Taking a walk should not end in injury, but unfortunately, at times, it just might. Pedestrian accidents can happen anywhere there are vehicles present. When a car strikes a pedestrian, the resulting damage to the body may be severe enough to warrant a long road to recovery. Find out more about what it takes to bring a pedestrian accident case and what safety measures should prevent these horrific events from happening.
How Do Pedestrian Accidents Happen?
Vehicles have the right-of-way on roads. When something happens to make them cross a solid or double line, they may collide with cyclists or pedestrians traversing the shoulder. In some instances, a vehicle may jump the curb and land on a sidewalk where pedestrians are supposed to remain safe. Other times, a car may not see someone walking across the street and strike them. Many pedestrian accidents occur at night when poorly lit areas make it difficult for drivers to see.
What Is the Pedestrian’s Duty of Care?
Pedestrians are not entirely off the hook in an accident with a car. Both drivers and walkers have a duty to obey appropriate traffic laws and keep others safe. If a person darts across the street in traffic or walks well inside a vehicle lane, they are not demonstrating regard for their safety or that of others. While drivers do not always get injured in pedestrian collisions, they may. Some drivers veer into barricades, light posts, or buildings to avoid hitting a walker.
How Can a Pedestrian Accident Case Benefit the Victim?
When a pedestrian faces the prospect of recovering from a vehicle collision, it may prove a difficult road to traverse. Depending on the circumstances surrounding the accident, the impact on the body may result in permanent damage. Catastrophic injuries are those that will require life-long medical care, and even then, treatment does not lead to recovery. Examples of these injuries include paralysis from spinal cord damage and loss of cognitive function from head trauma. Filing a personal injury lawsuit against the person responsible for the accident may result in a monetary award that can help pay your past bills and any future medical treatment your physical condition requires.
Personal injury law is the category under which this type of incident falls. A lawyer, like a personal injury lawyer in Las Vegas, NV from Eglet Adams, will offer you the most assistance in getting the financial compensation necessary to take care of your medical needs.