Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents

Pedestrian accidents are notoriously dangerous considering the disparity between the size of the average person and the size of the average vehicle. It is imperative for drivers to pay close attention to their surroundings at all times, especially when sharing the roadway with pedestrians or when pedestrians are nearby. Pedestrians can help increase their own safety by only crossing the street at marked areas and following traffic signals; however, the most common causes of pedestrian accidents are driver related. If you or a loved one were injured in a pedestrian accident, reach out to a pedestrian accident to learn about your options for physical and financial recovery.

Common causes of pedestrian accidents include the following:

• Failure by drivers to keep a proper lookout
• Drivers running red lights or ignoring stop signs
• Driving over the speed limit
• Driving aggressively
• Driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol
• Driving while attempting to use a cell phone or otherwise distracted
• Driving while overly fatigued

While fault most often lies with the driver, pedestrians may also be considered fully or partially at fault.

In most pedestrian accidents, the driver is the cause. However, depending on the circumstances of the event, the pedestrian involved may be considered partially at fault. The only scenarios in which a pedestrian would be considered fully at fault are those in which due to the pedestrian’s behavior, there was no way the vehicle could have reasonably avoided striking them. Pedestrians darting out into heavy traffic is the primary type of pedestrian-caused accident. However, depending on the state, a pedestrian may be considered partially at fault if they crossed somewhere other than a crosswalk or made other questionable decisions on the street.

It can be difficult for the injured pedestrian to establish the cause of the accident.

Unsurprisingly, the injured party in a pedestrian accident is generally receiving medical attention and may remember little about the driver or vehicle’s behavior for the impact. However, this does not mean that some kind of record can’t be put together to establish the cause of the accident. Evidence which exists at the scene of the accident may include photos of the vehicle, testimonies from people who witnessed the accident and how the vehicle was driving before, and even footage from local security cameras.

Pedestrian accidents may require the help of an attorney.

While some of this evidence can be gathered by the victim or their family at the scene of the accident, other types of evidence may require an attorney to obtain. Additionally, due to the typical severity of the damages in a pedestrian accident claim, it may be difficult to identify and secure the necessary compensation to pay for the victim’s current and future damages related to their injury. Pedestrian accident attorneys generally offer free consultations and work on a contingency fee basis, which means clients don’t pay unless they win their case. Hiring an attorney after a pedestrian accident is a great way to give you and your loved ones the best shot at recovery after a serious injury.

To learn more about common causes of pedestrian accidents or for help filing a claim, reach out to a pedestrian accident attorney.