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Anyone who has been involved in a traffic accident understands the shock, confusion, and trauma that can result. In the case of a pedestrian, however, all of this is compounded by the fact that a pedestrian has virtually no protection at all when being struck by a vehicle. Pedestrians can be thrown, crushed, and have limbs mangled by the impact they endure in a traffic collision. Even at relatively low speeds, such as 40 miles per hour, a pedestrian has an 85 percent risk of death when struck by a car. Common injuries that pedestrians suffer in traffic accidents are head injuries, multiple fractures, organ damage, and internal bleeding.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 4,280 pedestrians died in traffic accidents in 2010 while those injured numbered 70,000. These statistics may be much higher due to the fact that many pedestrian injuries are not recorded by police. 72 percent of pedestrian deaths occur in urban areas. California is one of the top four states for pedestrian deaths in the nation, followed by Florida, Texas, and New York. Anyone who lives in Southern California understands how our state ranks in these tragedies due to the heavily populated cities and surrounding communities of Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, and Santa Barbara. Millions of the region's residents, from school children to the elderly walk to bus stops, parks, schools, shopping centers and more every day.
Many factors may play a part in a pedestrian accident but the chief underlying cause is generally attributed to driver negligence. Drivers who fail to pay attention, who speed, who fail to yield the right of way to pedestrians in crosswalks, who are distracted by cell phones or other devices, who disobey traffic signs and signals, make turns without looking, or who drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs can all be the cause of injuring or killing a pedestrian.
In the aftermath of a pedestrian accident, it is always in your best interests to seek professional legal help to determine all of the parties responsible for your injuries. With the help of an experienced personal injury attorney, you may be able to obtain full compensation for your injuries. At the Law Offices of Haleh Shekarchian, you can count on our firm's experience, legal abilities, and commitment to your case with no upfront fees to get started.