Pedestrian/Vehicle Accidents in St. Louis

St. Louis Pedestrian Accident Attorney

Walking is one of the easiest ways to get to know your community, stay healthy, and enjoy the benefits of outdoor time. Unfortunately, pedestrians are often victims of crashes caused by inattentive drivers. Accidents often leave pedestrians with severe or fatal injuries and little recourse for seeking compensation from the liable driver. By reaching out to a personal injury trial attorney in St. Louis after an accident, victims can seek compensation and limit the financial devastation of an accident. To discuss your pedestrian-vehicle accident with our team of St. Louis attorneys, call Finney Injury Law at 314-293-4222.

Pedestrian Accident Statistics

As one of the largest urban centers of the Midwest, St. Louis is a common setting for pedestrian-vehicle collisions. While the city’s walkability has led to developments that make roads safer for pedestrians, unsafe driving habits and distractions increase risks for pedestrians.

Common Injuries Caused by Pedestrian Accidents

While drivers typically walk away from pedestrian-vehicle accidents with little more than a dented or scratched vehicle, pedestrians are likely to sustain severe or fatal injuries. Injuries that often occur during a pedestrian collision include:

• Whiplash from being thrown by the car
• Traumatic brain injuries, ranging from mild concussions to permanent brain damage that limits mobility, consciousness, and independence
• Bone fractures
• Abrasions and subsequent infections
• Nerve damage that can permanently limit the use of extremities
• Spinal cord injuries that can impact the function of multiple parts of the body

These accidents occur for a variety of reasons. Drivers may fail to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk, ignore or miss stop signs and stoplights, be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, be distracted, or drive recklessly.

What Should I Do if I Am Hit by a Car and Injured?

The steps you should take immediately after being hit by a car are listed below. Perhaps the most important thing you can do – other than seeking medical attention – is hire a highly qualified St. Louis pedestrian accident attorney from Finney Injury Law. We will aggressively negotiate on your behalf. If the insurer does not want to pay a settlement covering all your damages, we are always prepared to go to court and argue your case before a jury.

We will handle every aspect of your case, allowing you the time you need and deserve to heal from your injuries. If you cannot return to work temporarily, or for a longer period, we will ensure you receive lost wages damages. If you are constantly in pain or have suffered emotional trauma as a result of the accident, we will seek pain and suffering damages on your behalf.

What if the Driver of the Car Leaves the Scene of the Accident?

A driver who hits a pedestrian has a legal obligation to stay at the scene of the accident until the police and EMTs arrive. If that driver leaves the scene of the accident, he or she has committed a criminal offense. If you are severely injured, you may not be able to take note of the driver and his or her vehicle. If you are able, look carefully at the driver and the type of vehicle. If you are in a position to see the license plate, do your best to memorize it. All of these things will help police find the person who hit you and hold him or her responsible for your injuries. If you were hit by a vehicle, you may not be able to locate your phone, but if you can, snap photos of the car and the driver whenever possible.

Most drivers who leave the scene of an accident do so either because they are driving while impaired, do not have insurance, or are wanted for another criminal offense. If the driver who hit you and left the scene is not found, your attorney can advise you on filing a claim against your own insurance company or whether there may be another course of action you should take.

Why Are Pedestrian Accidents Increasing?

Between August 19^th and August 26^th, six pedestrians were struck and killed in St. Louis, St. Louis County, and St. Charles County. These trends are extremely troubling. St. Louis County had 28 deaths and 225 pedestrian accidents with injuries in 2023. Pedestrian crashes in the city and county were overwhelmingly working-class people attempting to cross a busy road to get to the bus through subpar sidewalks and crosswalks. Many people are calling for a city environment that caters to humans, not just cars. Drivers must be educated on pedestrian rights, and walkways should be protected from speeding drivers.

How Long Could a Pedestrian Accident Case Take?

If your pedestrian accident has clear liability and your injuries are not particularly complicated, the case could settle relatively quickly – between six months and 12 months. If you suffered much more complex injuries, and it is not yet clear how long your treatment will last and when – or if – you will be able to return to work, then it could take longer (from 12 to 16 months). There are many factors associated with the length of a case.

If the driver has a totally different version of the accident and there are no cameras to capture the accident on video, then experts may need to be brought in by your attorney. An accident reconstructionist can determine how the accident occurred in many cases. An investigator may need to fully investigate the circumstances and gather any evidence, including the “black box” from the car that hit you, which records speed and whether the driver attempted to stop. In most cases, the driver of the vehicle is responsible for pedestrian collisions, although there are some exceptions.

What Type of Damages Can I Expect?

In virtually every personal injury case, the victim who was hit by a negligent driver is entitled to medical expenses. These expenses include current and future medical expenses. A personal injury lawsuit covers ambulance costs, doctor visit expenses, surgical costs, hospital costs, prescription drug costs, and expenses related to rehabilitative therapies.

You are entitled to lost wages if the injuries are severe enough to prevent you from returning to work. If your injuries will keep you from returning to work for months, years, or longer, you are entitled to future lost wages – what you would have earned had you not been injured. Lost wages, lost future wages, and medical expenses are known as economic damages.

