Pedestrian accidents often result in life-altering injuries and challenging legal battles. Whether you were hit in a crosswalk, struck in a parking lot, or injured because a driver failed to pay attention, Flahavan Law is here to protect your rights. We’ll guide you through your options and fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact us today, or continue reading to learn how we can support your case.
Pedestrian Accident Attorney in Rohnert Park
Being struck by a vehicle while walking, jogging, or crossing the street is one of the most frightening and life-changing events anyone can experience. Pedestrians have no protection against thousands of pounds of metal, glass, and speed. Injuries are often catastrophic: traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, multiple fractures, internal organ injuries, amputations, and death. Medical bills arrive quickly, work becomes impossible, and simple daily activities turn into painful struggles. Besides facing the acute physical effects of the event, the accident survivors will be under considerable Psychological distress related to the accident. Most times, they also worry about what will happen to them and how they will cope with daily activities, including returning to work or class. While working through recovery from the accident, many accident victims incur additional financial expenses such as medical bills and insurance claims, which create even more pressure on them during this difficult time. Immediate access to qualified legal counsel can help victims of auto accidents obtain the maximum compensation available to them through their insurance policies and/or from other responsible parties.
At Flahavan Law Offices in Santa Rosa, Brian Flahavan has focused exclusively on representing seriously injured people throughout Sonoma County for over twenty years. We serve Rohnert Park, Cotati, Penngrove, and the entire Highway 101 corridor. Our firm understands the unique challenges pedestrian victims face and fights to obtain full compensation for medical care, lost income, pain, suffering, and future needs. If you or a loved one has been hurt while walking anywhere in Rohnert Park, contact us immediately for a free consultation. You pay no fees unless we recover money for you.
Why Pedestrian Accidents Are Rising in Rohnert Park
Rohnert Park was designed to be walkable, with sidewalks along most major streets, marked crosswalks at nearly every signal, and Sonoma State University, bringing thousands of students who travel on foot. The high volume of pedestrian traffic, the increasing number of vehicles on the roadway, and the high level of driver distraction have created an unsafe environment for pedestrians. Limited visibility due to both the road alignment and the fact that a high percentage of drivers do not know the area helps illustrate how pedestrian safety can be compromised. Roads built for transportation many years ago are now carrying increased volumes of vehicle traffic throughout the day and night. The Highway 101 corridor and Rohnert Park Expressway funnel heavy commuter and commercial traffic past residential neighborhoods. Delivery drivers rush through streets at all hours. Cell phone use while driving remains a leading cause of pedestrian collisions in Sonoma County.
Dangerous Locations for Pedestrians in Rohnert Park
Certain areas experience repeated incidents due to speed, poor visibility, or heavy turning. Common high-risk locations include the Rohnert Park Expressway between Commerce Boulevard and Redwood Drive, where drivers run yellow lights and crossing distances feel endless. Redwood Drive near apartments and retail centers creates conflict when vehicles exit parking lots without checking for pedestrians. School zones along Southwest Boulevard and near elementary schools become chaotic during drop-off and pick-up times.
Shopping centers such as Rohnert Park Marketplace, with large parking lots and constant pedestrian traffic, pose risks when drivers focus on empty parking spaces rather than on people walking. Golf Course Drive, west of the freeway, suffers from inadequate lighting and missing sidewalks in some sections. The Sonoma State University perimeter, especially along East Cotati Avenue, sees students crossing against signals. At the same time, drivers remain distracted by navigation apps. Downtown City Center Drive and Stony Point Road south of town also record frequent close calls and collisions.
Leading Causes of Pedestrian Crashes
Most incidents result from preventable driver behavior. Failure to yield the right-of-way in marked and unmarked crosswalks violates California law. Speeding through neighborhoods and commercial areas reduces reaction time. Left and right turns at intersections often occur without drivers checking for pedestrians. Running red lights or stop signs endangers everyone in the crosswalk.
Backing out of parking spaces without looking remains a frequent cause in shopping centers. Poorly maintained sidewalks, overgrown landscaping that blocks sight lines, and inadequate street lighting can shift or share responsibility with property owners or public agencies.
Contact Flahavan Law Office
Severe and Life-Changing Injuries
The human body absorbs the full force of impact. Common injuries include skull fractures and brain trauma that affect memory, personality, and independence. Spinal cord damage can cause partial or complete paralysis. Broken pelvises and hips frequently require joint replacement and lengthy rehabilitation. Legs and feet suffer compound fractures and crush injuries that sometimes lead to amputation. Internal bleeding, collapsed lungs, and ruptured organs demand emergency surgery.
Even injuries that appear moderate at first, such as torn ligaments or simple fractures, often lead to chronic pain, arthritis, and permanent limping. Psychological effects, including post-traumatic stress, anxiety, and depression, are common and can be just as disabling as physical wounds.
Who Can Be Held Responsible
Liability frequently extends beyond the driver. The employer of the employee, the driver, would typically be responsible if the driver is an employee involved in work-related transportation, such as rideshare, delivery, or construction. Property owners may also be liable for injuries sustained from broken sidewalks or for failing to maintain safe pedestrian access (e.g., missing ramps or other obstacles), including trees, shrubs, or other vegetation that obstructs visibility. The City of Rohnert Park or the County of Sonoma may share fault for dangerous intersection design, missing signals, faded pavement markings, or inadequate lighting. Caltrans can be held responsible for incidents that occur on state highway ramps or adjacent walkways.
How Flahavan Law Builds Strong Pedestrian Cases
We begin working the moment you contact us. An investigator visits the scene immediately to photograph conditions, measure sight distances, and document roadway defects before repairs occur. We obtain traffic camera footage, police reports, ambulance records, and witness statements while memories remain fresh. Private reconstruction specialists recreate the collision to prove exactly how and why it happened.
Medical records are reviewed with treating physicians and independent experts to document current needs and future care requirements. Life-care planners and economists calculate lifetime costs for treatment, medications, equipment, home modifications, and lost earning capacity. Day-in-the-life videos demonstrate to insurance adjusters and juries how injuries affect every part of your world.
We handle all communication with insurance companies so you can focus on healing. When insurers delay or deny valid claims, we file suit in Sonoma County Superior Court and prepare the case for trial from the beginning.
Insurance Tactics and Victim-Blaming
Adjusters frequently attempt to shift blame onto the pedestrian, claiming dark clothing, failure to make eye contact, or stepping slightly outside crosswalk lines caused the collision. They request recorded statements, hoping for inconsistent answers, and search social media for any images suggesting you are more active than you claim. Early low offers arrive before the full extent of injuries becomes clear. We block these tactics and present evidence that leaves no room for doubt about liability.
Full Compensation Under California Law
Pedestrian victims recover economic damages, including past and future medical expenses, lost wages, diminished earning ability, and out-of-pocket costs. In California, non-economic damages include pain and suffering, emotional distress (or mental anguish), and loss of enjoyment of life. There are no caps on the amount of non-economic damages that can be awarded in California. If you require assistance from a wheelchair or ramp, the cost associated with these types of injuries is also included under non-economic damages. Additionally, when someone dies due to the negligent actions of another party, their family is entitled to receive compensation for funeral costs, lost financial support, and the loss of companionship.
Local Knowledge Provides Real Advantage
We know every intersection, every dangerous curve, and every history of complaints filed with the city. We understand local traffic patterns, school schedules, and commercial delivery routes. Years of practice in Sonoma County courts give us insight into how judges and juries view pedestrian cases. Familiarity with regional medical providers ensures credible testimony about treatment and prognosis.
