Charlotte Injury Lawyers Blog
Charlotte Personal Injury Attorney Matt Arnold answers the question: “What can you sue for in a personal injury case?”
A new year-long safety study showed that an increasing number of Charlotte pedestrians are dying along Independence Boulevard. There have been at least 26 car crashes involving pedestrians on the highway, which is known for its heavy traffic, since 2016. Of those, eight have resulted in deaths.
According to WCNC, the North Carolina Department of Transportation wants to address the pedestrian dangers on Independence Boulevard. Even though the highway has 10 lanes, Charlotte pedestrians keep risking their lives trying to cross it. Unfortunately, at least eight pedestrians never made it to the other side of the highway since 2016.
NCDOT to Address Pedestrian Dangers Along Charlotte’s Independence Boulevard
A new safety study by the NCDOT is intended to help the agency make the highway less dangerous for pedestrians and prevent fatalities. The study is set to be complete this spring.
While pedestrians can safely cross Independence Boulevard through bridges, NCDOT acknowledges that many pedestrians cross the road away from the interchanges. The agency identified at least 26 crashes involving pedestrians between I-277 uptown and I-485 in Matthews in the past four years.
Of those, eight pedestrians died along the 12-mile stretch of the highway, and 16 resulted in injuries. In January 2020, a 14-year-old boy was hit by a vehicle on Independence Boulevard when he was pushing a bike across the highway at night.
The City of Charlotte, NCDOT, and Town of Matthews participate in the study to evaluate the risks for pedestrians and address pedestrian dangers along Independence Boulevard. The study, which costs more than $100,000, is intended to identify short and long-term safety improvements along the highway. The agencies encourage people who cross Independence Boulevard, drive the road, or live nearby to contact them and propose solutions.
Why do Pedestrian Accidents Occur on Highways?
Walking across any highway in Charlotte – not just Independence Boulevard – is inherently dangerous, which is why pedestrians must exercise reasonable care when crossing to prevent collisions. However, often, these accidents on highways are beyond a pedestrian’s control. The following driver errors cause or contribute to pedestrian crashes in North Carolina:
- Distracted driving. While distracted driving can lead to any vehicle crashes, this negligent behavior is even more dangerous on highways, where a car can cause a high-speed collision involving a pedestrian.
- Inattention. Failing to focus on the road and remain attentive to one’s surroundings when driving is a common cause of car crashes involving pedestrians. Pedestrians are not as visible as vehicles, which is why an inattentive or distracted motorist could not notice them.
- Reckless driving. Driving a vehicle recklessly on a highway can lead to a devastating and deadly pedestrian crash.
- Drunk driving. A motorist’s reaction times and other driving abilities are hindered when he or she is impaired by alcohol or drugs, which increases the risk of colliding with a pedestrian.
Pedestrian accidents on highways can also occur due to poor road conditions, inadequate lighting, defective road design, as well as adverse weather conditions. If a motorist fled the scene, the injured pedestrian should consult with a lawyer to seek compensation in a hit-and-run accident. If your loved one died in a highway-related pedestrian crash, you might be able to recover damages via a wrongful death suit. Contact our Charlotte pedestrian accident attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC. Call us now at 704-370-2828 to speak with our lawyers to explore your legal options or fill out our contact form. Now taking cases throughout North Carolina with offices in Uptown Charlotte, Mooresville and Monroe.
The skilled personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to maximizing the financial recovery and obtaining justice for every personal injury client injured by another party’s negligence. The issues our personal injury clients may be facing include, but are not limited to, slip and fall injuries, wrongful death, product liability, catastrophic injuries, dog bite claims, car and truck accident injuries, motorcycle injuries, traumatic brain injury (TBI), nursing home negligence, spinal cord injury, boating accidents, and defective medical device injury. Our personal injury attorneys understand the devastating impact such an injury can have on a person’s life, and that the effects so often go beyond physical pain and suffering. The personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to helping clients determine the strength of their claims, and to aggressively pursuing the means necessary to achieve the best possible end result for each client’s particular situation.
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