According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA), nearly 5,000 pedestrians die in motor vehicle-related accidents each year. Another 78,000 suffer injuries in such incidents, and because pedestrians are so vulnerable, those injuries are often severe or life-threatening. Children and the elderly are the most common victims of pedestrian-motor vehicle accidents.

Accidents between pedestrians and motor vehicles may be the result of negligence by either the vehicle driver or the pedestrian. Pedestrians who fail to use designated crosswalks or who dart into traffic put themselves at risk. Drivers who speed, fail to exercise proper care in adverse weather conditions, fail to yield the right of away, or fail to observe posted traffic signs and signals pose a significant danger to pedestrians. Inattentive drivers and those under the influence of alcohol or drugs are also a major threat.

In addition to accidents involving motor vehicles, thousands of non-vehicular pedestrian accidents occur each year, often due to hazards such as poor property maintenance, sidewalk or parking lot defects, and/or construction or other debris on walkways. In such cases, property owners may be liable for injuries sustained by the pedestrian.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident as a pedestrian, contact our office immediately. Failure to take prompt action could jeopardize a potential claim.

Call toll-free 1-866-778-5500 today for your free legal consultation.