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Pedestrian accidents can be complex and require an experienced attorney
Most people don’t think of pedestrians sharing the road with vehicles. In fact, most pedestrian accidents occur because vehicles are not sharing the roadway with people on the street. The reason that these accidents are so complex is due to the differences between a person and a car. In most car accidents, vehicles come into contact with each other and are similar sizes and made out of the same materials. Cars can better handle the impact of colliding with another vehicle. With a pedestrian and a car, the pedestrian is at a severe disadvantage. Most injuries in pedestrian accidents result in serious injuries or death. We know how stressful this can be for you, which is why you need an experienced Mobile AL pedestrian accident lawyer.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that pedestrian accidents account for almost 5,000 deaths each year. There are also 75,0000 pedestrians injured in car accidents every year. So, a pedestrian injury happens every seven minutes, while another pedestrian is dying every two hours. The majority of these accidents are the fault of the vehicle. If you’ve been in a pedestrian accident, what should you do? We recommend hiring legal representation like Stevenson Klotz Injury Lawyers as soon as possible to handle your case.
Mobile is becoming busier every year.
As with most cities, Mobile, AL is growing all the time. There are more pedestrians walking down sidewalks and more vehicles on roadways. With this increase in traffic there is also more congestion on the road. Most people think that the most dangerous cities for pedestrians are larger areas like New York City. However, Alabama is ranked highly in the pedestrian danger index. We have a large number of pedestrian deaths annually. You need to protect yourself while you are on the road, and you need to protect your rights if you have been involved in an accident.
What are some of the pedestrian laws?
As a pedestrian, you have the right to make it safely to your destination through the legal use of sidewalks and crosswalks. It is your responsibility, as a pedestrian, to travel safely along the roadways. Cars must also travel safely down the road and must do everything within their power to avoid accidents.
One of the main laws in Alabama requires pedestrians to follow all of the rules of the road. Pedestrians must pay attention to traffic lights and crosswalk signs, and they will only have the right-of-way whenever these lights give them permission to cross. So, if you are driving a car and a pedestrian steps out in front of you without the proper signage, it is the car’s right of way. Reversely, if a car hits a pedestrian that has the right-of-way, then the liability is with the vehicle.
Pedestrians are not allowed to walk in the road if there is a sidewalk available. A pedestrian walking along the road is dangerous because they have low visibility and are easily missed by vehicles. Also, if pedestrians are under the influence of drugs or alcohol they should not walk down the road. If you’re not sober, there is no reason that you should be on a road in any circumstances. Pedestrians under the influence won’t have good judgment and could walk into oncoming traffic. These are some of the many laws that pedestrians must follow if they are going to travel safely on the road.
What are injuries that pedestrians sustain in accidents?
A person is never going to win in an accident with a vehicle. Flesh and bone will never stand up to the impact that the body feels in a car accident. Most of these accidents end in tragedy with the death of the person hit by the car. Even if you do survive the accident, you might need medical care for the rest of your life. You need compensation that is going to cover your injuries and medical care for the rest of your life. Receiving a settlement does not make up for your injuries, but it will help you on the road to recovery. A personal injury attorney can help you obtain a proper settlement for your damages.
Who is negligent in a pedestrian accident?
Every accident is different, but the party responsible for this accident is the party that is negligent. A pedestrian can legally be walking across the road and still be hit by a car. Depending on the condition of the road and weather, it can be difficult to control a vehicle. Sometimes, pedestrians are struck by cars because the driver can’t keep control of the vehicle, so the pedestrian doesn’t even know what’s coming.
In most of the cases that we have handled, cars are responsible for these pedestrian accidents. A lot of accidents occur because drivers are distracted while they are behind the wheel. So many people are on their phones while they are driving, and they don’t see a pedestrian on the road until it’s too late. Also, there are a lot of drivers that have accidents because they are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
However, there are cases where pedestrians are responsible. If a pedestrian is not legally crossing the street, they’re liable for their own accident. In Alabama, if the pedestrian is at fault, they are not entitled to any form of compensation. So, if a driver is trying to prove that you’re negligent, you will receive nothing. You need an attorney that knows how to handle and fight this contributory negligence. If you’re facing a long recovery you shouldn’t be worried about receiving a settlement. We can help you get the settlement you deserve, even if another party claims you were at fault.
Why should you hire a pedestrian accident lawyer?
Accidents are complicated, and even though you were a pedestrian, you need an experienced car accident attorney that is on your side. We have experience handling pedestrian accident claims and speaking to insurance companies. We know the best way to file a strong claim so that you will receive fair compensation. We want you to be able to recover without stress, and a settlement will facilitate the process. Contact us today to set up an appointment to discuss the details of your case. The sooner we begin your case the sooner you’ll be able to have a settlement.