Modesto Pedestrian Accident Lawyers

Hurt While Crossing the Road? Our Lawyers Are Here to Help

Getting hit by a vehicle while walking in the city isn’t something anyone ever expects to happen. Even if you were following the rules and just trying to get where you needed to go, it only takes one negligent driver to cause a collision. And now, you’re left with pain, stress, and questions about what to do next while watching the medical bills pile up fast.

No matter what happened, you deserve high-quality legal support. At Thompson Law, we help pedestrians in Modesto get the justice and compensation they’re entitled to. We don’t just handle paperwork and trials in courtrooms. We also walk with you through the financial recovery process, start to finish.

Learn how our experienced Modesto pedestrian accident lawyers can strengthen your case and lead it to victory when you book a FREE CONSULTATION with our team.

 

Modesto Pedestrian Accident Lawyers

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Why You Need a Modesto Pedestrian Accident Attorney from Thompson Law

Pedestrian accidents are never just straightforward. Drivers may deny fault, and insurance companies might downplay your injuries. Meanwhile, you’re left managing recovery, lost income, and bills you never saw coming. That’s why having the right lawyer makes all the difference.

At Thompson Law, we’ve helped countless injured pedestrians across California get the answers and fair compensation they deserve. Here’s why people trust us to fight for them:

  • We’ve recovered over $1.9 billion for clients throughout the years.
  • No fee unless we win. You pay nothing out of pocket until you get a settlement or are awarded court damages.
  • We have experience handling complex claims, including hit-and-runs and accidents involving uninsured drivers.
  • We don’t back down against aggressive insurance companies that try to give you lowball settlement offers. We fight back until you get the compensation you deserve.

Schedule your FREE CASE REVIEW with our team today, and let’s talk about how we can help lead your case to victory.

What Our Modesto Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Can Do for Your Case

After a serious accident, you shouldn’t have to navigate legal stress while trying to recover. At Thompson Law, we take on the legal work so you can focus on healing physically and emotionally. Our job is to protect your rights, handle the details, and fight for the compensation that reflects the full extent of your injuries. Here are just some of the things we do to assist:

  • Investigate the accident thoroughly and gather evidence like surveillance footage, police reports, and witness statements
  • Identify all liable parties, including negligent drivers and city entities, if public infrastructure contributed to the accident
  • Work directly with your medical team to understand the full impact of your injuries
  • Communicate with insurance companies to ensure you’re not pressured into lowball settlements
  • Take your case to court if needed. If the insurance company won’t play fair, we’re fully prepared to fight for you at trial.

We know how overwhelming this time can be, but you’re not alone. When you hire our Modesto pedestrian accident lawyers, you get advocates who genuinely care about getting you the outcome you need to move forward.

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(844) 308-8180

Why Choose Thompson Law?

We believe every pedestrian in Modesto deserves to feel safe. When that safety is taken away by a careless driver, justice should follow. Injured pedestrians shouldn’t have to fight for fair treatment or navigate confusing legal systems alone. That’s why we stand up for people who’ve been knocked down and work to make sure their story is heard and that they are fully compensated for their pain and traumatic experience.

Types of Compensation in Pedestrian Accident Claims in Modesto

If someone else’s negligence caused your injuries, you have the right to seek compensation for those losses. Here are the compensatory damages you may be entitled to:

  • Medical expenses, including hospital bills, rehabilitation, surgeries, medication, and future care
  • Lost wages from missed work during recovery
  • Reduced earning ability if your injuries limit future employment
  • Pain and suffering from the physical and emotional toll of the accident
  • Property damage to personal items affected in the accident
  • Loss of enjoyment of life due to the long-term impact on daily activities
  • Wrongful death-related costs, like funeral and burial expenses, if you lost a loved one in a pedestrian accident

Every case is different, but our Modesto pedestrian accident lawyers work to ensure your injuries’ full impact is recognized and fairly compensated. We’ll help you estimate the value of your claim when you book a FREE CASE REVIEW with our team.

At Thompson Law

We provide pedestrian accident victims with dedicated and tenacious legal representation, ensuring you get fair value for your claim. Our Modesto personal injury lawyers will build a strong case with supporting evidence for victims so that you recover the money that you deserve.

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Jaywalking and Comparative Fault: What if You Were Partly to Blame?

Even if you were jaywalking or not walking in a marked crosswalk when the accident happened, that doesn’t automatically make the crash your fault. It also doesn’t mean you can’t recover compensation.

California follows a comparative fault system. That means you can still get fairly compensated for a personal injury even if you contributed somehow to the collision. However, your compensation will be reduced based on your percentage of the blame.