This means there is a specific financial amount attached. Pain and suffering expenses are non-economic damages because they are much more subjective and, thus, more difficult to calculate. Pain and suffering expenses include actual physical pain, as well as emotional pain and trauma, such as PTSD, depression, and anxiety.   

What Happens if the Pedestrian Caused the Car Accident?

Although it is not impossible for a pedestrian to cause an accident, it is rare. Drivers are charged with being particularly vigilant in city areas where pedestrians are common—even if the pedestrian is not in a designated crosswalk. If a pedestrian was hit while crossing a street without a crosswalk, there would still be the question of whether the driver was exceeding the speed limit or was distracted, perhaps looking at his or her phone.

There are video cameras on virtually every commercial building in most cities these days, so if the pedestrian collision occurred on a city street, there is a good chance there will be video footage to determine liability. If the pedestrian is found partially liable for the accident, he or she may still be able to collect damages, minus the determined percentage of fault. So, if the pedestrian is awarded $200,000 but is found to be 20 percent at fault for the accident, he or she would receive $160,000.

Where Do Pedestrian Accidents Commonly Occur in St. Louis?

Grand Boulevard has consistently taken the top spot as the most dangerous corridor for those walking in the city of St. Louis every year since 2020. There were 21 crashes involving a pedestrian walking on Grand Blvd. in 2021 and 28 in 2023, making it the deadliest on record for pedestrians walking in the city.

Hiring the Right Pedestrian Accident Attorney Near Me

Ensuring you hire the right St. Louis pedestrian accident attorney is extremely important. The attorney you hire directly affects whether you will be fully compensated for your damages. You want an attorney with extensive experience helping people in a similar situation. Pedestrian accidents often cause severe injuries to the pedestrian, as he or she has no protection at all.

A bicyclist is also vulnerable but may have a helmet to protect against brain injuries. Most pedestrians do not wear helmets, so they are vulnerable to brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations, and other catastrophic injuries that can change a life forever. An attorney from Finney Injury Law who is ready and willing to fight aggressively for your future can significantly affect the outcome of your pedestrian injury claim.

What to Do After a Pedestrian-Vehicle Accident

When you are struck by a car, you may be unsure about what to do next. The situation becomes even more complicated if the driver flees the scene, tries to avoid blame, or becomes confrontational. Follow these steps to ensure that you are safe and that you have the evidence you need to pursue a personal injury case.

• Call 911. You need police officers to investigate the scene and write up a report. You also need medical assistance. Wait until emergency help arrives to do anything else, particularly if you already know you are injured.
• Get as much information as you can. Get contact and insurance information from the driver. You should also take note of their car’s make and model, license plate, and other identifying traits. This is especially important if the vehicle flees the scene after the accident, since anything you can tell the officer may help them find the driver. Also, if possible, take photos with your phone or any other available camera to ensure the accident is well-documented.
• Swap contact information with witnesses. When a pedestrian is hit by a car, other drivers and pedestrians often stop to offer assistance. Get their contact information. Their testimony could be helpful to your personal injury claim.
• Get medical treatment. You may think going to the emergency room is over-the-top and unnecessarily expensive, but you must seek medical care after an accident. Injuries may not become obvious until days after a crash, at which point it is harder to prove that the accident caused the injuries. Additionally, some injuries can become fatal if not immediately treated. Even if you are not in serious pain, get checked out right away.
• Jot down everything you remember from the accident. Write down everything you remember about the accident, your conversation with the driver and witnesses, your conversation with the police officer, and your injuries. Keep these notes with your copy of the police report and injury documentation.
• Reach out to a St. Louis pedestrian-vehicle accident lawyer. Before you communicate with the other party’s insurance adjuster, get in touch with a personal injury trial attorney in St. Louis. Insurance companies will do anything they can to blame an accident on a victim, so you should not speak to them without the assistance of an attorney. Set up a free consultation with an attorney to discuss your options. 

Pedestrian Accident Claims

Personal injury claims involving pedestrian injuries are typically more complicated than claims for accidents involving two motorists. Damages can be far more extensive since pedestrians have absolutely no protection against the force of a vehicle. Costs associated with treatment, physical therapy, and lost wages are often extremely high. Because of this, insurance companies may fight tooth and nail to deny a fair settlement.

They may claim that you crossed the street illegally, walked into traffic, darted onto the road in front of the vehicle, or otherwise caused the accident. This could decrease your settlement or eliminate your settlement entirely. You need an attorney who is well-versed in pedestrian accidents, the significant harm they cause, and what it takes to make an insurance company step up and take responsibility for their client’s actions.  

Find Out How Finney Injury Law Can Help You

At Finney Injury Law, we know how an accident can completely change your life, impact your family, and leave you with an extraordinary financial burden. We believe that you should not be left to deal with the consequences of someone else’s negligent actions. We are ready to fight on your behalf for a settlement from the insurance company or a favorable outcome in court. To discuss your case in greater detail, contact us now to schedule your free consultation. Call us at 314-293-4222 or fill out our contact form to have someone reach out to you.