Common Injuries Sustained by Pedestrians in Accidents

Injured? Our Cleveland pedestrian accident lawyers will demand justice

Serious injuries and fatalities can occur when the driver of a car, truck, or motorcycle collides with a person. Our Cleveland pedestrian accident lawyers have seen the tragic consequences of these crashes first hand. Whether you were crossing the street, in a parking lot, walking on the sidewalk, or simply sitting in public, getting injured as a pedestrian can have serious, life-altering implications.

A car crashing into another car can result in damage and injuries, but when a vehicle strikes a pedestrian ─ someone who is exposed and doesn’t have the luxury of being enclosed inside a vehicle ─ the result is often catastrophic.

If you or a loved one were injured in a pedestrian accident, you need to take action and hold the responsible party accountable for their negligence. Our Cleveland pedestrian accident attorneys have years of experience winning cases for injured clients, and our legal team knows what it takes to bring you justice. Get the compensation you’re entitled to after your pedestrian accident. Contact us today for a free consultation.

What are the most common pedestrian accident injuries?

Some of the most common pedestrian accident injuries we see at Merriman Legal, LLC include:

• Soft tissue damage: This type of injury encompasses contusions, lacerations, strains, sprains, dislocations and tears. While it typically takes someone less time to recover from a soft tissue injury compared to other common pedestrian accident injuries, this kind of injury can result in severe pain, scars, and sometimes long-term problems.
• Broken bones and bone fractures: Pedestrians frequently fracture their hands, wrists, arms, shoulders, legs, and back in accidents. Serious bone breaks can also occur, including compound fractures where the broken bone punctures through the skin. These types of injuries are often extremely painful and can cause long-term problems. In some severe cases, amputation may be required.
• Traumatic brain injuries: Head and brain injuries, including TBIs and concussions, can be life-altering injuries that are common in accidents involving pedestrians. All it takes is a forceful blow to the head to inflict serious damage. Common symptoms of a TBI include loss of consciousness, headaches, vomiting, nausea, fatigue, drowsiness, difficulty speaking, sleep problems, dizziness, loss of coordination, sensitivity to light or sound, mood swings, depression, anxiety, problems concentrating, and clear fluid leaking from the ear.
• Spinal cord injury: While car accidents are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries in the U.S., thousands of spinal cord injuries occur in pedestrian accidents every year as well. An injury to the spine is serious and can result in paralysis or death. This type of injury is often life-altering and typically requires long-term care.

What are the causes of pedestrian accidents?

Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that thousands of pedestrians are injured or killed every year in the United States in serious or fatal pedestrian accidents.

Pedestrians are 1.5 times more likely to be killed in car accidents compared to the occupants of vehicles, and the most at-risk to be killed or injured in a pedestrian accident are people ages 65 and older, and children under the age of 15.

The majority of pedestrian accidents occur in urban areas and at night. Some of the most common types of pedestrian accidents include:

• Crosswalk collisions: Most pedestrians who are hit in crosswalks are struck by vehicles making left-hand turns, at night by drivers who didn’t see them, and by distracted drivers, such as those texting or talking on a phone. Pedestrians are encouraged to increase their nighttime visibility by carrying a flashlight and wearing retro-reflective clothing. When crossing a street, even in a crosswalk, don’t assume oncoming traffic will stop for you. Always make sure it’s safe to cross before stepping into the road.
• Parking lot accidents: Drivers pulling into or backing out of parking lots sometimes fail to make sure it’s clear and end up striking or backing over unsuspecting pedestrians. If you’re walking in a parking lot, the best advice is to stay alert, avoid using your phone, headphones and other electronic devices, and don’t walk between parked vehicles or empty parking spaces.
• Hit-and-run accidents: These types of accidents can have different circumstances, but hit-and-runs often involve pedestrians being struck by drunk drivers, distracted drivers, those who are texting while driving, and those who accidentally strike pedestrians on isolated roads and flee from the scene out of fear.

If you’ve been injured in a pedestrian accident, the experienced lawyers from our Cleveland law firm can explain your legal options and help you get the compensation you deserve. If you’ve lost a loved one due to a fatal pedestrian accident, our legal team also helps grieving families pursue wrongful death claims. Let us advocate for you and demand justice. Make my team your team. Contact us today for your free and confidential consultation.