What you need to know about pedestrian injury
Every year thousands of people around the world are unnecessarily injured or killed in pedestrian accidents.
These accidents may be caused by distracted driving, speeding or pedestrian negligence, and can have devastating consequences for the victims, their families and communities.
In this article, we look at what causes pedestrian injuries, how we can work together to reduce the number of people hurt, and, as Shamsi Law reports, the legal considerations after an accident.
What are the most common causes of pedestrian injuries?
Pedestrian injuries can occur in many different settings and situations. Her are some of the most common causes:
- Distracted driving: Drivers distracted by smartphones, navigation systems, or other distractions may fail to notice pedestrians in crosswalks or on sidewalks.
- Speeding: Excessive speeding reduces a driver’s ability to react to pedestrians and increases the severity of injuries in the event of a collision.
- Failure to yield: Drivers who fail to yield the right of way to pedestrians at crosswalks or intersections pose a significant risk of injury.
- Impaired driving: Alcohol or drug impairment can impair a driver’s judgment, coordination, and reaction time, leading to pedestrian accidents.
- Poor visibility: Low lighting conditions, inclement weather, or obstructed visibility can make it difficult for drivers to see pedestrians, increasing the risk of accidents.
How can we make the roads safer for pedestrians?
There are a number of different measures that can help to reduce the risk of pedestrian injuries, including:
- Improvements to infrastructure: Designing pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, such as well-marked crosswalks, sidewalks, pedestrian islands, and traffic calming measures, can increase pedestrian safety.
- Education and awareness: Educating both drivers and pedestrians about traffic laws, safe behaviors, and the importance of mutual respect and awareness can help prevent accidents.
- Reducing speed: Introducing lower speed limits in areas with high pedestrian traffic and enforcing speed limits through traffic enforcement measures can reduce the severity of pedestrian accidents.
- Integrating technology: Integrating pedestrian detection systems, automatic braking systems, and other advanced driver assistance technologies in vehicles can help mitigate the risk of pedestrian collisions.
What are the legal considerations in pedestrian injury cases?
When a pedestrian injury occurs, the following legal considerations may arise:
- Liability: Determining liability in pedestrian injury cases often involves assessing the actions of both the driver and the pedestrian to determine fault and responsibility for the accident.
- Insurance coverage: Pedestrians injured in accidents may be entitled to compensation through the driver’s auto insurance policy, their own insurance coverage, or other sources of compensation, depending on the circumstances of the accident.
- Legal recourse: Pedestrians injured due to the negligence or wrongful actions of others may pursue legal recourse through personal injury claims to recover damages for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses.
We all have a responsibility to keep pedestrians safe
Pedestrian injuries are a serious public health concern; one we all need to take responsibility for, whether we are a policymaker, driver or pedestrian.
By understanding the common causes of pedestrian injuries, implementing preventive measures for pedestrian safety, and being aware of the legal considerations involved in pedestrian injury cases, we can work together to create safer environments for pedestrians and reduce the incidence of pedestrian accidents.
