We are ready to assist you and offer guidance through a difficult time.