No one wakes up expecting to be hit by a car. But sadly, pedestrian accidents are common. The painful aftermath of an Akron pedestrian accident can leave a victim shocked and seriously injured. They may also be facing a long road to recovery and uncertainty of what their future will hold.
No victim of pedestrian accidents should ever be left with the emotional, physical, and financial impact of someone else’s actions. If you or a loved one suffered injuries in an Ohio pedestrian accident, know that you have legal rights. When another person or entity’s negligence causes your injuries, you can seek compensation for your losses.
The personal injury lawyers at Slater & Zurz will make sure you receive the highest level of medical care during your road to recovery while advocating aggressively to secure maximum damages on your behalf. When the stakes are this high, experience matters. With over 100 years of collective experience, you can rest assured your case is in capable hands. To learn more about how we can help, we encourage you to contact our office today to arrange your FREE, no-obligation case review.
Pedestrian Accident Statistics
Accidents involving pedestrians are a much too common occurrence in Akron and elsewhere in Ohio. According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, approximately 150 pedestrians lose their lives each year in motor vehicle-related accidents within the state. Below are additional statistics regarding pedestrian accidents across the U.S. provided by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.
- Over 75,000 pedestrians are injured each year in the U.S.
- Of those injured victims, over 6,000 die as a result of their injuries.
- Surprisingly, 73% of pedestrian accidents do not occur in or around intersections.
- Nearly 50% of pedestrian accidents involve alcohol and drugs.
- Those over the age of 65 account for over 20% of all pedestrian-related accidents.
- One in five children under 15 who died in collisions were pedestrians.
- Nearly 70% of pedestrians killed in traffic accidents are male.
- More pedestrian fatalities, nearly 75%, occur at night.
- More pedestrian fatalities (80%) occur in urban areas than rural areas (20%.)
Damages That May Be Available to You
Whether you were out for your morning run or walking home from work, your life can change in an instant when struck by a motor vehicle. Due to a pedestrian’s lack of protection, these accidents generally inflict devastating, sometimes fatal, injuries on their victims. Due to the seriousness of their injuries, victims are left coping with the physical effects of the accident along with the emotional and financial consequences.
If you were involved in an accident, you have the right to seek financial compensation from those responsible. Recoverable damages may include:
- Medical bills (past and future)
- Rehabilitation costs
- Lost wages and earning capacity
- Assistive care
- Home and vehicle modifications relating to your disability
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment
- Loss of consortium
- Disability
- Disfigurement
- Wrongful death damages (if you lost a loved one in a pedestrian accident)
Our attorneys will work with our team of medical and financial experts to accurately assess your past and future damages, getting you the maximum compensation possible.
Common Ways a Driver’s Negligence Can Cause a Pedestrian Accident
Our legal team has handled pedestrian vs. motor vehicle accidents involving a wide variety of circumstances. Still, some of the more common causes of these accidents involve negligent actions, such as:
- Speeding – When a driver exceeds the posted speed limit, their ability to react is drastically reduced. The injuries and damage are typically much more severe when a pedestrian is struck by a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed.
- Disobeying traffic signals and signage – Pedestrian accidents are frequently caused when drivers fail to obey traffic signs and signals. Accidents can take place easily when a person is walking in a crosswalk, and a driver runs a red light or stop sign.
- Distracted driving – With the widespread use of cell phones, distracted driving has become one of the leading causes of injury accidents. Drivers can also become distracted when using a navigation system or stereo, eating while driving, or tending to children or animals in the car.
- Aggressive driving – According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, over 55% of all traffic accidents are caused by aggressive driving. Aggressive maneuvers include unsafe passing and lane changes, driving illegally on the sidewalk, bike lane, or shoulder, and failing to signal when making a turn.
- Dangerous weather or road conditions – These accidents can be caused by a driver’s disregard for hazardous conditions or by dangerous conditions resulting from improper design or maintenance of roadways and signage.
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs – Sadly, many pedestrian crashes are caused by impaired driving due to alcohol or drug use. When drivers are under the influence, their perception of their surroundings and ability to react are greatly impaired.
Proving Negligence in an Ohio Pedestrian Accident Case
Since pedestrian accidents generally involve motor vehicles, most pedestrians are left with severe debilitating physical injuries – and the need for a reputable pedestrian accident lawyer. To recover damages from the responsible party, you will need to prove that their negligent or reckless behavior caused your injuries. The core question to be answered is whether a reasonable motorist would have acted the same way. If the answer is no, you can likely recover damages. Four elements must be shown to prove negligence:
- Duty of care – The driver owed you a duty to exercise reasonable care to prevent harm or injury.
- Breach of duty – They failed to provide that duty by acting recklessly or intentionally.
- Causation – Their failure to exercise adequate and reasonable caution caused your injuries.
- Damages – You sustained damages as a result of your injuries.
Contact an Experienced Pedestrian Accident Attorney in Akron, Ohio
When it comes to safety, everyone, including drivers and pedestrians, has the duty to act responsibly and follow traffic and pedestrian laws. When people act carelessly and disregard the safety of others, they should be held liable for the injuries and losses they cause.
If you or someone you love sustained injuries as a pedestrian or driver, we strongly urge you to contact our Akron personal injury lawyer. The Slater & Zurz legal team has helped injured victims across the state of Ohio get the justice they so rightfully deserve. During this pivotal moment, know that we have the experience, resources, and diligence to secure the maximum compensation for your suffering.
To begin the pedestrian accident claim process, we encourage you to contact our firm today to set up your FREE, no-obligation consultation. Furthermore, we handle all pedestrian accident cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you will owe us nothing upfront, and we will only be paid when we successfully recover damages on your behalf. Call (330) 762-0700 or contact us online.