Pedestrian Injuries

Research from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reported that in 2021 alone, there were a total of 7,388 pedestrian fatalities nationwide. This marked a 13 percent increase in pedestrian crashes from the previous year in 2020. In fact, pedestrian accidents represented 17 percent of all auto-related collisions that resulted in death. It is easy to see why pedestrians fare worse than drivers. Without the protections of a vehicle, pedestrians are almost always seriously injured or killed when they are struck by motor vehicles. Some insurance companies will try to blame the pedestrian – especially when the pedestrian has passed away and is not available to defend themselves against false accusations. It is important to work with an attorney who can hire expert crash reconstruction teams to prove these excuses false and fight for the compensation that you deserve. 

Some of the common issues that arise in pedestrian accidents are as follows:

• The victim is no longer alive to tell their side of the story. This means the at-fault driver who killed the victim may be the only person around who knows what really happened.

• Pedestrians may not have insurance. The law doesn’t require you to carry uninsured motorist coverage or car insurance to walk around town. So, many pedestrians are people who don’t even own a vehicle. This means there may be less insurance coverage available, and if the at-fault driver isn’t insured, there may be no compensation available at all!

• It is easy to blame a pedestrian. Bad drivers always like to say that the pedestrian wasn’t in a crosswalk, or they disregarded a light, or they didn’t have a right-of-way. Sometimes, drivers will tell police that the pedestrian just “jumped out in front of them.” It’s much easier to blame a walking person than someone who has a vehicle. Vehicles tell a story of their own, due to the nature of impact and damage to the vehicle.
• Finally, unlike vehicles that may have 2, 3, or even more passengers who can tell what happened, pedestrians are usually alone when they are struck. It tends to happen more at night, when they are alone, and frequently when walking on a shoulder. Therefore, many pedestrian accidents result in a hit-and-run situation.

So, what can you do if you or a loved one have been hurt as a pedestrian? Well, first call Crossroad Legal at (618) 515-5555 and speak to an attorney free of charge to figure out what your options are. Time is limited for getting the right kind of medical care and filing a proper claim. Next, make sure you seek medical treatment immediately. The longer you wait to get care, the harder it is to prove your injuries are related to the collision. Finally, do not speak to anyone about your injuries. You can obviously tell the police what happened, if you remember, but it is best to simply ask for an ambulance, tell police that you.