Pedestrian Accident Attorneys in Philadelphia

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little kid crossing street in pedestrian crosswalk Accidents involving a motor vehicle and a pedestrian often result in serious injury to the person traveling by foot or bicycle. In fact, every day 13 pedestrians die in accidents across the United States-including a large number of children and elderly. In addition, negligent drivers injure an additional 76,000 pedestrians every year.

A significant number of accidents involving motor vehicles and pedestrians occur when the drivers of passenger vehicles fail to yield right-of-way to pedestrians. Our pedestrian accident lawyers at Golomb Legal aggressively pursue drivers whose negligent actions result in severe injury or death to innocent pedestrians.

What Are the Causes of Pedestrian Accidents?

Drivers are not always aware of pedestrians and cyclists on the road. They may fail to notice a child riding his bike or a jogger on the side of the road. This is due in large part to a form of driver inattentiveness and negligence.

Specifically, common factors in pedestrian accidents include:

Distracted driving
Texting and driving
Cellphone use and driving
Drunk driving
Reckless driving
Speeding
Driving into the sun
Poor weather conditions and visibility

Pedestrian Accident Injuries

Because pedestrians and bicyclists lack the protection of a motor vehicle, even a collision with a car or truck traveling at a low rate of speed can result in catastrophic injuries. Pedestrians who are not killed in the collision usually suffer severe and devastating injuries that can cause permanent damage. These victims will likely spend years recovering from their accident-and some will never reach a full recovery.

The injuries suffered by pedestrians in accidents involving motor vehicles are rarely limited to minor cuts and abrasions. Injuries commonly experienced by pedestrians in these types of accidents include:

Broken or fractured bones
Death
Disfigurement and scarring
Injuries necessitating amputation
Spinal cord injuries
Traumatic brain injuries

How Does Pedestrian Right-of-Way Work?

When investigating an auto-pedestrian accident, the question of right-of-way will come up at one point or another. The driver or their auto insurance provider might try to argue that you didn’t have the right-of-way and must accept full liability for the accident. Although, you might have heard that “pedestrians always have the right-of-way.” How true is either argument, though?

Contrary to what most people have heard, pedestrians do not always have the right of way. Like motorists, they must abide by the rules of the road and take care not to cause an accident. If a pedestrian violates the rules of the road and a pedestrian accident happens, then liability could be placed on them.

In Pennsylvania, four important right-of-way rules for pedestrians are:

1. Vehicles must yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian in a crosswalk or intersection if there are no traffic signals that dictate when the crosswalk is open to the pedestrian.

2. Pedestrians must not enter the road suddenly, especially when a vehicle is approaching.

3. Pedestrians must yield to any approaching vehicles when entering the road without a crosswalk.

4. Vehicles must make a reasonable effort to yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian who enters the road, even if that pedestrian does not have the right-of-way.

What Pedestrian Accident Damages Can I Recover?

An auto-pedestrian accident is different from a car accident in many ways, especially in the harm that it can cause. Typically, when a pedestrian is hit by a vehicle, the result is a life-changing injury that happens in the blink of an eye. Without a vehicle’s protective chassis around them, a pedestrian is highly vulnerable to catastrophic injuries. In turn, the damages owed to the injured pedestrian can be significant, too.

Damages available in pedestrian accident claims will often include:

Past and future medical bills
Lost wages and future income
Permanent disability complications
Pain, suffering, and trauma

Seeing a Doctor After the Accident

There are many steps that you should take after being in a pedestrian accident, depending on the details of it. However, no matter what you do or how you feel, you should go to the doctor as soon as possible. What might feel like a dull ache or soreness now could be the first signs of a serious underlying injury. Only a doctor can diagnose it, though, so don’t assume that you’re fine until a medical professional says you are.

By seeing a doctor after the accident, you will also help build the validity of the claim that you file later. It will be difficult for the defendant to challenge the severity of your injuries if a medical practitioner has verified them already.

How Golomb Legal Can Help

Due to the severity of the injuries sustained in pedestrian accidents, an experienced and skilled pedestrian accident lawyer is often needed to protect the victim’s rights and ensure that he or she receives the maximum compensation. Medical expenses and long-term care costs will be exorbitant and victims will likely need to be awarded damages to cover medical costs both now-and in the future. Repeat surgeries, long-term care assistance, disability equipment, lost wages, lost future earnings, and life-long treatment will all need to be considered before reaching a settlement with an insurance company.

Our Philadelphia pedestrian accident attorneys understand the complexities surrounding pedestrian accidents. As such, we fight aggressively for all our clients and to ensure that they have the money they need to recover. We believe in holding negligent and irresponsible drivers responsible for their actions and have represented injured accident victims and their families in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and across the United States.

Request a Free Consult Today

If you have been injured or someone you love has been killed in a pedestrian accident, you need an experienced personal injury law firm on your side. At Golomb Legal, our pedestrian accident attorneys will file the necessary claims, negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf, and fight aggressively to ensure that you receive all the compensation to which you are entitled.

Don't wait to get help! Contact us today get started. Call (215) 278-4449 to schedule a free consultation.