PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENTS - A Qualified Pedestrian Accident Attorney Will Protect Your Interests

Walking is environmentally friendly and comes with healthful benefits. Yet walking is not risk-free.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that pedestrian deaths in 2007 numbered more than 4,600 while injuries were at 70,000. And of the 4,654 fatalities, 3,744 of them involved a pedestrian versus a motor vehicle. Those numbers likely present a conservative accounting due to a lack of reporting by police departments. Hospital records often conflict with official pedestrian accident numbers. A qualified Pedestrian Accident Attorney knows how to expose the truth of pedestrian accidents and protect a walker's rights.

A pedestrian is injured approximately every 8 minutes on a road or sidewalk or in a parking lot. Reasons for adverse events can include:

• A walking child's small size and quick movement 
• The slower movement of the elderly 
• An inattentive driver of a car, motorcycle or bicycle 
• Adverse weather 
• Poorly maintained roads, sidewalks and parking lots 
• Failure to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and intersections 
• Lack of suitable walking paths 
• Falling debris from buildings or trees 
• Improper pedestrian access around construction sites

Injuries to pedestrians can be catastrophic and may include:

• Lacerations and contusions
• Head or spinal injuries 
• Disfigurement
• The loss of one or more senses or limbs 
• Bone damage or internal injuries
• The loss of quality of life
• Death

The CDC reports that almost 1 out of 5 children who died in traffic accidents were pedestrians. Children are particularly susceptible to suffering adverse events while walking. Walking is generally a safe mode of transportation for everyone, yet accidents do steadily occur. If you or a loved one has been involved in a pedestrian accident, follow these guidelines to protect your rights.

1. Seek legal advice immediately and follow the attorney’s advice 
2. Do not sign anything without legal representation 
3. Seek immediate medical assistance 
4. Keep records

Failure to observe these simple guidelines can result in the inability to file a claim at a later date.

Compensation may be available for those injured in pedestrian accidents, and a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer with experience in pursuing such cases can make a difference in the outcome. Injury awards may include compensation for:

• Current and ongoing medical expenses 
• Pain and suffering 
• Loss of income or future earnings 
• Loss of companionship or support 
• Punitive damages for negligence on the part of a third party

If you have been injured in a pedestrian accident, or a loved one has been lost, use our free evaluation form to learn your rights. Complete our evaluation form, and a knowledgeable and experienced attorney will contact you. In pedestrian cases, time delays are ill advised. The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can initiate recovery.

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