Pedestrian Accidents
Accidents involving pedestrians and motor vehicles are among the most serious accidents to occur. They are so dangerous because the pedestrian has nothing to shield them and protect them from an oncoming automobile. Pedestrian accidents can result in serious injuries for the pedestrian even if the car is going at a relatively slow speed. Because of their destructive nature, anyone involved in a pedestrian accident should contact a good lawyer to see that their rights are protected.
According to the law, anyone not riding in or entering/exiting a motor vehicle is considered a pedestrian. In 2002, the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported 70,000 accidents involving automobiles and pedestrians. Of these accidents, 4,464 proved to be fatal. The majority of these accidents occur in urban areas and in non-intersection areas of the road. In addition, the hours after school gets out is the most common time that pedestrian/automobile accidents occur, and children and the elderly are disproportionally likely to be involved in a pedestrian accident.
Pedestrian/automobile accidents are often the result of negligence on the part of the driver or the pedestrian. Sometimes parked cars can cause obstructions that block pedestrians from getting a good view of oncoming traffic. Also, children often do not exercise caution when entering the road, putting them in danger. In addition, the driver may have been distracted and not completely focused on the road and avoiding hazards. Speeding, driving without due attention on the road and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs are all things which can make a driver neglectful and thus responsible for pedestrian accidents.
Pedestrian accidents require victims (both pedestrians and drivers) to have good legal consultation to deal with the potentially complicated aftermath of the accident. Pedestrians must establish that the driver was neglectful in some way in order to receive due monetary compensation from the accident. People hit by automobiles are entitled to claims from the insurance company with which the car was registered, but to extract those claims can be difficult. It is important to have a good lawyer working for you to protect your rights if you were involved in a pedestrian/automobile accident.