The Two Kinds of Pedestrian Accident Case

When we talk about pedestrian injuries, there are usually two ways that they happen.

First, the pedestrian may get hit by a car. This is common when someone is crossing the street. And it doesn't matter whether there are traffic lights or signals.

Distracted driving is a major cause of car crash injuries. And any competent pedestrian injury attorney will tell you that they that distracted driving is the number one reason why pedestrian injuries happen.

The State of Illinois is doing what it can to burb distracted driving.

Illinois law prohibits the use of hand-held phones, texting or using other electronic communications while operating a motor vehicle. Hands-free devices or Blue Tooth technology is allowed for persons age 19 and older.

Even using hands-free technology is considered a distraction while driving and can be dangerous. If you must make a phone call, even with hands-free technology, it is recommended that you pull off to the side of the road before making the call.

Pedestrian Accidents Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions with answers.  This way, you will have some idea and will have a better idea what to expect if you got hurt in a fall.

How common are pedestrian accidents?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Adminstration (NHTSA) keeps statistics on pedestrian accidents.  The bad news is that pedestrian innjuries and deaths as a result of being hit by case is on the rise.  

Someone is killed in a pedestrian accident every 88 minutes in the United States.  And, there was a more than 3% increase in the number of pedestrians killed in traffic crashes in 2018, totaling 6,283 deaths — the most deaths since 1990.

More recent numbers suiggest that the problem is getting worse, not better.

The primary cause?  Distracted driving.

It is a very common problem that most people do not pay enough attention to.  And the injured pedestrian pays the price.

How can you prevent a pedestrian accident?

11 Walking Safety Tips

1. Be predictable when you walk. Follow the rules of the road and obey signs and signals.
2. Walk on sidewalks not the street if they are available.
3. If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic and as far from traffic as you can.
4. Keep alert at all times; don’t be distracted by electronic devices that take your eyes (and ears) off the road.
5. Whenever possible, cross streets at crosswalks or intersections. That's where drivers expect pedestrians. Look for cars in all directions, including those turning left or right before proceeding.
6. If a crosswalk or intersection is not available, locate a well-lit area where you have the best view of traffic. Do not cross in a 'blind spot' because if you cannot see traffic, traffic cannot see you.Wait for a gap in traffic that allows enough time to cross safely; continue watching for traffic as you cross.
7. Never assume a driver sees you. Make eye contact as they approach to make sure you are seen.
8. Be visible at all times. Wear bright clothes during the day, and wear reflective materials or use a flashlight at night. or avoid walking in dark areas at night.
9. Watch for cars entering or exiting driveways, or backing up in parking lots.
10. Avoid alcohol and drugs when walking; they impair your abilities and your judgment.
11.   Even if 'you have the light' pause before entereing the street to make sure approaching traffic is really going to stop.

9 Driving Safety Tips

1. Look out for pedestrians everywhere, at all times. Safety is a shared responsibility.
2. Use extra caution when driving in at nighttime or bad weather.
3. Slow down and be prepared to stop when near a corner or a crosswalk.
4. Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and stop well back from the cross-walk.
5. Never pass vehicles stopped at a crosswalk. There may be people or children crossing that you can’t see.
6. Never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
7. Follow the speed limit, especially around people on the street. Reduce speed below the speed limit if the weather is bad or it is dark outside.
8. Follow slower speed limits in school zones and in neighborhoods where children are present.
9. Be extra cautious when backing up—pedestrians can move into your path.

What kind of injuries result from a pedestrian accident?

The human body was not built to take a hit from a car.  They are made of steel.  We are made of all too. breakable flesh and bone.

Even a small, low speed hit from a car can cause major injuries.  And any fall due to a pedestrian accident can result in serious injuries.

Here are the most common injuries pedestrian injury attorneys see:

• Contusion to the head and concussion.  Usually when the car strike a person or their head hits the ground.
• Shoulder and hand injuries.  It is common for a person who gets hit by a car to reach out their hands to brace for impact.  Or they use their hands to break their fall, and it is their hands and a shoulder which take most of the force.
• Neck and back injuries.  the sdame forces which cause whiplash all the way through disc herniation and the need for spine surgery when it happens inside a car?  Well, they are multiplies by many time when a car hits a pedestrian.  You do not have the benefit fo the bumper and seats and seatbelts helping you to avoid injury when you are outside your car.
• Paralysis, Death.  When 2,000 pouunds of fsteels meets the human body at high speed, we should not be surprised.  But the loss of as human life always shocks us.  And serious injuries and paralysis are amongst the most tragic a nd life chaning injuries imaginable from a pedesitran accident.  That's not just for the injured person, but their family and friends as well.

As you can see, pedestrian injuries are serious.

How much is my pedestrian accident worth?

You can use free, no obligation Settlement Calculator to find out a rough number.