Pedestrian Accidents
Sadly, Pennsylvania and New Jersey pedestrian accidents are far too common. New Jersey has the unfortunate distinction of having the highest rate of motor vehicle-pedestrian accidents in the nation. It is estimated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that every 8 minutes a pedestrian in the U.S. is struck and injured by a car or truck. Additionally, every 120 minutes a pedestrian is killed by a motorist.
Besides being frequent, pedestrian-car accidents often result in serious personal injuries, including long-term or permanent disabilities or wrongful death. The most common people involved in pedestrian accidents with personal injuries are children under the age of 10 and senior citizens. When a child is hit by a car, the front bumper will generally strike the thigh area while the front edge of the hood will impact the child’s torso or head area, leaving the child susceptible to broken bones, head injuries, traumatic brain injury (TBI), as well as internal organ damage.
Pedestrian crosswalk laws are clear. Even if you did not cross at a crosswalk, a driver has a duty to pay attention where he or she is going.
A pedestrian hit by a car that is moving at a speed higher than 10 miles per hour is likely to suffer serious injuries such as head trauma, brain damage that could affect speech and/or memory, broken bones, organ damage, and permanent scarring. Pedestrians struck by SUVs or pick-up trucks are at a higher risk of sustaining severe injuries and even wrongful death.
Pedestrian accidents most commonly occur due to driver negligence such as speeding, driving while distracted, disregarding traffic signals, disobeying pedestrian-in-crosswalk laws, or driving under the influence (of alcohol or drugs). Furthermore, hit and run accidents involving pedestrians are not unusual.
Because walking provides many health benefits, taking to our neighborhood streets for exercise is becoming more and more common. It is just as important for pedestrians to know the rules of the road as it is for drivers. Protect yourself by obeying pedestrian rules: cross in marked crosswalks and obey walk/don’t walk signs, prevent children from darting out between parked cars or into the flow of traffic, wear bright colored clothing, and walk facing traffic. You should never assume a driver sees you. Be aware of approaching vehicles at all times.
Personal injuries are almost always sustained in vehicle-pedestrian accidents. The personal injury lawyers at Saile & Saile LLP believe that victims of NJ and PA pedestrian accidents deserve to be compensated for their serious and often permanent, life-altering injuries. It is necessary for your attorney to be skilled in dealing with insurance companies in the pursuit of pedestrian accident injury claims. The Bucks County, PA, Philadelphia and Mercer County, NJ injury attorneys at Saile & Saile LLP have the experience required to properly investigate a pedestrian accident and assist you in recovering fair money damages incurred as a result of a pedestrian accident caused by a driver’s carelessness.
