Pedestrian Accidents

Throughout the country, increasing numbers of urban residents are placing a higher value on pedestrian-friendly streets. Part of the draw toward living in a city, no matter how large or small, is the ability to get around on foot or a bicycle. More importantly, people want to feel safe letting their children run, ride bikes and skateboard, and cross the streets.

Pedestrian safety plays such a crucial part in an area’s quality of life that we almost don’t consider it. That is, until a pedestrian accident takes a toll on someone we know.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a pedestrian accident, contact accident attorney Jordon Harlan to learn what your legal rights are.

How the Law Treats Pedestrian Accidents

Pedestrian accidents are a problem that no amount of technology has been able to solve. Even with sophisticated crash avoidance technology in today’s cars and street safety enhancements, the yearly number of pedestrian deaths have been on the rise for the past several years. In 2014, an average of 12 pedestrians were killed per day in an accident involving a motor vehicle.

The U.S. Department of Transportation reports that about 15 percent of fatal car crashes end in a pedestrian’s death. Those who survive being struck by a motor vehicle tend to suffer serious injuries from being thrown against a hood or windshield, or being crushed under a car wheel. Serious head, pelvis and leg injuries are common results from pedestrian accidents.

The majority of these accidents occur in urban areas where the speed limit is 40 miles per hour or less. In fact, a number of pedestrian accidents occur within a crosswalk, the one area within the street where a pedestrian should be safest.

Car accidents are not the only way pedestrian accidents can happen. According to the 2012 National Survey on Bicyclist and Pedestrian Attitudes and Behaviors, poorly maintained sidewalks and roads are the leading cause of pedestrian accidents. This includes accidents caused by uneven or cracked pavement, potholes and bad street signage.

Nevertheless, research into hospital records has revealed that only a fraction of pedestrian accident injuries recorded by police. This may be the result of the prevalent tendency for police to blame the pedestrian for the accident. When a pedestrian fears that they will be held liable for their own injuries, they are far less likely to make a police report. As a result, the people who cause these accidents are not held accountable for their actions.

How to File a Pedestrian Accident Claim

Everyone knows how traumatizing even a minor car accident can be. It doesn’t take much imagination to grasp how that trauma is multiplied for a pedestrian who is hit by a car.

When you are caught in an accident with a motor vehicle, the damage to your life can be devastating. Not only do you face a long and painful recovery, but you also may miss weeks or even months of work. The pain and suffering you experience is matched only by the stress of mounting medical bills that get harder and harder to pay off.

If you or someone you love were the victim of a pedestrian accident, you deserve to have your rights honored. Contact accident attorney Jordon Harlan to get help with fighting for your rights.