It seems innocent enough: You are looking for some exercise or an economical way to get to work, so you decide to go by foot. At Nield Law Group, APC, we have seen too many cases in which a pedestrian is seriously injured – or worse – as a result of a car crash. It is important for victims or the deceased’s survivors to know their rights following an incident.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 76,000 people were injured in a pedestrian knockdown in 2012, and nearly more than 4,700 were killed. In California, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration notes that more than 560 people were killed as a result of such an event.
The CDC points out that certain people seem to be more at risk than others, including the following:
- Children, as more than 20 percent of children killed in traffic accidents in 2012 were pedestrians
- Elderly, as people 65 or older comprised 20 percent of pedestrian deaths in 2012
- Those impaired by alcohol, as it played a factor in either the driver or pedestrian in nearly half of fatal accidents that resulted in a pedestrian accident.
The agency recommends that pedestrians carry a flashlight at night or wear reflective clothing to increase their visibility.
Even after taking the right precautions, accidents can still happen. For example, the NHTSA reports that in nearly 10 percent of fatal pedestrian accidents, the driver of the vehicle registered a blood alcohol content above zero. Our team at Nield Law Group has worked with clients in order to hold negligent drivers accountable for the financial and emotional damages that occur.
For more information, please visit our page on your rights following a pedestrian accident.
