Common Pedestrian Accident Injuries
Nearly 5,000 people die each year in pedestrian versus vehicle collisions in the United States, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Many of these deaths could have been avoided with more caution and attention – on the part of both motorists and pedestrians. Car drivers often get distracted or drive negligently. Pedestrians sometimes assume drivers can see them. Each party may be partially to blame for an accident depending on the facts and circumstances of each individual case. However, what almost never changes in a pedestrian accident is that it is the pedestrian who is exposed to significant risk of serious personal injury or death.
When the driver of a vehicle is determined to have been negligent or reckless, injured pedestrians can seek compensation to cover their medical bills, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, pain and suffering as well as emotional distress.
Here are some of the most common injuries sustained by pedestrian accident victims:
Broken Bones
Broken bones or fractures are the most common personal injuries sustained by pedestrian accident victims. Such injuries cause significant pain and inconvenience. Serious fractures may require lengthy hospital stays or cause a victim to stay away from work for a significant period of time. Continuing medical expenses for physical therapy and rehabilitation can also escalate quickly. In rare cases, a victim may even lose his or her means of making a livelihood as a result of these injuries. An experienced Washington personal injury lawyer will take all these factors into consideration before filing a claim for compensation.
Head Injuries
The impact from a pedestrian collision may result in catastrophic head and brain injuries. When a head hits a car or the road a concussion is likely. When the impact is great enough, a victim of a pedestrian accident may experience serious brain trauma. Depending upon the severity of the crash and trauma to the brain, this kind of injury may become life-changing. Extensive treatment and rehabilitation may be necessary. Traumatic brain injuries could also leave an individual disabled for the rest of his or her life.
Spinal Cord Injuries
When the spinal cord is damaged, the victim’s ability to move may be affected. Serious spinal cord injuries result in lifelong disabilities. In severe cases victims may lose feeling or sensation in their limbs. Paralysis may also result.
Other Serious Injuries
In addition to these injuries, a pedestrian accident victim might suffer significant cuts and lacerations. Internal injuries such as a punctured lung or ruptured spleen are also possible as a result of pedestrian accidents.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a Washington pedestrian accident, please contact The Bernard Law Group to find out more information about your legal rights and options. We will help you recover just compensation for the injuries, damages and losses you have suffered as a result of someone else’s negligence – be it a negligent motorist or a city government that allowed a dangerous condition to exist on its roadway. Call us today to discuss your case.
IF YOU, OR A LOVED ONE, HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED AS A RESULT OF A WASHINGTON PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENT – CALL TODAY FOR A FREE CONSULTATION!
