Pennsylvania Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Pedestrians or walkers have the same rights to use public roadways as operators of vehicles. Whether the vehicle is an automobile, motorcycle, moped, truck, or bicycle, the vehicle operator must yield to pedestrians crossing at an intersection. In turn, pedestrians should use sidewalks and crosswalks whenever they are available to avoid traffic collisions with vehicles.
Pedestrians are vulnerable to injuries following a traffic collision because they are unprotected. Particularly when the collision is a “hit and run” scenario, determining the responsible party will require assistance from the local authorities and witnesses.
A Pennsylvania pedestrian accident lawyer could assist pedestrians who have been involved in an accident. If you or a loved one were injured in a pedestrian accident, contact an experienced personal injury attorney today.
Common Pedestrian Accidents
In 2013, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that on average there was one pedestrian death every two hours due to crash-related injuries.
Pedestrians over the age of 65, children under the age of 14, speeding, and alcohol consumption at legally intoxicating levels contributed to the majority of the deaths and injuries of pedestrians treated in emergency rooms immediately following the pedestrian accidents.
Frequent Causes of Pedestrian Accidents
When pedestrian accidents occur more likely than not, the following factors were present at the time of impact:
- Driver fails to check for pedestrians at crosswalks
- Driver fails to stop at a traffic light or stop sign
- Driver is speeding
- Driver is operating the motor vehicle impaired by alcohol or drugs
- Driver is distracted – texting, talking on the mobile phone, eating, changing music stations, talking with other passengers in the car, or playing with the GPS
Duties of Pedestrians and Vehicle Operators
Because both the pedestrian and the vehicle operator or cyclists have a right to use the roadway, both parties owe a duty to each other to keep safe and avoid collisions. These duties include:
Driver Duties:
- Must exercise care to avoid a collision
- Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks
- Around school crossings – when a crossing guard or school bus is present – stop until all children are out of the crosswalk or roadway
- Must wait until disabled or blind people cross the street
Pedestrian Duties:
- Use sidewalks and crossways, where available
- Obey traffic control devices – walk and stop as indicated by the traffic control device
- Refrain from crossing the street
Getting Help Following a Pedestrian Crash
When a person is injured following a pedestrian accident, the first order of business is to seek medical care and treatment for injuries. Particularly if the injury is to the head, special care should be taken before the person is moved.
The local police department helps the injured pedestrian file a police report and obtain a copy of it so that he or she can pursue compensation for injuries and damages caused by the pedestrian accident. A pedestrian accident lawyer in Pennsylvania could help an injured victim with recovering compensation.
PENNDOT, the department of transportation in Pennsylvania, provides information about driving and safety as well as the rules and regulations for driving in Pennsylvania.
Call a Pedestrian Accident Attorney in Pennsylvania Today
A pedestrian injured in a traffic collision may pursue an action against a vehicle driver for injuries sustained because of the traffic collision. Damages like medical care and treatment, lost wages, future wages, property damage, pain and suffering, and emotional damages are all recoverable.
Seek legal guidance today from a Pennsylvania pedestrian accident lawyer and schedule your case evaluation today.
