Pedestrian accidents kill and injure thousands yearly
Cars and other vehicles always should yield to pedestrians -- always. Yet often people are too busy making phone calls while driving or are in too much of a hurry, and they fail to notice pedestrians until it's too late. Whether pedestrians are on sidewalks or crosswalks or the shoulders of roads, they have the right of way, and drivers always should be alert to their presence. When they aren't, tragedy can occur.
Indeed, 6,000 people are killed and another 90,000 are injured, many seriously, in pedestrian accidents or knock-downs each year in America. In such cases, the victims or their loved ones can fight back by contacting a pedestrian accident lawyer or car accident lawyer to take their case and help them gain full and fair financial compensation for their loss.
Speeding is often a significant factor in a pedestrian accident. Unlike passengers in cars or other vehicles, pedestrians have no safety equipment and are completely exposed. When struck by a vehicle, the vehicle's speed can be a major factor in the extent of the pedestrian's injuries. Studies indicate that even a small increase in the posted speed limit can lead to a signicantly larger number of pedestrian knock-downs and fatalities.
Pedestrians are vulnerable both in urban and rural environments, though sometimes for different reasons. In cities, pedestrians often are struck when crossing the street at intersections, as drivers make turns without noticing them in the crosswalk. In rural areas, vehicles tend to be going faster, and roads have fewer walkways or other areas designed for pedestrian traffic.
Even so, about three-fourths of pedestrian accidents occur in urban areas, and these can involve cars, trucks, buses, taxis and motorcycles. Unfortunately, many such pedestrian accidents also tend to be hit-and-run accidents, with the driver fleeing the scene.
Pedestrian accidents also increase with the advent of the Daylight Savings Time change in the fall. At that time, pedestrians who are walking in late afternoon or early evening suddenly are walking when the sun is one hour closer to setting, and dusk or lesser light can be a factor in a pedestrian accident. Indeed, statistics show that around three dozen more American pedestrians die just after DST takes effect, when car drivers haven't yet adjusted to the visibility variation with the time change.
Whatever the circumstances of a pedestrian accident, victims or their family members may have a right to file a lawsuit against those responsible in order to be compensated for medical costs, loss of wages and pain and suffering. A skilled pedestrian accident lawyer can pursue such claims in the legal realm and ensure that the victim alone does not bear all the cost of an accident caused by a driver's negligence.
