Pedestrian Accidents
Being involved in an accident can be a traumatizing experience. When you’re involved as a pedestrian, however, the injuries you could suffer are more likely to be serious. You may require months or years of treatment to fully recover, and some people may be permanently injured for the rest of their lives. After being involved in an accident as a pedestrian, you might feel confused about your next steps. Many victims of these accidents may not even realize that they could be legally entitled to damages for their medical expenses, lost wages, and/or pain and suffering.
At Live Oak Injury Law Group, we are dedicated to serving you to resolve your personal injury claim with a maximum recovery at a reasonable cost. If you would like to know more, read this article and visit our website to schedule a free consultation.
What Injuries are Commonly Suffered by Pedestrians Involved in Accidents?
Because pedestrians are not protected by anything when they are involved in an accident, they are much more likely to suffer serious injuries. Compared to drivers who are protected by seatbelts, airbags, and a strong metal structure, pedestrians are incredibly vulnerable during these accidents. Below, we’ve listed some of the most common injuries that people have experienced after being involved in an accident as a pedestrian:
- Lost Limbs/Amputation: When an unprotected pedestrian is hit with the force of a moving vehicle, it can injure their limbs in a way that makes it impossible to fix/save the limb. If bones or tissue in the arms or legs are severely damaged in your accident, it’s possible that those injured limbs may have to be amputated. This lifelong injury results in other additional costs like prosthetics, physical therapy, occupational therapy, etc.
- Soft Tissue Injuries: Some injuries are not visible on the surface, including torn ligaments and/or tendons and internal bleeding. Other soft tissue injuries like ruptured organs can lead to serious, life-threatening health conditions like poor oxygen circulation and blood flow. It’s important if you have been involved in an accident that you seek medical attention so a doctor can treat any soft tissue injuries you might not know you suffered.
- Spinal Cord Injury: When a pedestrian sustains a spinal cord injury, this can cause loss of function in many body parts. This is due to damage in your neurological pathways. After this type of injury, you may have to spend extended periods of time in the hospital, and you may spend the rest of your life trying to manage catastrophic life changes caused by your paralysis.
- Head Injuries: It’s common that during an accident, pedestrians hit their head on a vehicle or the ground, resulting in serious head injuries. These injuries could be skull fractures, disfigurement, or traumatic brain injuries. If the damage is severe enough, the pedestrian might even fall into a coma. These injuries often require lifelong treatment in order to repair the damage. Many result in behavioral problems and cognitive disabilities.
How Do I Prove My Pedestrian Accident Injury Claim?
- A person’s obligation to take care of another is called Duty of Care. This means that you must prove that the other involved party had a legal obligation to you to act (or not act) in a way that would not cause harm to you or your property.
- A breach of duty is the type of negligence that occurs when a person or entity fails to take reasonable measures to preserve a standard of care. This means that the other party had a Duty of Care, and they breached this duty by failing to act in a way that preserved your safety.
- Causation is critical to linking the breach of duty to your injury and the negligent conduct of the other party. In California, a plaintiff must show that the negligent party caused or was a substantial factor in causing the injury.
- Finally, the amount of damages that can be claimed by an injured person depends on the nature of the accident and its effects on the victim. You must be able to prove that your damages were a result or consequence of the other party failing to act.
In terms of your accident, drivers on the road have a duty to operate and drive their vehicles safely. You must prove that the driver involved in the accident breached their duty to drive safely, that their actions were a substantial factor in causing the accident, and that the incident is what led to your injuries and losses
If You’ve Been Injured in a Pedestrian Accident, Speak With an Attorney Today.
At Live Oak Injury Law Group, we know how stressful it can be to sustain a personal injury. We are committed to getting you the maximum recovery you are entitled to under the law. If you have suffered an injury as the result of a pedestrian accident, don’t hesitate to schedule a consultation with a skilled personal injury attorney from Live Oak Injury Law Group.
