Being struck by a vehicle on El Camino Real or while walking through downtown Redwood City can change your routine in seconds. Serious injuries may make it difficult to work, drive, care for your family, or even move around without help. Medical appointments and physical limitations can quickly take over your days. At the same time, questions about the crash, insurance coverage, and who was responsible still need answers.
At Galine, Frye, Fitting & Frangos, our Redwood City pedestrian accident lawyers represent people with serious injuries throughout San Mateo County. You work directly with experienced attorneys who take the time to understand how the accident has changed your life. We investigate the collision, build the evidence, and fight for a recovery that reflects what you have lost.
Determining Fault After a Redwood City Pedestrian Accident
Pedestrian accidents often cause severe injuries while leaving important questions about fault unresolved. Determining responsibility may require looking at questions such as:
- Who had the right of way?
- Was the pedestrian inside or near a crosswalk?
- What did the traffic or pedestrian signal show?
- Could the driver reasonably see the pedestrian?
- Was the driver speeding, distracted, or impaired?
- Did either person have time to avoid the collision?
A police report can provide useful information, but it does not determine civil liability. Video footage may show a driver's speed or actions before impact. Witnesses can provide details about visibility, traffic signals, and where the pedestrian was walking. Vehicle data and phone records may reveal information that was not available at the scene.
California's comparative fault law also allows responsibility to be divided between the people involved. If you are found 20 percent responsible, for example, you may still recover 80 percent of your damages. Even significant partial fault does not necessarily prevent recovery.
Being outside a marked crosswalk does not automatically make a pedestrian responsible for a crash. California's Freedom to Walk Act changed when pedestrians may be cited for crossing outside a crosswalk. However, that law does not determine liability in a personal injury claim.
Our pedestrian accident attorneys in Redwood City examine the full circumstances rather than relying on one detail or the initial police report. We use the available evidence to determine what happened, who was responsible, and how California's fault rules apply.
Where Redwood City Pedestrian Accidents Happen Most
Redwood City traffic safety reporting has identified several areas with significant pedestrian and bicycle collision activity.
The downtown area also brings pedestrians into close contact with turning vehicles and commuter traffic. Busy intersections, businesses, transit stops, and the Caltrain station all contribute to the mix of road users.
- Downtown Redwood City and the Broadway corridor
- El Camino Real and its signalized crossings
- Woodside Road near Middlefield Road
- Streets and intersections surrounding the Caltrain station
The location of a crash can affect the evidence available afterward. Nearby businesses, traffic cameras, witnesses, and intersection design may all provide important information.
Pedestrian struck by a car resulting in serious injury.
Injuries Common in Redwood City Pedestrian Accidents
A pedestrian has no vehicle frame, airbag, or seatbelt to absorb the force of a collision. The initial impact may cause serious injuries before the person even hits the pavement. As a result, pedestrian crashes can cause significant trauma even at lower speeds.
Common injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries from a fall or direct head impact
- Spinal cord injuries, including partial or complete paralysis
- Fractures involving the legs, pelvis, hips, arms, or ribs
- Internal organ damage and internal bleeding
- Severe road rash and other soft tissue injuries
- Nerve damage that can affect movement, sensation, or strength
Some injuries can change how a person works, moves, and manages everyday responsibilities. A complicated fracture may require surgery and months of rehabilitation. A catastrophic injury can create limitations that continue for years or become permanent.
Those long-term effects matter when building a serious pedestrian accident claim. Our Redwood City attorneys document current treatment and determine what future care may be necessary. When appropriate, we work with treating physicians, life care planners, and other professionals to understand the full impact of the injury.
“I was looking for personalized attention for my personal injury case, a real relationship, direct access to my attorney, and someone with local knowledge and a commitment to the community. I truly valued quality over quantity, and that is exactly what I found.”
What Compensation Covers After a Redwood City Pedestrian Accident
A pedestrian accident claim should account for more than the expenses incurred immediately after the crash. Serious injuries can create financial and personal losses that continue well into the future.
Compensation may address:
- Emergency treatment, surgery, and rehabilitation
- Lost wages and reduced future earning capacity
- Pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life
- Long-term care associated with permanent injuries
- Emotional distress related to the accident and injuries
When a pedestrian accident results in death, eligible surviving family members may have a wrongful death claim. Those cases involve different losses and legal considerations from a typical injury claim.
