What Are Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents?
Pedestrian accidents can result from a variety of factors. While driver inattention or recklessness is a common cause of these accidents, poorly or dangerously designed intersections may share the blame. For example, if the intersection does not have clearly marked crosswalks, proper signage, working traffic signals, and reasonable lighting, pedestrians may not know where it is safe to cross the street, and drivers may not know who has the right of way, leading to confusion and catastrophic accidents. In this case, the city may be one of the at-fault parties and liable for damages. Identifying the cause of your accident is important to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. Some of the most common causes behind pedestrian accidents include:
- Driver error or misjudgment
- Broken traffic laws
- Ignored right-of-way
- Distracted driving
- Driving while intoxicated
- Drowsy driving
- Speeding in a school zone
- Dangerously designed intersection
- Lack of crosswalks
What Are Common Injuries Sustained In Pedestrian Accidents?
Pedestrian accidents can result in a wide range of injuries, from minor to life-threatening. Some of the most common injuries sustained in these accidents include:
Head and Brain Injuries
Like motorcyclists, pedestrians lack the protection of a car and remain at high risk for life-threatening head injuries in the event of an accident. Accident victims may experience concussion, coma, traumatic brain injury (TBI), or even death. Typical symptoms of head injuries include headaches, nausea, dizziness, confusion, and loss of consciousness.
Broken Bones
The blunt force trauma of a vehicle collision often leads to broken bones, or fractures. While fractures can affect any bone in the body, the bones fractured in pedestrian accidents tend to be in the legs, arms, and pelvic region. Symptoms of broken bones can include swelling, misshapen appearance, severe pain, and limited mobility.
Lacerations and Soft Tissue Injuries
In most pedestrian accidents, trauma to the body is immediately evident. When a car strikes a pedestrian, that person may hit the windshield and bounce off onto the hard ground. During this process, they may have been lacerated by broken glass and debris, bruised by blunt force trauma, and torn by cement. Lacerations can be deep, resulting in disfigurement, nerve and muscle damage, infection and even amputation. Soft tissue injuries most often show up as bruising, but can go beyond that to include sprains and muscle strains – typically resulting in pain, swelling, and a limited range of motion. Finally, road rash – caused by skin rubbing against pavement – is extremely painful and prone to infection.
Internal Injuries
If an accident is severe enough, pedestrians may also sustain internal injuries. These can be extremely dangerous, as they may damage vital internal organs like the liver, spleen, and kidneys. Symptoms of internal injuries may include abdominal pain, difficulty breathing, and blood in the urine.
Paralysis
Serious spinal injuries can result when a person is struck by a vehicle. If the impact damages the spinal cord severely enough, the damage may result in lifelong paralysis.
This is not an exhaustive list of injuries. It is always advisable for pedestrian accident victims to avoid self diagnosis. Instead, they should seek immediate medical attention, even if they doubt they are seriously injured. Some injuries, including TBI’s, may not present symptoms until days or even weeks after the accident, and require x-rays or close observation to diagnose.
What Should I Do Immediately After a Pedestrian Accident?
Once the numbing shock of a sudden accident begins to subside, the physical pain tends to set in. You will likely feel overwhelmed, dizzy, disoriented, and scared. If you are able to keep some presence of mind in the difficult moments after your accident, there are several crucial steps you should take to protect yourself and ensure that you receive justice and compensation.
Report the Accident Immediately
If you are able, call 911 immediately to notify them of the accident. If possible, stay at the scene to give a report. Without admitting fault, provide the police with as much information as possible about the driver and the vehicle involved.
Seek Medical Attention
Whether or not you believe your injuries are serious, it is important to see a doctor within 24 hours of the accident to make sure you don’t have internal bleeding, brain damage, or a host of other invisible injuries. Furthermore, a medical report can serve as important evidence in your case.
Collect Evidence
Take detailed pictures of the accident scene, the vehicle that hit you, your injuries, and any other relevant details. Gather contact information from the driver and any witnesses. Other parties will be collecting evidence as well. With this in mind, avoid speaking to the driver’s insurance company before consulting with a lawyer. As you are in a vulnerable state, they may try to take advantage of this and use your words against you to damage your case.
Contact a Wettermark Keith Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one have been involved in a pedestrian accident, it is important to seek legal representation as soon as possible. Our attorneys are available to answer any questions, work with you to understand your specific needs and goals, and put together a strategy. We understand the inherent stress of pursuing a civil case after an accident, and we are here to minimize your stress and maximize your compensation. Contact us today at 877-455-4518 to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced pedestrian accident attorneys.
