Being struck by a vehicle while walking is one of the most traumatic experiences a person can survive — and survival itself is not guaranteed. Pedestrians have no seatbelts, no airbags, and no steel frame between them and the full force of a collision. At Salhab Law, we represent injured pedestrians throughout Fresno who are facing mounting medical bills, lost income, and an insurance process that rarely works in their favor.
The decisions made in the days immediately following a pedestrian accident shape what compensation is recoverable. Speaking with an experienced Fresno pedestrian accident attorney as early as possible protects your rights before critical evidence disappears and before insurance adjusters have the opportunity to shape the narrative against you.
Pedestrian Accidents Are a Serious Crisis in Fresno
The numbers tell a stark story. According to the City of Fresno’s Vision Zero program, nearly 500 fatal or serious crashes occurred in Fresno between 2018 and 2022 — and 127 of those killed were pedestrians, representing roughly half of all traffic fatalities in the city during that period.
State data reinforces the severity of the problem. California Office of Traffic Safety rankings show Fresno County recorded 188 pedestrians killed or injured in crashes in a single reporting year. These crashes happen on streets people walk every day — near schools, bus stops, shopping centers, and residential neighborhoods.
California’s Pedestrian Fatality Rate Outpaces the Nation
UC Berkeley SafeTREC research shows pedestrians accounted for 27% of all traffic fatalities in California in 2023 — more than one in four traffic deaths statewide involved someone on foot. California’s pedestrian fatality rate runs approximately 25% higher than the national average, according to California Office of Traffic Safety data.
Nationally, NHTSA reports that 7,314 pedestrians were killed and more than 68,000 injured in U.S. traffic crashes in 2023 alone. Pedestrians represent nearly 18% of all U.S. traffic fatalities — a disproportionate share for road users who make up a fraction of total travel trips. California OTS Quick Stats recorded 1,106 pedestrian fatalities in California in 2023, reflecting the scale of the problem on state roads.
What Causes Most Pedestrian Accidents
Distracted driving, speeding, failure to yield at crosswalks, impaired driving, and poor visibility at night are the most common contributing factors in pedestrian crashes. Drivers turning at intersections frequently fail to check for pedestrians in the crosswalk — a pattern that contributes significantly to urban pedestrian fatalities.
Liability in a pedestrian accident is not always limited to the driver. Rideshare drivers, commercial vehicle operators, and employers of those drivers may bear legal responsibility. When a commercial vehicle is involved, the driver’s employer may face vicarious liability. Rideshare companies like Uber or Lyft may also be liable depending on the driver’s status at the time of the crash.
When the Road Itself Is the Problem
Not all pedestrian accidents result from driver negligence alone. Poorly maintained sidewalks, inadequate crosswalk lighting, missing signage, and dangerous intersection design can contribute to collisions. Fresno’s Vision Zero initiative identifies high-risk corridors based on crash history — and if your accident occurred in an area already documented as dangerous by the city, that data may support an argument that the municipality had notice of the hazard and failed to act.
When a public agency’s infrastructure failure plays a role, a government liability claim may be available. Transportation agencies and researchers use tools like the UC Berkeley TIMS crash database and Caltrans Open Data to map pedestrian crash locations and injury patterns — data that can support arguments about known hazards a municipality failed to address.
Injuries Pedestrians Face After Being Struck
The injuries sustained in pedestrian accidents are frequently catastrophic. Traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, multiple fractures, internal organ injuries, and severe soft tissue trauma are all common — often requiring surgeries, extended rehabilitation, and long-term care.
Symptoms of traumatic brain injury and internal trauma can take hours or days to emerge. Seeking medical evaluation immediately — even when injuries seem minor — creates the documented timeline that connects the crash to the injuries claimed, which is one of the most frequently contested points in pedestrian accident cases.
The Financial Reality of a Serious Pedestrian Injury
Medical costs alone can reach six or seven figures in catastrophic injury cases, and lost wages compound the financial pressure when recovery extends for months or years. Compensation in pedestrian accident claims is calculated from both economic damages — medical bills, future care, lost wages, reduced earning capacity — and non-economic damages such as pain and suffering and emotional distress.
In cases involving particularly reckless conduct, such as a DUI driver, punitive damages may also be available under California law. Insurers rarely offer settlements that reflect these true long-term costs, which is why thorough documentation and experienced legal representation from the start matters so much.
What to Do — and Avoid — After the Accident
Seek emergency medical care immediately, document the scene with photographs, and gather witness contact information. Critically, do not provide a recorded statement to the at-fault driver’s insurance company before consulting an attorney — adjusters are trained to use casual comments to minimize claims.
Avoid posting about the incident on social media. Defense attorneys routinely monitor accounts for content that can be used to contradict injury claims, and even seemingly harmless posts have been used to undervalue legitimate cases.