For example, let’s say you’re found to be 30% at fault for crossing outside the crosswalk, but the driver is 70% at fault for speeding or failing to yield to you, the pedestrian. You can still recover 70% of your total damages. So, if your total losses were $100,000, you could still walk away with $70,000.

Can I File a Claim If I Wasn’t in a Crosswalk?

Yes, you can still file a claim even if you weren’t in a crosswalk at the time of the accident. While being outside a marked crosswalk can impact how fault is evaluated (and how much trouble insurance adjusters give you), it doesn’t automatically make you responsible or bar you from compensation.

Drivers still have a legal duty to watch for pedestrians and drive safely, regardless of where someone is crossing. If the driver was speeding, distracted, or failed to slow down, they may still be held mostly at fault.

How We Establish Liability for Your Injuries

Insurance companies may try to shift blame or argue that your injuries aren’t as serious as they are, giving them a reason to minimize your payout. But our Modesto pedestrian accident lawyers know how to build a strong case using facts, evidence, and California law to hold the at-fault party accountable.

Our team works hard to show exactly how the driver failed in their legal responsibility and why you deserve full compensation. Here are the four key elements we use to prove liability.

  1. Duty of care:  All drivers have a legal duty to drive their vehicles safely and watch out for pedestrians.
  2. Breach of duty:  We show how the driver failed to meet that duty, whether it’s because they were speeding, texting, or ignoring traffic signs.
  3. Causation:  We connect the driver’s actions directly to the accident and your resulting injuries.
  4. Damages:  We document the full impact of the accident to prove the amount you’re entitled to in damages.

By clearly establishing all of these elements, we build a case that the court of law can’t ignore or contest.

What Modesto Law Says About Pedestrian Rights and Driver Duties

Pedestrians have specific legal protections under California law, especially when crossing the street or walking near traffic. Arguably the most important law is California Vehicle Code § 21950, which requires drivers to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians in marked and unmarked crosswalks. The law also mandates that:

  • Drivers must slow down or stop if necessary to yield to a pedestrian in the crosswalk.
  • Drivers must not pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk, because it might be yielding to a pedestrian.
  • Pedestrians must not suddenly leave a curb or walk into the path of a vehicle, and they are not allowed to stop unnecessarily in the crosswalk.

How Long Do I Have to File a Pedestrian Accident Claim in Modesto?

In California, you have up to two years from when the pedestrian accident occurred to file a personal injury claim. However, waiting too long can make your case much harder. That two-year window is known as the statute of limitations. If two years pass and you don’t file a claim, you lose the legal right to seek compensation, no matter how strong your case might have been.

That said, there are exceptions. If the accident involved a government vehicle or public roadway hazard, the deadline can shrink to as little as six months.

Why Modesto Pedestrian Injury Victims Choose Thompson Law

Pedestrian accident cases require specific legal experience, and that’s what we bring to the table. At Thompson Law, we specialize in personal injury, and we know how to investigate these cases so we can get you the maximum compensation possible. Whether it’s a crosswalk collision, a hit-and-run, or a complex liability issue, our team is ready to step in and take control of the legal side so you don’t have to stress about it.

Clients choose us not just for our results, but also for how we treat them along the way. We listen, we respond, and we show up when it matters. You’ll never be left wondering what’s happening with your case or who’s handling it. When you work with Thompson Law, you get a team that truly cares about your physical and mental recovery, not just your settlement.

Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Modesto

Pedestrian accidents can happen anywhere, from busy intersections to quiet neighborhoods to unassuming parking lots. But none of them are random. They’re almost always caused by preventable behaviors that put pedestrians at serious risk. Here are some of the most common causes of pedestrian accidents that highlight where a driver went wrong:

  • Distracted driving, especially if the driver was texting behind the wheel
  • Speeding through residential or high-pedestrian areas
  • Failing to yield to people at crosswalks or intersections
  • Running red lights or blatantly ignoring traffic signals
  • Driving under the influence
  • Making unsafe turns without checking whether anyone is crossing the road
  • Poor visibility due to weather or low lighting
  • Backing up without checking mirrors or surroundings, especially in parking lots

What If the Pedestrian Accident Involved a Child or an Elderly Person?

When a pedestrian accident involves a child or elderly adult, having an experienced lawyer becomes even more essential. These cases tend to be more medically and legally complex, and insurance companies may push back harder to limit payouts, without considering the higher vulnerability and long-term consequences for the people involved.

Minors are granted more time under California law. The standard two-year window to file a personal injury claim doesn’t begin until they turn 18. That gives families more time, but it also makes it critical to properly document everything early.

With elderly victims, proving the full impact of the injury on long-term independence and quality of life can take expert input. An experienced attorney can navigate these complexities and make sure nothing is overlooked.

