As a pedestrian, you can do everything right when it comes to walking like waiting for the walk signal before taking your first steps across an intersection. However, a negligent driver can still hit you with their vehicle. When it comes to pedestrian injuries and fatalities the truth is actually much sadder: the Louisiana Department of Transportation recorded 114 pedestrians killed and 1,392 injured in 2019. Even at a slow speed, a vehicle can cause injuries severe enough to require hospitalization. A speeding driver can alter your life forever. When you suffer from injuries in a pedestrian accident, seeking legal guidance can help you navigate this tragic situation moving forward. At the Morris Bart law firm, we have one simple rule: You do not have to bear the monetary consequences of an accident that was not your fault. Call us right now at (318) 553-5470 for a free case review.
Causes of Pedestrian Accidents
With traffic lights and pedestrian crossings, you may be wondering how pedestrians sustain injuries while walking. A few causes of pedestrian car accidents include:
- Distraction: Sometimes, drivers are not as attentive as they should be. They can be distracted by a text, phone call, or radio knobs, all of which may yield results that can harm pedestrians.
- Chain reaction: When motorists get into a collision with one another, the series of rear-end accidents that can occur can injure pedestrians severely or even cause them to lose their lives.
- Design defects: Design flaws and crosswalks situated in the wrong area can yield painful results, especially for pedestrians. A typical problem with crosswalks is failing to consider upstream and downstream traffic flows.
- Ignoring road regulations: Severe accidents can occur when motorists and cyclists fail to yield to pedestrians at crosswalks. By driving recklessly or speeding, a driver can run a red light and hurt a bystander in the process.
- Intersections: The standard rule of looking both ways before turning at an intersection exists for a reason. A careless driver not looking first and making a right turn with a red light in front of them is likely to hit pedestrians.
- Speed limits: Failure to follow speed limits can be catastrophic to any bystander. Speed limits help to prevent a delayed reaction should there be any sudden changes in the road and traffic.
- Driving under the influence: Motorists who get behind the wheel while intoxicated or under the influence of illegal or prescribed drugs can kill or severely injure bystanders. In most cases, the harm occurs even before the police pulls the vehicle off the road and performs alcohol breath testing via a blood alcohol concentration test.
For a free legal consultation with a Pedestrian Accident lawyer serving Shreveport, call 800-537-8185
Types of Injuries Following Pedestrian Accidents
Due to the obvious size to weight difference, a pedestrian accident can cause significant injuries—the larger the vehicle, the greater the speed, the higher the force of impact. The following are common injuries sustained in pedestrian accidents.
- Head injuries: This type of injury may include concussions and severe traumatic brain injuries. The ensuing effects of head injuries can include decreased cognitive abilities, slurred speech, severe headaches, sensitivity to light and noise, and post-traumatic seizures.
- Lacerations: Due to the impact, victims may suffer deep cuts and bruises, as well as significant damage to major organs. The effects of lacerations and contusions may include severe bleeding, pain, swelling, scarring, fractured bones, and nausea.
- Spinal cord injuries: This type of injury may result in permanent loss of motor function, strength, and sensation below the site of the injury. Due to the injuries, the victim may also experience loss of bladder and bowel control and changes in sexual function, sensitivity, and fertility.
- Orthopedic injuries: This type of injury may include broken bones and severe damage to other areas of the musculoskeletal system.
Shreveport Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Near Me 800-537-8185
Hiring Morris Bart, LLC to Represent You in Your Personal Injury Case
Following the accident, you may find it beneficial to hire a Shreveport pedestrian accident lawyer from the Morris Bart law firm. You can do this by calling (318) 553-5470 for a free case review with a member of our team. As a personal injury law firm with over 30 years of experience, we suspect that you may be overwhelmed at the thought of taking legal action while nursing your wounds. We can take care of all your legal needs, so you have time to take care of yourself.
Our Actionable Steps
Once hired, hopefully, right after the accident, we will move quickly to investigate the accident and find the at-fault party. Once we have undeniable proof of their negligence, we will file a personal injury lawsuit against them and a claim against their insurance company to recover damages. Should multiple people be responsible for your actions, we will hold them liable, too. The liable parties may include:
- The maintenance company: If the maintenance crew in-charge of ensuring that the vehicle is in top-performing condition misses a problem due to negligence, we can hold them liable if their actions directly or indirectly caused your injuries.
- The manufacturer of the vehicle: If defective vehicle equipment caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle, we will file a product liability case against them.
- The driver: In most cases, the driver is the liable party in the pedestrian accident. Their actions, which may include negligent driving, driving under the influence, and distracted driving could be the reason for your injuries.
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Let a Shreveport Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Work For You
You should not have to pay for your medical expenses since you did not cause your injuries. If you hire a Shreveport pedestrian accident lawyer from the Morris Bart law firm, they will work hard to recover damages for your injuries. This recovery may include lost income, emotional distress, and rehabilitative care, and more if you qualify. Please remember that under Louisiana Statutes § CC 3492, you only have one year to file a lawsuit for personal injury, so call us today for a free case review at (318) 553-5470.
Questions?Call 800-537-8185
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
