Pedestrian Accidents

Most people walk near a roadway on nearly a daily basis. In fact, Baltimore was ranked the 10th most walkable city in the United States in 2015. While walking is healthy, economical, and often necessary, it also comes with the same risks of injury as any other form of transportation. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), about 66,000 pedestrians suffered injuries in traffic-related accidents in one year in the U.S. Furthermore, more than 4,700 pedestrians were killed, comprising 14 percent of all traffic-related fatalities.

The above statistics indicate that pedestrians do face the risk of serious injury whenever they walk on or near a street. If their injuries occur because a driver or another party acted carelessly or negligently, an injured pedestrian can hold that party liable for their injury-related losses. Anyone who was injured in a pedestrian accident in or around Baltimore should discuss their situation with a skilled pedestrian accident attorney at The Casper Firm as soon as possible.

COMMON CAUSES OF PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENTS

Negligence can lead to pedestrian accidents in many ways, including the following:

• Distracted driving;
• Drunk driving;
• Failure to yield at crosswalks;
• Illegal turns;
• Failure to signal;
• Speeding;
• Failing to obey traffic signals;
• Aggressive driving;
• Improperly timed traffic signals.

The evidence needed to prove negligence will depend on the cause of the accident and the specific circumstances of your individual case. It is imperative to have an attorney representing you who knows how to identify and gather evidence of negligence in a pedestrian accident case. Such evidence can include witness accounts, the nature of your injuries, video footage, analysis from accident reconstruction experts, and more.

PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENTS CAN CAUSE SEVERE INJURIES

Because pedestrians have no protection from an impact with a moving vehicle, they tend to sustain particularly serious injuries in traffic collisions, whether they are hit by a car, truck, motorcycle, or even a bicycle. Some common injuries suffered by pedestrians include:

• Broken bones;
• Crushed limbs;
• Spinal cord injuries;
• Traumatic brain injuries;
• Internal bleeding;
• Damage to internal organs;
• Facial and jaw fractures;
• Burns.

If a vehicle was moving quickly at the time of collision, a pedestrian may be thrown into the air or over the vehicle, which can result in many different points of impact. This means that pedestrians often sustain more than one kind of serious or even catastrophic injury. Any of the above injuries or a combination of such will require emergency medical care and will likely need a lengthy course of costly treatment.

Contact a Baltimore Pedestrian Accident Lawyer For a Free Consultation

Though pedestrians are vulnerable whenever they head out near traffic, most of us are pedestrians every single day. Drivers should take reasonable care when it comes to pedestrians and, if they do not, the experienced pedestrian accident attorneys at The Casper Firm know how to hold them accountable for their negligent actions. We can help you recover for your medical costs, lost income, pain and suffering, and any other relevant losses. Please call today for a free consultation at 410-989-5097.