San Diego Pedestrian Accident Attorneys

Hit by a car while walking in San Diego? Phillips & Pelly can help.

Pedestrians have almost no protection when they are struck by a vehicle. A driver may walk away from the crash with little or no injury, while the person on foot is left with broken bones, head trauma, spinal injuries, internal injuries, surgery, long-term pain, or permanent limitations.

Phillips & Pelly represents pedestrians injured by negligent drivers throughout San Diego County. Since 1997, our attorneys have helped accident victims pursue compensation after serious crashes involving distracted drivers, speeding drivers, drunk drivers, rideshare vehicles, commercial vehicles, and drivers who failed to yield.

If you or someone you love was hit by a car while walking, our San Diego pedestrian accident lawyers can help you understand your rights, deal with the insurance company, and pursue the compensation you deserve.

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No Win, No Fee
Available 24/7

San Diego Pedestrian Accident Attorneys for Serious Injury Cases

Most pedestrian accidents are preventable. They often happen because a driver failed to pay attention, failed to yield, or failed to drive safely for the conditions.

Common causes include distracted driving, speeding, failure to yield at crosswalks, left-turn and right-turn crashes, drunk or drug-impaired driving, rolling stops, unsafe backing, rideshare pickups and drop-offs, poor visibility, and aggressive driving.

Pedestrian crashes may happen in marked crosswalks, unmarked crosswalks at intersections, parking lots, school zones, residential neighborhoods, nightlife districts, tourist areas, and busy commercial corridors.

Crosswalk and Intersection Accidents

Many pedestrian accident cases involve crosswalks or intersections. A driver may fail to yield while turning, rush through a yellow light, roll through a stop sign, make a right turn without checking the crosswalk, or focus on other vehicles instead of people walking.

Crosswalk cases can be especially frustrating because the injured pedestrian may have done exactly what they were supposed to do. Even then, the insurance company may look for ways to blame the pedestrian.

Our team investigates whether the driver failed to yield, drove too fast, ignored a signal, turned unsafely, failed to keep a proper lookout, or violated other traffic safety rules.

What If You Were Not in a Crosswalk?

Being outside a crosswalk does not automatically mean you have no case.

California pedestrian accident claims depend on the facts. A pedestrian may have duties when crossing outside a marked crosswalk, but drivers still have a duty to watch for people in the roadway and use reasonable care to avoid a collision.

Insurance companies often use the word “jaywalking” as if it ends the conversation. It does not. The real questions are more specific: Was the pedestrian visible? Was the driver speeding? Was the driver distracted? Was there enough time to stop? Were lighting, road design, or traffic conditions a factor? Did the driver fail to react reasonably?

Phillips & Pelly reviews these details carefully before accepting the insurance company’s version of fault.

How Insurance Companies Blame Pedestrians After a Crash

Insurance companies often try to reduce pedestrian accident claims by shifting responsibility to the injured person.

They may argue that the pedestrian was distracted by a phone, crossed outside a marked crosswalk, walked against a signal, wore dark clothing, entered the road suddenly, had alcohol in their system, or waited too long to get medical care.

These arguments can reduce the amount an injured pedestrian recovers if they are not challenged with evidence.

Our attorneys work to preserve and review evidence that may include traffic camera footage, business surveillance video, dashcam footage, police reports, witness statements, medical records, scene photographs, vehicle damage, roadway design, lighting, and accident reconstruction when needed.

Common Pedestrian Accident Injuries

Pedestrian accidents often cause serious injuries because the person hit has no seatbelt, airbag, helmet, or vehicle frame for protection.

Common injuries include traumatic brain injuries, concussions, skull fractures, spinal cord injuries, herniated discs, broken legs, broken hips, pelvic fractures, shoulder injuries, knee injuries, internal bleeding, organ damage, severe abrasions, scarring, nerve damage, chronic pain, and psychological trauma after the crash.

Some injuries are obvious right away. Others become more serious in the days after the accident. That is why medical care is so important after a pedestrian crash, even if you think you may be able to “walk it off.”

Fatal Pedestrian Accidents and Wrongful Death Claims

When a pedestrian accident is fatal, the surviving family may have the right to bring a wrongful death claim.

A fatal pedestrian crash can leave a family facing funeral expenses, lost financial support, medical bills from emergency care, and the emotional loss of a spouse, parent, child, or loved one. No legal case can undo that loss, but a wrongful death claim can help families seek accountability and financial support after a preventable death.

Phillips & Pelly handles fatal accident cases with care, discretion, and urgency. Our attorneys can explain your family’s rights and help determine whether a wrongful death claim may be available.

Dangerous Pedestrian Accident Locations in San Diego

Pedestrian accidents can happen anywhere, but some areas create greater risk because of traffic volume, speed, visibility, road design, nightlife activity, tourism, or heavy foot traffic.

