Get in Touch with a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Today!
Every day, Virginia residents become injured in pedestrian accidents. An ordinary walk or jog can quickly turn into a tragic accident due to the negligence or recklessness of someone behind the wheel. If you have been the victim of a pedestrian accident, your life may have changed drastically in just a few seconds. For those pedestrians who are fortunate enough to survive getting hit by a car, they may face months of recuperation. Some may never fully recover. That might mean they can no longer work or obtain employment in their field. Others lose their ability to perform their normal daily activities.
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Lynchburg
Unfortunately, the majority of pedestrian accidents are completely preventable. If drivers would use reasonable care and pay attention to their surroundings, many pedestrian accidents could be prevented. Most pedestrian accidents are caused by driver negligence and recklessness. Some of the most common causes of pedestrian accidents include the following:
- Aggressive driving
- Backing up without checking for pedestrians
- Distracted driving
- Driving while under the influence
- Fatigued driving
- Failure to yield the right of way to a pedestrian
- Running a stop sign or a red light
- Speeding
- Intoxicated driving
Many pedestrian accidents happen during inclement weather or dark out, affecting drivers’ visibility. Additionally, many pedestrian accidents happen at crosswalks. As more drivers turn to electric vehicles, pedestrian accidents have increased because pedestrians do not hear silent electric vehicles coming. Children and young adults are those most frequently injured and pedestrian accidents. However, senior citizens are also more vulnerable to serious injuries, such as hip fractures.
Pedestrian Hit-and-Run Accidents
Many pedestrian accidents are considered hit-and-run accidents. The driver will collide with the Pedestrian and then quickly drive off and leave the scene. If the driver does not stop at the accident scene, the pedestrian may have a difficult time locating the driver. In Virginia, fleeing the scene of an accident in which someone appears to be injured is a felony crime.
The driver who commits the hit-and-run will face penalties and potential jail time, regardless of who was at fault for the accident. If you have been involved in a pedestrian hit and run accident, the attorneys at Straw Law Firm can help you try to track down the responsible party so you can obtain compensation. If it is not possible to track down the at-fault driver, an attorney can help you file a claim with your own insurance company for uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage.
What to Do After a Lynchburg Pedestrian Accident
Being involved in a pedestrian accident is a traumatic experience, and it can be difficult to know what steps to take after the accident occurs. If you are a pedestrian who has been injured, focus on your own needs and not the needs of the driver unless there is an indication that the driver has been seriously injured. Do not move or allow anyone to move you until the paramedics have checked you over. In many cases, you may not feel as much pain as your injuries have caused you due to the shock of the accident. Moving you could be dangerous, especially to your spinal cord.
Call 911 or ask a bystander to do so and request that a police officer and paramedics be sent to your accident site. If you were able to move, obtain the driver’s contact and insurance information and take photos of the accident scene. later you will be able to get a copy of the police report. If you see any witnesses, get their names and contact information. Do not discuss the accident with the witnesses.
You can also request a copy of the driver’s insurance company findings. If you cannot take pictures of the scene of the accident, you may want to ask someone else to take pictures of the accident in your injuries for you. The most important thing you should do is get medical attention. Make sure you follow up with your doctors and take all of your prescriptions. Doing so will help you establish that the accident caused your injuries and that your injuries are as severe as you are claiming them to be.
Injuries Commonly Caused in Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrians do not have the protection of a vehicle like drivers and passengers in motor vehicles. When it comes to pedestrian accidents involving motor vehicles, pedestrians are the most vulnerable. A vehicle with thousands of pounds can cause devastating injuries or even death when it collides with a pedestrian. In most cases, these types of injuries are serious and life-threatening. In many cases, pedestrians will experience injuries to the head, pelvis, and legs. Injuries to the spinal cord that cause paralysis are not uncommon in pedestrian accidents. Pedestrian accident injuries frequently include the following:
- Back and neck injury
- Broken bones
- Internal organ damage
- Spinal cord damage
- Sprained or strained muscles and ligaments
- Traumatic brain injury
- Loss of libs
Damages Available in Pedestrian Accidents
Victims of personal injury accidents, including pedestrian accidents, have a right to seek compensation from the person who caused their injuries. The compensation or damage is available in a Lynchburg pedestrian accident may include the following:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Lost future earnings
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Suppose the victim of pedestrian accidents succumbs to their injuries and passes away. In that case, the surviving family members have a right to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the at-fault driver.
Contact a Lynchburg Pedestrian Accident Attorney
Becoming injured after being hit by a vehicle as a pedestrian is traumatic. Generally, pedestrians involved in accidents face catastrophic injuries that require ongoing medical care. If you or your loved one have been seriously injured in a Lynchburg pedestrian accident, the attorneys at Straw Law Firm are here to help. We will hold the driver responsible for your injuries accountable by fighting for you to obtain the total amount of compensation you deserve. Contact Straw Law Firm today to schedule your free case evaluation.
