Pedestrian Accidents

Traffic accidents occur frequently in and around the metropolitan and suburban areas of Kansas City. For occupants of motor vehicles, these accidents can be serious. For pedestrians, they can be even worse. Unlike drivers, pedestrians have no protection against injury. There are no airbags and seatbelts that can help when a negligent driver doesn’t stop in time.

Kansas City Pedestrian Accident Attorneys Providing Personalized Attention for Injury Victims in Kansas City

Similar to motorcyclists, pedestrians generally bear the brunt of any traffic mishap. They may experience broken bones, loss of limb, internal damage, and brain and spinal cord injury, among others. Unfortunately, senior citizens and children make up a large percentage of the pedestrian population. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 20 percent of all pedestrian deaths are among those who are 65 and older. Even when accidents are not fatal, relatively minor injuries can have a much larger effect on the elderly. When this demographic is involved in a collision, the damage can be grave. If you or someone you know was involved in a pedestrian accident caused by a negligent driver, reach out to Presley & Presley, LLC for legal help. Serious injuries demand serious compensation from the at-fault party or parties and without strong advocacy, you may be shortchanged by insurance companies. An insurance adjuster may seem friendly, but their main agenda is to pay you as little as possible to protect their profits. Don’t talk to them on your own—call in an experienced team for help.

Pedestrian Accident Statistics and Information

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported over 6,500 pedestrian fatalities in 2018. Nearly 150,000 pedestrians required emergency room treatment for non-fatal injuries that same year. Worse, pedestrian accidents have become more dangerous as SUVs, crossovers, and other large cars become more common. Per the CDC, pedestrians are 1.5 times more likely to die in a traffic crash than the drivers or passengers of motor vehicles involved. Close to half of pedestrian accidents are alcohol-related. Kansas City saw 360 pedestrian accidents in 2018, leading to 22 pedestrian deaths. This is a heartbreaking number of lives changed and lost. Our team is dedicated to fighting for those who find themselves in this position.

What Causes Pedestrian Accidents?

Like any type of accident, simple negligence accounts for a large number of vehicle-pedestrian collisions. Common causes of these accidents include:

Driver intoxication
Driver distraction, from texting or otherwise using a cell phone, eating, drinking, grooming, programming a GPS, and more
Unmarked crosswalks (the location of a large percentage of pedestrian accidents)
Jaywalking
Left-hand turns by drivers who fail to see pedestrians
Driver inattention
Aggressive or reckless driving
Speeding
Poor visibility, such as in bad weather or areas with insufficient lighting

These accidents occur most often in urban settings, at non-intersection crossings, and at night. Pedestrians may also be in danger at crosswalks and traffic lights, in parking lots and driveways where drivers back up to make an exit, and on the shoulders of roads and highways.

Safety Tips for Pedestrians

Almost everyone becomes a pedestrian at one time or another. Understanding your responsibilities and acting defensively can help you avoid being injured by a negligent driver. Pedestrians should at all times maintain awareness of their surroundings, cross streets only in designated areas and on designated signals, and avoid walking with earbuds or while texting. At night, pedestrians should increase their visibility by wearing reflective clothing or carrying a flashlight. When walking on the shoulder of a road or highway, they should walk facing traffic as opposed to away from it. Though there is often nothing a pedestrian can do when a reckless driver is involved, following best practices may make you less likely to be involved in an accident.

Talk to a Kansas City Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

In the aftermath of a pedestrian accident, your main focus should be your recovery. The details of an injury claim can be confusing and overwhelming—which is the last thing you need. Insurance companies often take advantage of ailing accident victims by pressuring them to accept too-low settlements. Don’t let that happen to you. Our legal team has decades of experience preparing cases and advocating for injury victims in both negotiations and trials. We are here to help you seek maximum compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages.

Learn what your claim is worth and start planning your legal strategy by contacting our team at 816.931.4611.