In San Diego County, pedestrian crashes often occur near busy intersections, commercial corridors, freeway ramps, parking lots, beach communities, downtown nightlife areas, school zones, college areas, and neighborhoods where people walk near fast-moving traffic.

Areas such as Downtown San Diego, the Gaslamp Quarter, Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, Hillcrest, University Heights, La Jolla, Chula Vista, El Cajon, and the College Area can all present different pedestrian safety risks depending on the street, intersection, lighting, traffic flow, and driver behavior.

In some cases, road design or delayed safety improvements may contribute to the crash. Our attorneys review whether poor lighting, inadequate crossing time, obstructed visibility, missing signage, dangerous intersections, or prior complaints may have played a role.

What To Do After a Pedestrian Accident

After a pedestrian accident, your health comes first. Call 911, get medical attention, and follow your doctor’s instructions.

If you are able, try to document the scene. Photos of the vehicle, license plate, intersection, crosswalk, traffic signal, skid marks, visible injuries, lighting, and surrounding businesses may help later. Witness contact information can also be important, especially if the driver or insurance company disputes fault.

Avoid giving a recorded statement to the driver’s insurance company before you understand your rights. Insurance adjusters may ask questions that seem harmless but are designed to create fault arguments.

You should also speak with a pedestrian accident lawyer as soon as possible. Video footage can disappear quickly, witnesses can become harder to locate, and physical evidence can change or be cleaned up.

Recent Pedestrian Accident Case Results

Phillips & Pelly has represented pedestrian accident victims throughout San Diego County, including cases involving pedestrians injured in marked crosswalks.

In one car-versus-pedestrian case, our client was lawfully crossing the street in a marked crosswalk when a vehicle failed to yield and struck him, causing an ankle fracture. Our firm recovered the full $250,000 available insurance policy limit.

In another crosswalk injury case, we secured the total available insurance policy limit for a pedestrian who suffered a significant ankle injury after being struck while crossing.

Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee future outcomes. These results reflect the importance of prompt investigation, careful case preparation, and identifying all available insurance coverage.

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  You can go with the catchy jingles that you see on TV as I did, and become just another client. Or you can go with a firm that treats you like family, and sets the bar high by fighting for the maximum payment from your injuries. Very impressed and glad I made the switch! Thanks for everything I truly appreciate you.

  Jerry Davis

  San Diego, CA

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  I worked with Ashley LaFontaine and she was absolutely wonderful in getting me the care I needed. When things with the doctors got hung up she helped get things moving. She was super communicative and kept me in the loop through every step of the process. Set expectations from beginning to end very well and exceed my expectations!

  Viet Ho

  San Diego, CA

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  I met Oliver Pelly by happenstance and after I grilled him a couple of times, I decided to hire his firm. After being my initial POC, I began working with Blake Woodhall. Both were standup guys, and Blake kept me in-the-loop the entire time. He was patient when explaining the process and going over details and understanding of my situation and concerns. Everything concluded better than I could have expected, and Blake acted as an excellent buffer to keep everything at bay. I would highly recommend Blake, Oliver and their firm for any auto accident cases.

  Brandon Chi

  San Diego, CA

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  Ashley LaFontaine did an outstanding job getting me the total settlement I was allowed. Her experiance and professionalism went far beyond my expectations. I highly recommend her services.

  Robert Kenney

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  Going through my accident was a very difficult and emotional experience. The process of choosing the right law firm can be overwhelming. Choosing Phillips and Pelly was the best decision I could have made. They are extremely knowledgeable and I trusted Oliver’s expertise throughout the entire process. He was very responsive. Anytime I would have a question, including nights and weekends, Oliver would get back to me right away. I would recommend Phillips and Pelly for anyone going through a similar situation. They really are the best.

  Lindsey Buck

  San Diego, CA

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  I have enjoyed my experience with this law firm. Alecia Gordon represented me with my case and throughout this entire ordeal has been extremely supportive and understanding of my own lack of experience and knowledge of legal matters. She is not only kind and considerate but very intelligent and professional. The paralegal team also deserve kudos as they were always there to assist and assure me of progress and necessary document completions. All in all, I would highly recommend this firm for personal injury claims.

  Cindi Wood

  San Diego, CA

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  Matt was very helpful in settling a case for my son that was a passenger in an automobile that crashed into a home. My son suffered cracked ribs, a concussion amongst other injuries. Matt was helpful explaining everything to us as this was a 1st dealing with anything like this for our family. It took time and patience as the other party was reluctant to settle. In the end my son had his ambulance, medical bills and a small amount of recovered monies all paid out. Great man, lawyer and law firm .Highly reccomended

  Sherri Costell-Segre

  San Diego, CA

Speak With a San Diego Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Tod

If you or someone you love was hit by a vehicle while walking in San Diego, Phillips & Pelly can help.

Call today for a free case evaluation. We will listen to what happened, explain your options, and help you understand the next best step.

Free Case Evaluation
No Win, No Fee
Available 24/7