Woman Injured in Ceres Pedestrian Accident
A 23-year-old Modesto woman was injured in a Ceres pedestrian accident on the afternoon of September 25, 2019. According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the incident occurred around 1:30 p.m. on Central Avenue, just south of Ceres. A woman was attempting to cross Central Avenue in front of a nearby church when she was reportedly struck by a Honda Odyssey minivan driven by a 17-year-old boy. The CHP said the minor is a permitted driver whose parent was in the vehicle with him at the time of the collision. Conversely, officials said the woman suffered serious injuries in the crash. It is unknown whether she was hospitalized for her injuries.
Does Insurance Cover Pedestrians in an Accident?
When a person is injured in a pedestrian accident, he or she will need to file a third-party claim with the negligent driver’s auto insurer. In some cases, the motorist may not have enough insurance or none at all to cover the injured pedestrian’s damages. Under these circumstances, the injured pedestrian may seek recourse through their own car insurance policy if they have uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. This protects those injured in an accident caused by a driver who has insufficient or no liability insurance coverage. If an injured pedestrian did not have auto insurance at the time of the crash, there might be other options available for recovery. An injured pedestrian may file a claim against a relative’s car insurance policy for damages incurred. This is only possible if the injured person lived with the relative and was not excluded from the policy.
Who Pays for Medical Bills in a Ceres Pedestrian Accident?
In California, a driver who wrongfully causes injury in a pedestrian accident is financially liable for the injured person’s medical expenses. These are typically covered under a personal injury settlement that is offered by the negligent driver’s insurance company. However, a settlement for a pedestrian accident may not be reached for months or even years. This can leave an injured pedestrian in a financial predicament, particularly when dealing with mounting medical expenses and time away from work to recover. In these situations, an injured pedestrian may have their medical bills paid under the medical payments coverage (med-pay) of their insurance policy. If such coverage is not available, an injured party may have their medical expenses covered under their health insurance policy until a settlement is reached with an insurer. For details on whether you can trust an insurance company to extend a fair settlement offer to you, watch the below video. If you have questions about your particular case, reach out to an experienced personal injury attorney in Ceres.
Is It Worth Hiring an Attorney?
After a pedestrian accident, you may be contacted by the negligent driver’s insurance company. Keep in mind that insurers are focused on their bottom lines. This means that they want to pay as little as possible for a personal injury claim. If you are asked for a recorded statement, politely decline and contact an experienced injury lawyer. An attorney can advise you of your options for recovery and protect your best interests while you focus on recovering from your injuries.
Personal Injury Lawyers in Ceres
I’m Ed Smith, a Ceres personal injury lawyer. Pedestrians are vulnerable when involved in a collision with a motor vehicle and may suffer catastrophic injuries even at low speeds. If you suffered injuries in a pedestrian accident caused by a negligent driver, an experienced attorney can help you obtain the compensation you need for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Please call me anytime at (209) 227-1931 or toll-free at (800) 404-5400 to receive my free, friendly legal advice.
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Among the several legal groups I belong to, I am especially proud to be listed as a member of the National Association of Distinguished Counsel and the Million Dollar Advocates. The first group only allows membership to those lawyers who provide their clients with the highest level of legal assistance. Membership of the other forum is limited only to those lawyers who have obtained over $1 million for a past client.
As a Ceres personal injury attorney, I am honored to have helped residents of Stanislaus County and surrounding areas with their personal injury and wrongful death cases since 1982. To see how our law firm has assisted others in the past, visit our Verdicts and Settlements page.
Picture Credit: By “ElasticComputeFarm” via Pixabay
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