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 the compensation they’re owed 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 walkability of the city 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 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, their license plate, and anything 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 you have to make sure 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 that going to the emergency room is over-the-top and unnecessarily expensive, but you absolutely 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 injuries were caused by the accident. 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 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.