Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents and Legal Solutions

Pedestrian accidents are increasing at an alarming rate.

Thousands of people who are walking along streets and sidewalks are hit by drivers each year. These collisions can cause life-changing injuries and disabilities…and too often…death.

Let’s face it…

Knowing what causes these accidents can help you better protect yourself, your family members, and your friends. Plus, if a loved one is ever involved in a crash, understanding your legal options will help you throughout the recovery process.

What you’ll learn:

1. Pedestrian Accidents Are At An All-Time High
2. Top Reasons Pedestrians Are Hit By Vehicles
3. Legal Solutions For Pedestrian Accident Victims
4. How To Protect Your Legal Rights After A Crash

Pedestrian Accidents Are At An All-Time High

Pedestrian fatalities have reached an epidemic proportion nationwide.

Drivers hit and killed 7,148 pedestrians in 2024 according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. That’s a scary 20% increase over 2016 pedestrian fatalities.

Stop and let that sink in…

That means that every year in the United States, there are enough pedestrian fatalities to fill over 30 Boeing 737 airplanes at full capacity. Killed.

And that’s just here in the United States.

Between 2009 and 2023, pedestrian fatalities increased by 80%. That’s compared to an increase of just 13% for all other traffic-related deaths. Pedestrians are dying in America at a rate much faster than any other category.

When pedestrians are killed or injured in preventable accidents, it’s important to hold the negligent party responsible. Hiring a Charlotte Pedestrian Accident Lawyer can help accident victims receive full and fair compensation for their injuries after a crash.

Top Reasons Pedestrians Are Hit By Vehicles

Drivers shouldn’t be hitting pedestrians. So what’s causing these accidents to occur?

Distracted Driving

Distracted driving is responsible for a lot of car accidents. Texting and driving, scrolling through social media, putting on mascara…drivers are easily distracted these days.

Did you know:

Texting takes your eyes off the road for about 5 seconds. At 55 mph, you’ve traveled the length of a football field while looking at your phone.

If you can’t see a pedestrian, you will definitely hit that pedestrian.

Driving Under the Influence

Drunk drivers aren’t paying attention to the road, their reaction times are slowed, and they make bad decisions behind the wheel.

Drunk drivers have:

• Impaired judgment
• Slower reflexes
• Reduced coordination
• Decreased vision

When drivers are impaired by alcohol or drugs, they won’t be able to stop in time to avoid hitting a pedestrian that suddenly appears in their path.

Speeding

Drivers who speed simply don’t care.

Not only do speeding drivers have less time to react to pedestrians, but their vehicles also require more distance to come to a complete stop.

Also, when a pedestrian is struck by a motor vehicle going 40 miles per hour, they are significantly more likely to suffer fatal injuries than if they were hit at 20 miles per hour.

Bad Weather Conditions/Poor Infrastructure

While some pedestrian accidents are caused by distracted or negligent drivers, others are caused by bad weather or poorly designed roads.

According to GHSA data, 64.8% of pedestrian deaths in 2023 happened in areas with NO sidewalk. That means pedestrians are forced to walk along streets with no access to safety at all.

Nighttime

Walking at night is dangerous. Not only do pedestrians reduce their visibility by wearing dark clothes at night, but drivers also find it hard to see them as well.

Three out of four pedestrian deaths happen at nighttime.

Hit-and-Run Drivers

Pedestrians struck by hit-and-run drivers are more likely to die from their injuries than those who are tended to immediately.

In fact, every four seconds, someone is hit by a driver that won’t stop after the accident.

Legal Solutions For Pedestrian Accident Victims

If you or a loved one was injured by a driver while you were walking, there are options.

Pedestrian accidents are typically caused by someone else’s negligence. When that negligence causes injuries, victims have legal solutions that they can pursue to help them during the recovery process.

Personal Injury Lawsuit

A personal injury lawsuit is a civil action taken when one person is injured by the negligence of another person.

When drivers fail to use reasonable care when behind the wheel of their vehicle and pedestrians are hurt, those pedestrians can file a personal injury lawsuit against the driver.

This lawsuit allows victims to seek financial compensation for:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering
• Lost quality of life
• Rehabilitation costs
• Disability related expenses

A personal injury lawyer will evaluate the evidence surrounding your accident and let you know what types of compensation you may be eligible to recover.

Wrongful Death Claim

In the case that a pedestrian is killed due to someone’s negligence, that person’s surviving family members can file a wrongful death claim.

Just as with personal injury claims, wrongful death claims allow family members to seek financial compensation from the negligent party. Recoverable damages may include:

• Medical bills
• Funeral expenses
• Loss of companionship
• Lost wages the deceased would’ve provided
• Pain and suffering

A wrongful death lawyer can help surviving family members receive the compensation they deserve.

Third Party Liability

In some cases, a third party may be held responsible for causing a pedestrian accident.

Some examples of third party liability include:

• The manufacturer of the vehicle (if a defective part caused the collision)
• State or local government (if the road was poorly designed)
• Employer (if the driver was working when they hit the pedestrian)
• Local bars and restaurants (if they overserved the driver prior to the accident)

Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

If you’ve been injured by a driver or someone you love has been killed, hire a pedestrian accident lawyer.

Personal injury lawyers will listen to the details surrounding your case and provide you with options for your next steps. Let a lawyer help you determine liability and seek financial compensation after a crash.

How To Protect Your Legal Rights After A Crash

Any steps you take after being hit by a car can affect your legal case should you decide to pursue one.

Some ways to protect your legal rights after an accident include:

• Going to the hospital to be checked out (even if you feel fine)
• Documenting the scene with photos & videos
• Collecting contact information from witnesses
• Filing a police report
• Not speaking with insurance companies without consulting an attorney
• Contacting a pedestrian accident lawyer immediately

Insurance companies want to save money by paying you as little as possible. Don’t let this happen. Let a lawyer fight for you.

Wrapping It All Up

Pedestrian accidents are a scary problem that is only becoming more prevalent every year.

While knowing the common causes behind these crashes can help you prevent them, knowing your legal options after an accident can help you if prevention fails.

At the end of the day, people are still getting hit by cars due to distracted drivers, bad weather conditions, and unsafe roadways. If you or someone you love are victims of a preventable accident, you deserve financial compensation.