Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Indianapolis, IN
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration believes that fatal traffic accidents which involve pedestrians are on the rise. In 2018 these numbers saw a 3% increase; these numbers don’t include bicycles or scooters.
If a vehicle hits a pedestrian at high speeds, the injuries can be fatal or otherwise serious. But did you know that a driver could injure a pedestrian going just ten miles per hour? It’s very important that drivers watch for pedestrians and mind the law of the road—but furthermore, knowing what to do if you are involved in or witness a pedestrian accident, can help you when you get called to court, because you’ll most definitely be involved in a suit if you’re involved in this type of accident.
As a driver, it’s important that you learn the basic rules of fault and how injuries or damages may be compensated. It’s also important that a driver involved in a pedestrian accident reach out to a pedestrian accident lawyer
So What Do You Do?
Safety first! Ensure that anyone who is injured and can be safely moved are moved. Don’t administer medical treatment or medicines, but do CPR and other life-saving tactics if they’re required. Do everything you can to get everyone to safety. If someone cannot be moved, make sure they’re as safe as they can be and are visible to any incoming vehicles.
After ensuring the safety of everyone involved, get medical help. You’ll want the police, medical care providers like the paramedics, and auto insurance providers. You’ll want to have your insurance handy and start gathering names and insurance from everyone else involved that’s able to account for their insurance.
When exchanging contact information, make sure you give them your phone number, name, and email address along with your insurance information. Avoid talking about your family or letting the pedestrian talk about theirs. You don’t want to admit fault by accident—such as “I feel so guilty,” that seals the case and makes you guilty if a personal injury lawsuit is brought to court. Talk to a pedestrian accident lawyer in Indianapolis, IN before you reach out to exchange further information with the pedestrian.
Who’s At Fault?
A pedestrian accident lawyer Indianapolis, IN will be able to help you determine whether you’re at fault or not. However, most often the law of negligence which is a law stating that when a person fails to exercise reasonable care under circumstances specific to their accident, they are going to be considered negligent.
Does that mean the pedestrian is at fault or the driver?
It depends on the accident. Sometimes both people are at fault—other times, the pedestrian may have walked into the road without the go-ahead from a pedestrian signal at the crosswalk. Sometimes, the driver may have ignored a red light.
The Most Common Injuries in Pedestrian Accidents
As a child, you are told to look both ways before crossing the street. Even though you might do so, some people speed down the road, lose control of their vehicle, and strike a pedestrian. If you are a pedestrian, you do not have any protection between yourself and the pavement. Therefore, even if you are struck by a motor vehicle at low speed, you could still end up with serious injuries. You should rely on a pedestrian accident lawyer in Indianapolis, IN, such as a lawyer from Ward & Ward Personal Injury Lawyers, to help you. What are some of the most common examples of pedestrian accident injuries?
A Broken Leg
One of the most common injuries pedestrians suffer if they are hit by a motor vehicle is a broken leg. In a lot of cases, people are struck from the side because they are trying to cross the street perpendicular to the direction of traffic. Went to motor vehicle hits you, you could break your tibia, fibula, or femur. In some cases, these bone fractures could require surgery.
A Traumatic Brain Injury
You might also suffer a traumatic brain injury. If you are struck by a motor vehicle, you could hit your head on the hood of the car. Then, you could fall off the hood of the car, striking your head on the pavement. This could lead to a skull fracture, a concussion, a cerebral contusion, or a brain bleed. This could require emergency surgery as well. After seeking medical care, contact a pedestrian accident lawyer in Indianapolis, IN.
A Hip Injury
The grill of a car is generally at the height of the hip of an adult. Therefore, you could also suffer a hip injury. This could lead to a variety of complications, depriving your leg of important blood flow. You need to seek medical care as quickly as possible, as many hip injuries will require surgery. Then, you should reach out to a lawyer for more information.
Trust a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
In the end, there are a lot of injuries that you could suffer if you are struck by a motor vehicle. Pedestrians always have the right of way, and you need to seek medical care as quickly as possible. Then, trust a pedestrian accident lawyer in Indianapolis, IN, such as an attorney from Ward & Ward Personal Injury Lawyers to vigorously defend your right. You could be entitled to a settlement.
Reaching out to a pedestrian accident attorney in Indianapolis, IN, such as the ones available at Ward & Ward Personal Injury Lawyers, is your best bet to finding out who’s at fault and being prepared for any claims filed against you.
Common Causes for Accidents With Pedestrians
In order to stay safe on the road, drivers need to be vigilant about watching out for other vehicles that are not doing the right thing. Failing to follow traffic laws or traffic signals can send another vehicle on a collision course with your own and force you to react very quickly. To keep other people safe when you’re on the road, you need to keep an equally close eye out for pedestrians. When a pedestrian does something unexpected or you do not see someone until he or she is mere feet from your vehicle, it may be difficult to react quickly. There are a variety of causal conditions that can lead to pedestrian accidents that drivers need to be aware of.
Inattention
The leading cause of all motor vehicle accidents is driver inattention. Taking your eyes off the road for just a moment because you are distracted by something such as your phone or passengers can have dire repercussions. Inattention on behalf of pedestrians may also have serious consequences. There has been a notable increase in pedestrian accidents involving people who are looking at their smartphones while they are walking. If you experience this type of accident, a pedestrian accident lawyer in Indianapolis, IL can advise you about the applicable law regarding claims in which a pedestrian was largely or wholly at fault for an accident. Experienced personal injury counsel such as Ward & Ward Personal Injury Lawyers can help you defend yourself in a claim initiated by a pedestrian who caused an accident.
Foul Weather
Slick roads and poor visibility make it a lot more difficult to see a pedestrian in your path. When it is pouring rain or simply freezing cold, pedestrians may be in a rush to escape inclement weather.
Parking Lot Mishaps
Navigating a parking lot can involve a considerable risk of an accident with a pedestrian. Drivers let their guards down a little bit when they pull into a lot. Even though they have not parked yet, they have just exited a thoroughfare and do not have to be as wary of vehicles that are traveling at a high speed. Likewise, pedestrians may not look out for cars, or they may be preoccupied with wherever they are going to or coming from. A pedestrian accident lawyer in Indianapolis, IN such as Ward & Ward Personal Injury Lawyers can give you some insight about what evidence may be relevant to demonstrating whether a driver or a pedestrian is at fault for an accident in a parking lot.