At Thompson Law, we know how to handle these sensitive cases with the attention and care they deserve.

Key Statistics About Pedestrian Accidents in Modesto, CA

Understanding the numbers behind pedestrian accidents in Modesto can shed light on just how serious and common these incidents are. Here are some of the key stats about pedestrian injuries and accidents in the City of Modesto and California:

  • Modesto ranked the third most dangerous city for pedestrians among 60 similarly sized California cities in 2021, continuing a downward trend in pedestrian safety that’s been building since 2017.
  • In 2022, 100 pedestrians died in Modesto, including eight children under 15 and 11 seniors over 65, showing how vulnerable the youngest and oldest residents are.
  • Crashes are most common between 9AM and 3PM, which emphasizes the risks of nighttime walking. Nationally, nearly 75% of pedestrian collisions happen at night.

Recent Pedestrian Accidents That Highlight the Risks in Modesto

Pedestrian safety continues to be a serious concern in Modesto. Just in October and November 2023, there were at least seven reported accidents, sometimes three in a single week.

In one tragic October 2023 case, a 59-year-old man was struck and killed while crossing Standiford Avenue, and the 21-year-old driver was arrested for DUI and gross vehicular manslaughter. The following month, a 64-year-old man in a wheelchair was hit by an SUV while crossing Santa Cruz Avenue at an unmarked intersection and died at the scene. Just days later, another pedestrian was fatally struck midblock on McHenry Avenue.

In response to rising pedestrian deaths, the Modesto Police Department received a $560,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety to increase enforcement and reduce serious crashes. It’s a meaningful step, but the recent wave of accidents shows just how urgently change is needed and why legal support matters after a crash.

What Evidence Can Help Prove a Pedestrian Injury Claim?

Strong evidence is key to proving fault and securing fair compensation in a pedestrian accident case. The more details you can document and preserve, the easier it is to build a solid case and legal strategy to get you the compensation you deserve. Helpful evidence includes:

  • Photos or videos of the scene, vehicle, and your injuries
  • Police report with official statements and observations
  • Eyewitness accounts that support your version of events
  • Surveillance or traffic camera footage
  • Medical records showing the extent of your injuries
  • Pay stubs or other proof of missed work or lost income due to the accident
  • Accident reconstruction reports or expert witness testimony

Gathering this kind of evidence early, while the details are still fresh, can make a huge difference in the strength of your case.

What Happens If the Driver Fled the Scene?

A hit-and-run can feel especially overwhelming. It can make you feel helpless if the driver disappears without taking responsibility for their actions that hurt you. But don’t worry, you’re not out of options. Police will investigate using any available evidence, such as witness statements, traffic cameras, surveillance footage, or debris left at the scene, to try to identify the driver.

In the meantime, you may be able to file a claim through your own uninsured motorist coverage. These policies can help cover medical bills, lost wages, and more, even when the at-fault driver can’t be found.

Our lawyers can walk you through what coverage applies and help pursue all available sources of compensation while law enforcement continues its investigation.

Your Recovery from a Crash Starts with the Right Legal Support

A serious pedestrian accident can disrupt every part of your life. But with the right legal team backing you, you don’t have to face the aftermath alone. At Thompson Law, we know how to build strong cases, negotiate with insurance companies, and pursue the full compensation you’re entitled to, whether through settlement or trial.

If you’ve been injured in Modesto, contact our Modesto pedestrian accident lawyers today for a FREE CONSULTATION. We’re here to guide you forward.

 

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FAQs About Pedestrian Accidents in Modesto, CA

How much does it cost to hire a pedestrian accident lawyer in Modesto?

At Thompson Law, you don’t pay anything up front, because you shouldn’t have to worry about legal bills when you’re focused on healing. We work on a contingency basis, which means we only get paid if we win your case or get you a fair settlement. No hourly fees, no retainers, no surprise invoices.

Can I still get compensation if I was partially at fault?

Yes, you can. Being partially at fault doesn’t mean you’re out of options. California follows a comparative negligence rule, which means that while you can still recover damages, your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if the driver was speeding but you crossed slightly outside the crosswalk, you might still be able to recover a significant portion of your losses.

How long does a pedestrian accident case take to resolve?

Every case moves at its own pace, but most pedestrian accident cases take several months to a year to resolve. It depends on the severity of your injuries, the clarity of fault, and how cooperative the insurance companies are.

Thompson Law Guarantee

Thompson Law charges NO FEE unless we obtain a settlement for your case. We’ve put over $1.9 billion in cash settlements in our clients’ pockets. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your accident, get your questions answered, and understand your legal options.

State law limits the time you have to file a claim after an injury accident, so call today.