Written by The Barnes Firm, reviewed by Richard Barnes
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Rich Barnes
President
From busy intersections and vehicle congestion to year-round tourism traffic, San Diego pedestrians face many hazards that pose the risk of devastating injuries. If you have been struck by a car and injured, a San Diego pedestrian accident lawyer can protect your rights and fight for the compensation you deserve.
At The Barnes Firm, we understand the unique dangers San Diego pedestrians face, even in so-called “walkable” downtown areas. We are committed to protecting the rights of injured pedestrians and can help you pursue maximum compensation for the harm you have suffered.
If you have been injured in a pedestrian accident, you need a knowledgeable attorney with experience fighting insurance companies. We are one of the largest personal injury law firms in America, and our attorneys have successfully handled more than 150,000 accident cases. We are known for our unparalleled record of success and dedication to helping clients get the best results possible.
When you work with us, you’re more than just a number. We take a personalized approach to every case, learning about you as a person so we can properly tell your story. You’ll receive direct access to your attorney and regular updates throughout your case.
This approach has helped us to earn the trust of countless clients. Here’s what one satisfied client had to say:

My personal attorney, Alan Olghasen, was professional and very conscientious of how insurance companies play the game, which he warned me to be patient and it will work itself out!!! Thanks again, Alan!!!👍👍
We have offices throughout California, including in downtown San Diego. We’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including after hours and weekends.
If you are too injured to make the trip to our office, our attorneys will come to your home, hospital room, or wherever works best for you and your loved ones.
Our legal team has over 500 years of combined experience, and our attorneys have won recognition from prestigious national organizations, including:
We actively participate in professional organizations and the communities we serve. Our attorneys are active in various community and professional organizations, including the following:
Our diverse team is deeply rooted in the community, allowing us to better connect with San Diego and its neighborhoods.
We have secured numerous multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements in many types of personal injury matters, including the case results in the following pedestrian accident cases:
To be liable for damages in an accident, a party must have violated their duty of care to others. Under California law, drivers must yield to pedestrians crossing at intersections or crosswalks, and reduce their speed and take other actions to protect pedestrians’ safety.
Meanwhile, pedestrians are responsible for their own safety. If a pedestrian unexpectedly enters the roadway or puts themself at risk by moving in front of an oncoming car, they may be at least partially responsible for the accident.
In addition, municipalities and government entities must exercise due care to prevent dangerous conditions on public property that pose foreseeable risks of injury. Possible hazards include poor crosswalk maintenance or inadequate signage. Under California Government Code Section 835, for the entity to be liable, it must be aware of the hazard and have sufficient time to address it. Individuals have six months to file an injury claim against a government agency. If the agency denies a claim, the claimant has six months to file a lawsuit.
Our San Diego personal injury attorneys can investigate your accident, determine the cause, and identify the parties responsible for your injuries.
In a pedestrian accident lawsuit, victims can seek compensation for several types of damages. The most common are compensatory damages, which compensate you for losses related to your pedestrian accident and injuries.
Economic damages compensate you for your financial losses, such as the following:
Non-economic damages address the intangible impacts on the victim’s life, including the following:
Economic and non-economic damages are compensatory, meaning they compensate the defendant for specific losses. However, you might also be eligible for punitive damages if the defendant acted maliciously, oppressively, or fraudulently. Unlike compensatory damages, these penalize the defendant and do not compensate for a specific loss.

From start to finish, I experienced certain things. I have to humble down and let the experts apply what they’re experienced in to get the best outcome of my situation. Truth and patience will never steer you wrong when dealing with Professionals! Thank you, The Barnes Firm.
Insurance companies are driven by their bottom lines. Thus, they have an incentive to pursue the lowest possible payout and don’t always play fair. They often unfairly deny valid claims or make quick, lowball offers to entice claimants to take less than they deserve.
Another common tactic is to ask claimants for recorded statements, seeking to use their words against them.
A crosswalk injury lawyer can protect your rights in this kind of situation. Our experienced attorneys at The Barnes Firm will handle all communications with insurers and aggressively negotiate for the best result possible. We will protect your interests and help you to pursue fair compensation, even when the insurance companies push for less.
“We take great pride in bettering the commnuities we serve by helping clients acheve the best results possible.”
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Rich Barnes
Founding Attorney
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, slip and fall, construction accident, or have suffered another type of personal injury contact our team today.
Free Case Evaluation or call us: (800) 800-0000California has a pure comparative negligence system, meaning you can still collect compensation if you are partially at fault for an accident. However, your compensation will be reduced in proportion to your share of the fault.
For example, if you are 40% at fault and sustained $100,000 in damages, you can recover $60,000.
Under California law, it is illegal to leave the scene of a crash that results in injury, death, or property damage. The penalties include fines of up to $10,000 and imprisonment in a state facility for up to four years.
Our attorneys leverage extensive local resources and a strong network of San Diego professionals, including law enforcement officers and accident investigators, to identify the hit-and-run driver. However, if we cannot find the driver, there might be other avenues for compensation, including uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. We’ll leave no stone unturned to pursue compensation from all available sources.
While nothing can bring back your family member, a wrongful death lawsuit can help ease the financial burden and provide some sense of closure following a loss. Your family might be eligible for compensation for end-of-life expenses and funeral costs. You might also be able to recover compensation for lost income, companionship, and support.
California allows spouses, domestic partners, children, and grandchildren to file wrongful death actions. The legal heirs may file if the deceased had no partner or offspring,
If an uninsured driver caused the accident, you might have other options, including an uninsured motorist coverage claim under your own policy. In addition, suing the driver and collecting from their personal assets may be a viable option. Speak with a San Diego pedestrian accident lawyer to learn more about your options.
According to the University of California’s Safe Transportation Research and Education Center, pedestrians account for slightly more than one of every four traffic fatalities statewide. That’s well above the national average of 18%. San Diego County alone recorded 86 pedestrian accidents in 2022, 13 of which were fatal.
These crashes happen for numerous reasons, including poor signage and pedestrian-unfriendly intersections. The following are among the most dangerous intersections in the city:
Driver-related factors contributing to pedestrian accidents include impaired driving and excessive speed.
The Barnes Firm is dedicated to helping pedestrian accident victims get the best results possible. We are located at 655 W Broadway, Suite 900, in downtown San Diego, and are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to talk to you.
Most injury victims have just two years to file a personal injury lawsuit in California. If the statute of limitations passes, you’ll likely lose your right to sue. Thus, acting promptly is critical.
Call (800) 800-0000 today or contact us online for a free consultation.

Excellent service from The Barnes Firm. Richard Mackie and his entire team were super wonderful to work with and very satisfied with the results received and their service. Highly recommend this firm.
We are always available to discuss your case. Give us a call at (800) 800-0000.
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Our attorneys will come to your home, office or hospital at your convenience.
We are available anytime, including after hours and
weekends.
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