Pedestrian Accidents

You are the epitome safety when it comes to being a careful pedestrian. You look both ways when crossing the street. You never ignore traffic signals or traffic laws. Unfortunately, that has not prevented you from being involved in a pedestrian accident. Or, maybe you weren’t involved in accident, but a loved one was injured or even killed in a pedestrian accident. Regardless of the situation, you are not alone.

Nearly, 129,000 pedestrians were injured in car crashes in 2015, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Additionally, 5,376 pedestrians were killed in traffic accidents. Approximately, 48% of these accidents involved an intoxicated pedestrian or driver. Today, pedestrians are considered 1.5 times more likely to die in a car accident than a car passenger. Here are a few causes of pedestrian related accidents.

• Drivers who are distracted by texting or talking on the phone while driving.
• Many hit-and-run car accidents involve pedestrians.
• Drivers who disobey traffic laws and hit pedestrians while driving through an intersection.

Many accidents involving pedestrians are the drivers fault. It is common to find a pedestrian being hit even while they are illegally crossing a street.

If you are a pedestrian who is involved in an accident, we advise you to do the following:

Step 1: Make sure to call the police (if you can). A police officer will know exactly how to investigate your accident. Next, get the officer’s name and badge number. Make sure you also obtain a copy of the police report because you will need this information for your insurance provider.

Step 2: Get medical help immediately. This step is the most important, even if you feel perfectly fine. Your injury may not be obvious at first. You could have a life-threatening injury, such as brain injury, and not even be aware of it right away.

Step 3: Collect as much evidence at the scene of the accident as possible. If you are unable to do it, see if someone else who witnessed the accident can do it for you.

Get contact names, phone numbers and addresses, especially of the driver who hit you. Note if the street lights are functioning properly. Record the location and time of the accident. Make sure to take clear photos of your injuries, the location and any kind of close landmarks (stores, buildings, etc.).

Step 4: Talk to a good attorney. But, not just any attorney. If you are planning to collect compensation from the driver that hit you or that caused the wrongful death of your love one, you will need an attorney who specializes in pedestrian accidents.

At Anzalone Law Firm, PLLC, we help victims of pedestrian accidents obtain the compensation they deserve. If a loved one was involved in a pedestrian accident we can help file a wrongful death lawsuit.

The steps above should not be taken lightly. Following these steps will help protect your legal rights.

We are passionate about helping clients who are involved in pedestrian accidents. For a free consultation, contact us or give us a call at: 603.548.3797.