Injuries from a pedestrian accident can range from a few bumps and bruises to broken bones and brain injuries. However, injuries can vary based on the type of vehicle, the speed of the driver, as well as the age and overall health of the pedestrian. Pedestrians who have been hit by vehicles often suffer injuries to the chest, abdomen, head, and extremities. Common injuries sustained in pedestrian accidents include:
A pedestrian is defined as someone who walks along a road or in a developed area like a neighborhood. While walking on the road can sometimes be unavoidable, whenever a person chooses to walk along roadways they put themselves at an increased risk for an accident. Even pedestrians who remain on the sidewalk can become involved in an accident when crossing an intersection. The majority of pedestrian accidents are caused by the inattentiveness of a motorcycle or automobile driver. Other top causes of pedestrian accidents include:
In busy cities with higher traffic rates, pedestrian accidents are often linked to aggressive driving. Drivers are more likely to engage in road rage, drive at unsafe speeds, violate traffic signals, and make unlawful turns. In some instances the pedestrian is at fault. This may occur when a pedestrian fails to use a designated crosswalk or does not cross at an intersection. In some instances, a pedestrian may dart out in front of a vehicle making it impossible for the car to stop in time. Pedestrian accidents are more common at night due to low visibility and a lack of reflective gear.
In 2016, 5,987 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes in the United States. This averages to one crash-related pedestrian death every 1.5 hours.1
You never expect to be involved in a pedestrian accident. However, these incidents can happen in an instant and change your whole life. While there is nothing that can make up for the trauma the accident caused, the right lawyer can make the claim process easier and provide much-needed relief. With the assistance of our experienced personal injury lawyer at Lamar Law Office, we can help you recover a range of losses, such as:
In Georgia, there are laws in place to prevent pedestrian accidents from occurring. Under Georgia statute §40-6-93, it states:
“Every driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian upon any roadway, shall give warning by sounding his horn when necessary, and shall exercise proper precautions upon observing any child or any obviously confused, incapacitated, or intoxicated person.”
When determining fault, our accomplished personal injury attorney will look at all aspects of the case, including whether or not the driver’s version is the same as yours. We will also look at details, such as if the collision occurred during the day or at night. If previous accidents occurred at the same location, we may also discover that there are visibility factors that may have contributed to the accident. All of these factors are important when determining who is at fault for injuries sustained after an accident.
Older adults
Pedestrians ages 65 and older accounted for 20% of all pedestrian deaths in 2016 and an estimated 15% of all pedestrians injured in 2015
Children
In 2016, one in every five children under the age of 15 who were killed in traffic crashes were pedestrians.
Drivers and pedestrians who are alcohol-impaired
Almost half (48%) of crashes that resulted in pedestrian deaths involved alcohol for the driver or the pedestrian. One in every three (33%) of fatal pedestrian crashes involved a pedestrian with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of at least 0.08 grams per deciliter (g/dL) and 13% involved a driver with a BAC of at least 0.08 g/dL.
Additional Risk Factors
Additionally, higher vehicle speeds increase both the likelihood of a pedestrian being struck by a car and the severity of injury.
Most pedestrian deaths occur in urban areas, non-intersection locations, and at night.
