Every year, there are many pedestrians who are seriously wounded or killed when struck by a moving vehicle. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately 4,735 pedestrians were fatally injured in traffic accidents in 2013. Additionally in the same time period, about 150,000 pedestrians suffered injuries that required medical attention.
There are countless elements that could lead to a pedestrian accident. This could include the age range of the pedestrian, the time of day, the location, and more. If you sustained injuries as a pedestrian, you should know that there are state laws that protect your rights and interests. When your grievances were caused because of another’s negligence, you may be able to obtain financial compensation for your injuries.
A Closer Look at State and National Statistics
The 4,735 casualties that were reported in 2013 were the result of 4,653 collisions. Some of the collisions reported caused the fatality of more than one person. 14% of all traffic casualties for that year were pedestrian fatalities. Out of every state in the nation, California had the highest reported pedestrian casualties in that year, having 701 pedestrians killed.
Factors That Could Result In a Pedestrian Accident
There are a multitude of factors that could lead to a pedestrian accident. Data published by the NHTSA shows that about 73% of pedestrian accidents will take place in urban regions. 69% of pedestrian accidents occur in non-intersections. A majority of accidents that occur in cities occur in low-lit areas and about 72% of all accidents occur at night between the hours of 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Other significant factors that could play a role in pedestrian accidents are the age and gender of the pedestrian. Elderly pedestrians and young children are at a higher risk of suffering a pedestrian accident than individuals of other age groups. In 2013, about 21% of minors under the age of 14 years suffered fatal injuries; individuals over the age of 65 years totaled 19% of all pedestrian casualties; lastly, 10% resulted in bodily injuries. More than 66% of all fatally wounded pedestrians were male.
What to Do After Being Struck By a Vehicle
Although there are state laws that can protect you if you have been injured by a moving vehicle, there are important steps you can take to help protect your interests. Some of the most crucial steps you can take involve the following:
Seek Medical Attention
If you were struck by a vehicle, call 9-1-1 immediately after the accident. If you are unable to do so, have someone else call on your behalf. Even if you feel that your injuries did not demand emergency medical care, you should still obtain medical treatment as soon as possible. Failing to obtain medical treatment may not only affect your medical well-being, but it can also negatively affect your personal injury claim.
Obtain the Contact Information of the Responsible Party
Depending on your medical disposition following the accident, obtaining the contact information of the driver that struck you can be very difficult. If you are able to, however, obtain the responsible party’s name, phone number, vehicle identification number, license plate number, and auto insurance policy number.
Regrettably, there are situations where drivers will unlawfully leave the scene of the accident. In these situations, it is important to dial 9-1-1 and provide the police with a description of the suspected driver or vehicle.
Contact a Pedestrian Accident Attorney in Orange County
If you were involved in a pedestrian accident where you were seriously injured, you should consider seeking the support of a qualified personal injury attorney as soon as possible. A skilled attorney will assess you case and help you understand your legal options. A skilled attorney will also represent you when filing a claim with an insurance company. Insurance companies are notoriously known for undermining a victim’s injury claims; consult a proficient attorney who will fight for your rights as soon as possible.
The attorneys at R. Steven Peters – Injury & Accident Lawyers have many years of committed experience helping pedestrian accident victims obtain the compensation they deserve. Pedestrian accidents can result in long-lasting medical issues that could prevent a victim from continuing to work and can ultimately affect his or her quality of life. Following a pedestrian accident, the incident has the potential to affect the victim’s entire family. If you were injured in a pedestrian accident in California, consult the support of a proficient law firm as soon as possible.