Pedestrian Accident Injuries - When a pedestrian is struck, he or she may suffer various injuries, which can be serious. Even when a vehicle is simply pulling out of a driveway or parking lot, the impact of hitting a walker can be significant. Of course, the potential to sustain severe, disabling or life-threatening injuries is increased if the vehicle is traveling at a higher rate of speed.
Pedestrians may experience injuries to the extremities, abdomen, chest and head. Certain factors can affect the severity of the injuries, such as the type of vehicle, speed at which it is traveling, pedestrian’s age, and where he or she is struck. Some of the injuries that may be suffered in a pedestrian accident include:
• Head trauma;
• Pelvic injury;
• Internal bleeding;
• Fractures (ribs, arms, legs);
• Spinal injury;
• Internal injury (gastro, liver, spleen); and
• Death.
Recovery can be long and grueling; medical costs and those related to any necessary therapy can be very high.
Types of Driver Negligence
One of the first things you will need to establish is that the individual behind the wheel owed a duty of care. This means there is an expectation to operate his or her vehicle with reasonable care so as to avoid injuring others.
There can be a number of factors that may contribute to an accident involving a pedestrian. For instance, if the driver was distracted or inattentive for any reason, this would be considered negligence. Distractions come in many forms, such as the use of electronic devices, including cell phones or navigational systems.
Speeding is another type of driver negligence. Speeding is especially dangerous to pedestrians, as injuries tend to be more severe when a vehicle is traveling at a high rate of speed.
Pedestrians are sometimes struck while in the crosswalk. This may be the result of the driver’s failure to yield the right of way while making a turn. Other circumstances may lead to crosswalk accidents, as well.
When a driver disobeys traffic signals or signs, they will likely be considered negligent if an accident results. What’s more, if a driver fails to use a turn signal, this can make it difficult for a pedestrian to know the driver’s intentions.
When traffic or weather conditions warrant driving at slower speeds and driving more cautiously, yet the driver doesn’t do this and a pedestrian is injured, negligence may be considered a factor. Additionally, any driver who is under the influence of drugs or alcohol while operating a vehicle is considered to be negligent.
Seeking Legal Counsel
To learn if you have a viable personal injury case, it’s important to consult with an attorney as soon as possible to learn what options may be available. A Columbus personal injury attorney at the Law Offices of Shane Smith can investigate the details of your pedestrian accident to determine if you have the right to seek compensation.
