Mark Fiala was walking his dog in his neighbourhood early Monday morning in Pleasanton when he was struck by a car. The 66-year-old died in the fatal crash and the dog survived with minor injuries.

According to the police and the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office Coroner’s Bureau, Mark was walking his dog northbound along with Newtown when he tried to cross at Stoneridge at the crosswalk when he got struck by a car headed eastbound.

The crash is being investigated by the Pleasanton Police Department’s traffic unit. The unidentified car’s driver and several witnesses remained at the scene of the accident. The driver is said to be cooperating with the police inquiries.

The police have said that it is yet to be determined whether alcohol or drugs were involved, however, they didn’t find any reason to suspect that the driver was intoxicated.

Khashan Law Firm expresses heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased. If you or your family members are looking for legal assistance with regards to any accident, get in touch with us today.

People living in the Bay Area are known to commute on foot as the area has well planned and managed public transportation systems like BART, Muni, Caltrain, SamTrans, and AC Transit.

People are comfortable using these public transports and prefer not driving their cars.  Many people living in the cities along the peninsula area and East Bay do not even own a car.

Public transport has to be availed from fixed stops or stations and people have to walk down to those places to catch their bus or train. Unfortunately walking on the roads of California can be risky.

According to NCHS, hundreds of pedestrians are injured or killed each year in pedestrian accidents. Though the number of pedestrian fatalities has declined slightly in recent years, pedestrian fatalities in the age group of 65 or more are on the rise.

If you or your family member has been seriously injured or killed in a pedestrian accident due to the negligence of the driver, it is important to understand your legal rights.

Can you claim compensation for a Pedestrian Accident?

If a person is injured or killed in a pedestrian accident that was caused due to the driver’s careless or negligence, the victim or family has a right to claim compensation for the injuries and losses suffered.

Pedestrian accident claim can be filed in 2 ways:

  • Filing a claim for compensation with the driver’s insurance company
  • Filing a personal injury lawsuit in civil court.

If the driver was insured then one needs to file a claim with the driver’s insurance company. The complete negotiation and settlement process can be time-consuming and difficult to manage without the guidance and support of a lawyer. It is not easy handling a settlement with insurance companies or adjusters.

They will try to settle the claim for as little as possible. A professional lawyer knows how to handle negotiations with insurance companies. They will ensure the victim is not forced to settle for a lower amount.

Many pedestrian accidents end up causing serious injuries and at times death, at times filing a personal injury lawsuit is the only way to secure compensation from the at-fault party.

We at Khashan Law have represented several clients who have been victims or families of victims of pedestrian accidents throughout California. Call us at (951) 461-2387 for a free, confidential consultation.