Alarming Rates of Pedestrian Vehicle Accident
Pedestrian vehicle accidents are occuring at an alarming rate, a phenomenon that’s been made increasingly clear as COVID-19 restrictions have waned.
According to the National Public Radio, this increase in pedestrian fatalities started in 2010, but it wasn’t until 2021 when it reached the highest it’s been since 1981. A lot of it has to do with poor urban planning. While the average individual cannot do anything to change that, they have reasons to at least look for ways to curb the likelihood of being part of the statistic.
Pedestrians at night, in particular, need to be wary of careening cars and reckless drivers. In fact, the Governors Highway Safety Association reports that most pedestrian fatalities occur at night. Not only that, the figures surrounding pedestrian deaths have also increased by 41% as of 2020, rising from 3,510 in 2014 to 4,951.
This aligns with the data that the National Security Council has produced. As a matter of fact, they found that three out of four pedestrian fatalities in 2021 happen in the evening. Synthesizing this with the GHSA report, it demonstrates that pedestrian vehicle accidents are not showing any signs of slowing down any time soon.
With inadequate government intervention to improve traffic conditions for pedestrians, the pedestrians are left to their own devices to protect themselves from catastrophic injuries (ie: Traumatic Brain Injury and Spinal Cord Injury) and wrongful death.
For their own sake, pedestrians need to learn what to do when they get in an accident so it is in your best interest to pay attention to what you are about to read below. After all, everyone has been a pedestrian at a certain point, and will continue being so in the future.
Without further ado, here are five important things you must do if you find yourself in a pedestrian vehicle accident.
1. First thing you need to do after a pedestrian vehicle accident is seek medical attention
First and foremost, pedestrians need to seek medical attention after an accident.
Pedestrians are extremely vulnerable to catastrophic injuries, and even though it may seem like “nothing is wrong,” they need to take into account the adrenaline rush that they’re feeling may skew their judgment a little bit.
It’s not uncommon for traumatic brain injury victims, for example, to feel symptoms days, weeks, even months after the accident. They may find themselves feeling a little dizzy or irritable to those around them. Err on the side of caution and make sure to see a medical professional.
2. Take pictures of the pedestrian vehicle accident
If by some miracle, a pedestrian is “fine” and able to retain some mobility and functionality, they need to make sure that they are taking pictures of the pedestrian vehicle accident as they wait for the emergency medical response team to wheel them to a nearby hospital.
In particular, they should be flashing multiple photos of the environment around them, as well as the vehicle that hit them. While the law usually sides in the favor of the pedestrians during such accidents, having photo documentation of the scene of the accident gives pedestrians extra leverage against the reckless driver should they decide to pursue legal action (and they should).
3. Exchange personal information with the reckless driver who caused the pedestrian vehicle accident.
Reckless drivers are prone to drive off when their bad driving habits spawn negative consequences on the road. But on the off chance that they do the right thing and hold themselves accountable for their own actions, pedestrians need to urge them to share their personal information with them.
They need to specifically take a picture of their driver’s license and their insurance card (if any). This will help them go far when they contact a personal injury lawyer to seek compensation and justice.
4. File a police report
While the pedestrian is still at the scene of the accident, filing a police report will do wonders in their pedestrian accident case.
For one, having an authority figure verify their claims in an objective manner could help them get the settlement they deserve. Take advantage of this opportunity to explain, in a detailed way, how this accident has affected them physically and mentally.
The same principle applies when they relay their aches and pains to a medical provider, who is also considered a neutral party in this situation.
5. Call A Personal Injury Lawyer
Lastly, pedestrians will need to seek legal counsel in order to get the compensation and justice that they deserve. Being a victim of a pedestrian vehicle accident may require multiple trips to the doctor. Depending on the severity of their injury, they may need to go frequently.
This will, without a doubt, leave a dent in their pocket and may even drive them in a deep financial hole. Having a pedestrian accident attorney can easily help them with recouping the money that they rightfully deserve.
Do keep in mind, however, that some pedestrian accident attorneys are better than others. Pedestrians need to do their due diligence and shop around for an attorney wisely.
Call Omega Law Group
As mentioned above, pedestrian accidents are occuring at an increasingly alarming rate. And while the injuries and deaths that may have spawned as a result of this issue are all too-often irreversible, obtaining justice may still be possible with the right pedestrian accident attorney.
But you need to hire the best. You need Omega Law Group.
The attorneys at Omega are highly-skilled, and are revered by their peers as well as multiple industry-vetted organizations. As a matter of fact, they have garnered accolades from SuperLawyers.com. Their tenacity, shrewd negotiation skills, on top of their emotional intelligence are important components to their personalized client service.
This led to the firm accruing millions of dollars in settlement, as well as features from the Los Angeles Times and Los Angeles Business Journal. Just recently, they were deemed as one of the “Most Admired Firms” by the latter publication. In addition, Omega Law Group has recently joined the ranks of other “Best Law Firms” as per US News.
Their steady rise to prominence intimidates people from trying to acquire legal service. But true to their mission to provide equitable and quality services to anyone, they operate on a contingency-fee basis to make it affordable for everyone regardless of their personal and financial circumstances.
Schedule a free legal consultation now to learn more!