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Pedestrian Accidents Lawyers
What Are Pedestrian Accidents?
Every year, more than 78,000 pedestrians are injured when they are hit by cars or trucks. In addition to pedestrian-vehicle accidents, thousands of non-vehicle pedestrian accidents also occur annually. These are most often caused by poor property maintanence, sidewalk or parking lot defects, or debris on walkways. Whether a person was hit by a car or tripped on a sidewalk, a pedestrian can recover damages for his injuries if someone else's negligence or intentional acts caused the accident.
Pedestrian - Vehicle Accidents
Both the driver and pedestrian have legal duties that can effect recovery for injuries caused by a vehicle accident. A driver owes a duty of reasonable care to all pedestrians around him. Common factors in determining driver negligence include:
- speeding
- disobeying traffic signals
- driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- being pre-occupied or inattentive
A pedestrian also must also exercise reasonable care with regard to his or her own safety. Common factors in determining pedestrian negligence include:
- ignoring "walk" signals
- failing to use marked crosswalks
- "darting" in front of vehicles
Non - Vehicle Pedestrian Accidents
In most states, those in control of property have a duty to keep the property in reasonably safe condition and warn people of hazards on it. This is also known as premises liability. To recover, the injured party must show there was a dangerous condition on the property and the owner or operator had knowledge of the condition. A dangerous condition is one which poses an unreasonable risk of harm and the risk is not an obvious one.
Should I Consult An Attorney If I Was Involved In A Pedestrian Accident?
If you have been involved in a pedestrian accident it is important to contact a personal injury attorney who can help preserve your case. There may be important steps that you need to take and information you need to know. For example, just because you may have been partially at fault doesn't mean you can't recover. If you have been accused of causing injury to a pedestrian, an attorney can help prepare your defense and minimize your liability.
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