Charlotte Injury Lawyers Blog
Pedestrian Accidents – What You Need to Know
While the overall number of serious traffic accidents has typically been going down, pedestrian accidents continue to rise. Pedestrian accidents often result in the most severe injuries and fatalities. On average, about 3,000 pedestrians a year are hurt in vehicle accidents, and about 160 pedestrians a year die as a result of a vehicle accident. When a pedestrian gets hit by a vehicle driving at 45 MPH, their likelihood of dying is 85%.
Where Do Most Pedestrian Accidents Happen?
Most pedestrian accidents occur in or near cities rather than in rural areas. About 75% of these types of crashes happen on weekdays. This is likely because they often involve people walking in and near metropolitan areas where they work. Most accidents that involve pedestrians happen in walkways and near bus stops and bus routes. A number of these types of accidents also occur in parking lots. These are areas where there are more people walking, and some may not be within designated crosswalks.
In this video, managing member Matt Arnold summarizes what you need to know about Pedestrian Accidents.
What Types of Vehicles are Most Often Involved in Pedestrian Accidents?
Many times, SUVs and pickup trucks are involved in pedestrian accidents. This is likely because of their large size. The visibility is reduced in these types of vehicles and the driver may be less likely to see pedestrians. There are blind spots that are particularly troublesome for small objects, such as people, who are walking nearby. Drivers of large vehicles need to be careful when they are in areas where there are pedestrians and bicyclists.
What Causes Pedestrian Accidents?
The most common causes of accidents include speeding, failure to obey traffic signals, driving while impaired, and driving while distracted. Of these, distracted driving may be one of the reasons a driver fails to see a pedestrian. The use of cellphones while behind the wheel can cause a driver to take their eyes off the road or their hands off the wheel. Taking your eyes off the road, even for a short period of time, can result in a serious crash. Pedestrians, too, may be less alert because they are using their phones while walking.
Who is at Fault for a Pedestrian Accident?
The negligent party is at fault in a pedestrian accident. While the negligent party is usually the driver, that may not always be the case. A pedestrian does not always have the right of way in every situation. A driver, however, has a duty of care to drive safely and watch for other vehicles and pedestrians. A driver may be negligent if they failed to yield, were speeding, or did not obey traffic laws or signals. In North Carolina, a party may only get damages from a negligent party if they themselves were not negligent. After an accident, it is important to call the police and take steps to review the details of what happened.
If you were hurt in a pedestrian accident, the negligent driver may owe you money for your damages. You might be owed compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering, among others. Contact us today at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, at (704) 370-2828 to schedule a free initial phone consultation.
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.
Source:
https://www.ncdot.gov/initiatives-policies/safety/driving-safety/Pages/distracted-driving.aspx
https://www.watchformenc.org/crashfacts/
Image Credit:
https://www.freeimages.com/photo/push-button-to-walk-1445119
See Our Related Video from our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/ArnoldSmithPLLC/videos
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