How Salhab Law Fights for Injured Pedestrians
From the moment a client contacts our firm, we move to preserve the evidence that matters. Police accident reports, traffic and surveillance camera footage, witness statements, road condition documentation, and medical records all contribute to establishing both liability and the full scope of damages. The longer a victim waits to involve an attorney, the greater the risk that key evidence is lost, overwritten, or simply no longer available.
We have successfully fought and recovered millions of dollars for clients in cases against multi-billion-dollar corporations and insurance companies — including Hyundai-Kia, Target, Walmart, Costco, and Chipotle. Big companies count on outlasting and outspending injured people. We don’t back down: our boutique Fresno personal injury firm packs a big punch against these corporations, and we will fight for you with everything we have.
Principal attorney Sam Salhab has conducted over 25 jury trials throughout California and earned recognition as a Super Lawyers Rising Star and National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40. That litigation record shapes how insurers approach every negotiation — a firm capable of taking a case to verdict changes what they are willing to offer at the table.
California’s Comparative Fault Rule and Uninsured Drivers
California follows a pure comparative fault rule, meaning a pedestrian can recover compensation even if they share some responsibility — crossing outside a crosswalk, for example. Recovery is reduced proportionally to fault percentage, but it is not eliminated. Insurers routinely inflate shared fault arguments to minimize payouts, and an experienced Fresno pedestrian accident attorney challenges assignments that do not reflect the actual evidence.
If the at-fault driver carries no insurance, recovery may still be possible through your own uninsured motorist coverage. Any household auto policy with uninsured motorist coverage may apply to pedestrian injuries, and an attorney can identify all available compensation sources including applicable umbrella policies.
Act Before the Legal Window Closes
Most pedestrian accident claims in California must be filed within two years of the date of injury. Claims against government entities require a tort claim within six months under California Government Code § 945.4 — missing that shorter deadline eliminates the right to pursue the municipality entirely.
The sooner an attorney is involved, the more time remains to investigate, preserve evidence, and build a complete case before those windows close. A vehicle struck you. The law gives you a path to accountability.
Start With a Free Consultation
Salhab Law offers free, confidential consultations for injured pedestrians throughout Fresno and the Central Valley. We handle these cases on a contingency fee basis: you pay nothing upfront, our fee comes only as a percentage of what we recover for you, and you are never responsible for litigation costs out of pocket — costs are paid only out of a recovery. If we don’t win, you owe nothing: no fees, no costs.
If you or a loved one has been struck by a vehicle, talk to a Fresno pedestrian accident attorney before you talk to the insurance company. Contact the Law Office of Sam Salhab today and let our experience go to work for you.
Law Office of Sam Salhab: 2445 Capitol Street, Suite 140, Fresno, CA 93721 Phone: (559) 412-9888 Email: Sam@Salhablaw.com
Schedule Your Free Consultation — available 24/7.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still recover compensation if I was jaywalking when I was hit?
Yes — California’s comparative fault system allows injured pedestrians to recover damages even when crossing outside a marked crosswalk, as long as the driver bears some share of responsibility. Your compensation is reduced proportionally to your fault, but crossing mid-block does not automatically bar a claim.
How long do pedestrian accident cases typically take to resolve in Fresno?
Cases with clear liability and stable medical outcomes can resolve within several months through negotiation, while contested claims involving serious injury or disputed fault often take one to two years or longer. Settling before medical treatment is complete is generally inadvisable, as it risks undervaluing ongoing care and rehabilitation needs.
What if the driver who hit me fled the scene?
Hit-and-run pedestrian accidents may still have recovery options through your own uninsured motorist coverage, even when the driver is never identified. California law requires insurers to offer uninsured motorist coverage, and a hit-and-run typically qualifies. An attorney can assess available policy coverage and pursue all applicable sources of compensation.
Do I need a lawyer if the driver’s insurance company has already contacted me?
Yes — early contact from an insurer is a signal to involve legal counsel immediately, not a sign the process will be straightforward. Adjusters reaching out quickly are typically attempting to settle the claim before the full extent of injuries is understood. An attorney can handle all insurer communications and ensure no statement or early offer is used against your claim later.
Can a pedestrian accident claim include compensation for emotional distress?
Yes. California personal injury law recognizes non-economic damages including emotional distress, anxiety, and loss of enjoyment of life — not just physical injuries and financial losses. These damages can be significant in pedestrian accident cases where trauma, prolonged recovery, and permanent injury affect daily life long after the physical wounds have healed.
What if the pedestrian accident involved a city or county vehicle?
Claims against government-owned vehicles follow the same six-month government tort claim deadline under California Government Code § 945.4. Missing this window eliminates the right to sue the agency entirely, regardless of how strong the underlying liability case may be. Acting quickly is especially critical when any public entity — vehicle, road, or otherwise — may share responsibility for the crash.
How does the severity of my injuries affect my case strategy?
More severe injuries warrant a longer, more thorough claims process — catastrophic cases involving permanent disability or reduced earning capacity require expert medical and economic documentation to accurately capture lifetime costs. Rushing a settlement before that picture is complete almost always results in compensation that falls short of what the victim will actually need.
