What are Common Injuries in a Pedestrian Accident?
August 31, 2020 | Accidents,Personal Injury
The last thing anybody expects is that they will be injured in a pedestrian accident when they are in or around the roadway. Unfortunately, pedestrian accidents are not uncommon in Washington, and particularly in the urban areas of the state. According to data from the Washington Department of Transportation, we can see that there was a total of 2,277 pedestrian crashes across the state during the latest reporting year. Out of these incidents, there were 102 fatalities and more than 2,000 injuries.
Pedestrian accident injuries are often severe
Pedestrians do not have much protection from the force of vehicles slamming into them. This often results in the pedestrian sustaining extensive trauma when a crash involving a passenger vehicle occurs. At Washington Injury Law, our Seattle pedestrian accident lawyers have extensive experience helping clients who have sustained a variety of injuries in these incidents. This includes the following:
- Severe spinal cord trauma with possible paralysis
- Other severe neck or back injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Concussions
- Crush injuries
- Amputations
- Internal organ damage
- Internal bleeding
- Road rash or severe lacerations
- Broken or dislocated bones
However, not all pedestrian accident injuries are visible, and our attorneys often help clients have sustained significant emotional and psychological trauma due to these incidents. Our clients often feel extensive fear and anxiety in the aftermath of a crash, and pedestrian accident victims regularly suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Who is most at risk of sustaining pedestrian accident injuries?
There are various groups of people who face a higher risk of sustaining injuries in a pedestrian accident. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), older adults and children face more risks in and around the roadway than others. The CDC says that those aged 65 and over accounted for 20% of all pedestrian deaths and 10% of all pedestrian injuries during a recent reporting year. The agency also says that one out of every five children under the age of 15 killed in traffic crashes were pedestrians.
Additionally, the CDC states that alcohol-impaired drivers and pedestrians present significant problems in and around the roadway. Their data shows that nearly half of all crashes that result in a pedestrian fatality involve alcohol for the driver and/or the pedestrian.
Other risk factors for severe pedestrian accident injuries involve vehicles operating at higher speeds, as this is likely to increase the risk of a pedestrian being struck while also increasing the severity of the injuries the pedestrian sustains.
Can pedestrians recover compensation for their injuries?
In general, pedestrians are able to recover compensation in the event they are struck by a negligent or careless driver. These crashes will usually be resolved through settlements with insurance carriers. An injured pedestrian may be entitled to various types of compensation in these cases, including:
- Full coverage of medical expenses related to the crash
- General household out-of-pocket expenses the victim incurs
- Lost wages if the pedestrian victim cannot work
- Pain and suffering damages
- Loss of personal enjoyment damages
It is important that pedestrian accident victims or their family members work with an attorney as soon as possible after a crash occurs. A Seattle personal injury lawyer will have the resources necessary to conduct a full investigation into the case to determine liability and obtain maximum compensation.