California Pedestrian Accidents
Medical experts agree that walking is good for your mental and physical health, but not if you are injured in a pedestrian accident. Pedestrians are completely unprotected and extremely vulnerable to serious injury when hit by a 3,000 lb passenger vehicle.
When the front of a vehicle hits an adult pedestrian, several different impacts occur, as reported at PubMed Central. When the vehicle front bumper hits the lower region of the victim’s legs, the legs move in the direction the vehicle is traveling, while the upper body and head hit the hood or windshield. If the vehicle is traveling fast enough, the victim is often thrown off the vehicle, hitting the pavement, suffering a secondary impact.
Pedestrian injuries are a growing concern for the healthcare industry in the U.S. and worldwide. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 4,735 pedestrians died and 66,000 were injured in traffic crashes in a recent year nationwide. In California, 701 pedestrians were killed, accounting for 23.4% of the state’s 3,000 traffic fatalities.
Several factors determine the severity of injuries in a pedestrian accident, including vehicle speed, angle of impact, center of gravity of the victim, vehicle design, the part of body that first comes into contact with the vehicle, and the part of the vehicle that makes initial contact with the body.
Many different types of injuries can result from pedestrian accidents. Common injuries include:
“According to the estimates, one pedestrian is injured every 8 minutes and one is killed every 113 minutes in the U.S.”
If you have been hurt in a pedestrian accident in the San Francisco Bay area because of someone else’s negligence, contact The Law Offices of Edward C. Casey Jr. as soon as possible. You may be entitled to file a claim for compensation for the damages you have suffered, including your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses. Our experienced California pedestrian accident attorneys are committed to helping injured California pedestrians pursue the compensation they deserve.