Pedestrian Accidents
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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 5,000 pedestrians die in automobile accidents annually. This averages to one pedestrian death every 1.6 hours. Thousands of more pedestrians are injured by motor vehicles. Even at low speeds, serious injuries can occur.
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrian accidents are typically the result of negligence on the part of the motor vehicle driver. Common causes of pedestrian accidents include:
- Distracted Driving – if a motorist is texting, talking on the phone, or programming their GPS system, they may not see a pedestrian legally crossing the road.
- Turning – a driver can cause serious injuries if they turn at a green light ignoring a pedestrian crossing the street who has the right of way due to the visible “walk” signal.
- Not Focusing on Pedestrians – sometimes drivers are so focused on other cars that they don’t even see pedestrians.
- Impaired Driving – driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs can affect a driver’s cognitive abilities which can cause them not to see pedestrians or to drive up on a sidewalk.
- Ignoring Red Lights and Stop Signs – drivers who recklessly fail to follow traffic controls can hit pedestrians who are legally crossing a road.
- Speeding – drivers in a hurry don’t wait for pedestrians to cross the road and attempt to cut between them or in front of them. Drivers who are speeding are also less likely to pay attention to the road.
Common Pedestrian Accident Injuries
Pedestrians who are hit by a motor vehicle can sustain serious injuries because they don’t have the protection that passengers in a car may have. Also, pedestrians are likely not wearing helmets or any kind of protective gear. Common pedestrian accident injuries include:
- Traumatic Brain Injury – any time the head is involved in a collision, the results can be serious.
- Fractures – among the most common injuries suffered by pedestrians, broken bones may be caused by the impact of a motor vehicle on a human body
- Spinal Cord Injuries – this type of injury can be life-changing and devastating. A fractured spine or dislocated vertebrae can result from an impact
- Soft Tissue Injuries – bruises, lacerations, tears, sprains, and dislocations can all result from a pedestrian accident
Contact a Florida Pedestrian Accident Attorney
If you’ve been injured in a pedestrian accident, you should have an experienced personal injury attorney evaluate your case. At Abrahamson & Uiterwyk, we have 30 years of experience helping injured Floridians. Contact us online or call us at 1-800-538-4878 to set up your free consultation today.