How Insurance Companies Challenge Pedestrian Accident Claims
Pedestrian cases can involve significant disagreements over fault. An insurer may argue that the pedestrian stepped into traffic unexpectedly or was difficult to see. Distraction and the pedestrian's location at the time of impact may also become disputed issues.
Our Redwood City pedestrian attorneys handle communications with the insurance company directly. We investigate the evidence before accepting an insurer's version of how the collision occurred.
We also prepare each case with the possibility of litigation in mind. A case does not have to reach trial for thorough preparation to matter. Strong evidence gives our lawyers more options when pursuing a fair resolution.
Evidence That Can Establish What Happened in a Pedestrian Accident
Pedestrian accidents can happen in seconds, and the people involved may remember the collision differently. A thorough investigation helps establish what happened before impact and whether the driver had an opportunity to avoid the crash.
Our attorneys may gather evidence such as:
- Traffic camera and nearby business surveillance footage
- Cell phone records that may show driver distraction
- Statements from people who witnessed the collision
- Vehicle data showing speed, braking, and other activity
- Photographs of the roadway, crosswalk, signals, and surrounding area
- Medical records connecting the collision to the injuries
- Expert analysis of vehicle movement, visibility, or the crash itself
Each piece of evidence can answer a different question. Video may show where the pedestrian entered the roadway. Vehicle data can reveal whether the driver braked before impact. Witness accounts may provide details that were missing from the initial police report.
Some of this evidence can also disappear quickly. Surveillance footage may be overwritten, and witnesses can become harder to locate. Our pedestrian accident lawyers identify what needs to be preserved and build the case around the evidence rather than assumptions about how the crash occurred.
Pedestrians struck by a high speed vehicle in a parking lot.
Protecting Yourself After a Redwood City Pedestrian Accident
The days after a pedestrian accident can involve medical appointments, pain, missed work, and major changes to your routine. You may also receive insurance calls and requests for information before you fully understand the extent of your injuries.
A few things can help protect your health and your ability to pursue a claim:
- Continue with recommended medical care and follow-up appointments
- Keep records of treatment, medical expenses, and time missed from work
- Save photographs and other information you already have from the crash
- Be cautious about recorded statements or requests for medical authorizations
- Avoid signing a settlement before you understand your injuries and future treatment needs
- Speak with a pedestrian accident lawyer before making decisions that could affect your claim
You should not have to investigate the crash while managing your recovery. Our legal team can preserve evidence, communicate with insurers, and keep track of important deadlines. Your lawyer can also answer questions as they arise and explain what the case requires. That leaves you more time to focus on treatment, your family, and adjusting to life after the accident.
Why Choose Our Redwood City Pedestrian Accident Lawyers
When a serious injury changes your life, you deserve a lawyer who knows your case and understands what is at stake. At Galine, Frye, Fitting & Frangos, clients are not treated as case numbers. We prioritize strong attorney-client relationships and direct access to the people handling your case.
Our firm brings more than 75 years of combined experience to serious personal injury cases. We investigate each claim with the possibility of trial in mind, even when a fair resolution can be reached earlier. Your legal team builds the evidence needed to establish fault, document your injuries, and show how the accident has affected your future.
A serious pedestrian injury can change your career, independence, family responsibilities, and plans for the future. We take the time to understand those changes rather than reducing your case to medical bills and missed paychecks.
We also want clients to understand their case and feel comfortable communicating with the people representing them. Our multilingual team can assist in Spanish, Greek, and Chinese when needed. Cases are handled on a contingency fee basis, so you do not pay attorney fees upfront.
“I cannot say enough good things about GFF&F. They have a great staff and are true professionals.”
Let Our Redwood City Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Handle What Comes Next
Recovering from a pedestrian accident can involve far more than medical treatment. Transportation, missed work, physical limitations, and changes at home can demand your attention every day. You should not have to manage a legal case at the same time.
Our attorneys can investigate what happened, preserve evidence, and handle the legal demands of your claim. We build the case around the evidence and the full impact of your injuries.
If you or someone you love was seriously injured as a pedestrian in Redwood City, contact Galine, Frye, Fitting & Frangos. Your first conversation is free, with no obligation to move forward. Talk directly with our team about what happened and what comes next.