Driver Negligence and Pedestrian Accidents
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were around 70,000 pedestrians injured during 2015—or almost 200 every day! Fortunately for victims, when pedestrian accidents are the result of driver negligence, they are typically entitled to compensation for their crash-related losses.
Pedestrian Accidents Often Cause Extremely Serious Injuries
Pedestrians are without a doubt the most vulnerable commuters on the road. When a motor vehicle such as a car, truck, or motorcycle his a person on foot, he or she can sustain severe injuries. Many pedestrian accident victims experience long-term problems ranging from a fear of walking around vehicles to paralysis of their entire body from the neck down. Some of the more common injuries that pedestrians sustain in accidents include the following:
- Broken bones
- Severe soft tissue injuries
- Contusions
- Accidental amputations
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Crush injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
These and other injuries common to pedestrian-vehicle collisions often leave victims with months or even years of lost income and medical expenses. For this reason, it’s critical for victims to protect their legal rights by speaking to an attorney as soon as they can after involvement in an accident.
Examples of Driver Negligence that Can Cause Serious Pedestrian Accidents
Negligence occurs when a person fails to use the degree of care that would ordinarily be used by a reasonable person in the same or similar circumstances. Here are some examples of driver conduct that would almost certainly be deemed negligent that has the potential to result in serious, injury-causing pedestrian accidents:
- Speeding
- Drunk or drugged driving
- Distracted driving
- Running stop signs or stop lights
- Failing to stop for pedestrians in a crosswalk
- Driving a poorly maintained vehicle
- Texting while driving
- Driving at night or in poor weather without headlights
What Should You Do After a Serious Pedestrian Accident?
If you or a family member has suffered an injury in a pedestrian accident, there are certain steps that you should take to protect your legal rights. These include the following:
- If your injuries do not require emergency medical attention and you are able to do so, collect information such as the driver’s name, insurance policy number, and the license plate number of his or her vehicle. In addition, take pictures of the aftermath of the accident. Try to get contact information from anyone who may have witnessed the incident.
- See a physician and undergo a complete medical evaluation as soon as you can. It’s imperative that your injuries are diagnosed and treated in order for you to be able to recover compensation later.
- Talk to a lawyer as soon as you can—and certainly before talking to the driver’s insurance company. An attorney will protect your rights and ensure that you get the full value of your claim.
Call Polito & Associations, LLC, Today to Schedule a Free Case Evaluation With a Norwich Personal Injury Attorney
Pedestrian accidents have the potential to leave victims with serious injuries that will affect them for the rest of their lives. For this reason, if you or a loved one has sustained an injury in a pedestrian accident caused by a careless or reckless driver, you should speak to an attorney as soon as you can. To schedule a free consultation with a personal injury, call us today at (860) 447-3300 or contact us online.
