North Dakota Pedestrian Accident Attorneys
In North Dakota, if you are struck by a vehicle as a pedestrian you may be able to get compensation through the negligent driver’s insurance company using negotiations and a lawsuit. At Sand Law, we have the resources and expertise to help guide you through this often-complicated process and to help you get compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering that resulted from your injuries. Pedestrian accidents are often very serious due to their nature and the fact that the pedestrian is completely unprotected from motor vehicle.
If you were injured while you were a pedestrian, you may eligible to get compensation for you damages. To schedule a free, no obligation consultation with Sand Law contact us today. We will evaluate your claim and help you to understand your rights, options, and what steps to take next.
Pedestrian Accident Statistics
We are the most vulnerable when we walk near roadways. And unfortunately, the risks have increased as drivers have become more distracted than ever. In places without sidewalks, crosswalks, or safety measures in place, these accidents can be more common, leading to more injuries and more fatalities.
In 2017, more than 16% of all traffic deaths were pedestrian. That’s about 6,000 deaths total; this is about one death every 88 minutes, and that’s only counting fatalities. On top of that, there were an additional 137,000 pedestrians treated in emergency rooms for non-fatal crash related injuries in 2017.
According to the CDC, pedestrians are 1.5 times more likely than motor vehicle occupants to be killed in a car crash.
Furthermore, pedestrians that are 65 and older account for nearly 20% of all pedestrian deaths and 10% of all pedestrian injuries on average.
And despite the risk to our older population, the risk to children is even greater, with one in every five children that were killed in traffic crash were pedestrians.
Risk factors for pedestrian accidents include higher vehicle speed, urban areas, non-intersection crossings, and nighttime.
Types Of Pedestrian Accidents
There are many different types of pedestrian accidents but some are more common than other. Pedestrian accidents are categorized by how the pedestrian was hit, where the accident is located, and a few other factors.
Pedestrian accidents can be broken down into:
- dart-out accidents,
- intersection accidents,
- passing accidents,
- vehicle turn and merge accidents,
- and back-up accidents.
Dart-out accidents occur when a pedestrian runs out into the road and the driver doesn’t have enough time to react before hitting them.
Intersection accidents are accidents that take place in intersections, specifically at a crosswalk. These types of accidents can occur when a pedestrian miscalculates how long it will take to cross the street or doesn’t follow the road signals. They are also commonly caused by drivers who either do not see the pedestrian or miscalculate their distance to the pedestrian.
Passing accidents occur when a vehicle tries to pass another stopped vehicle and hits the pedestrian. This can happen when a bus is stopped, or when any other large, view-obstructing vehicle is stopped.
Vehicle turn and merge accidents occur when the driver is too focused on making a specific turn or merge, and doesn’t see a pedestrian. This is common when a car driver is waiting for the vehicle traffic to clear and fail to focus on the pedestrian crossing in front of them. This is most common with right hand turns.
Back-up accidents occur when a driver doesn’t look behind them before backing up, most commonly in parking lot or parking garage.
Causes Of Pedestrian Accidents
There are many different causes of pedestrian accidents, such as drunk driving, distracted driving, and speeding. If a driver is not paying attention, or has been drinking, they may not see the pedestrian in the roadway, leading to serious injuries or death for the pedestrian. This is especially true for intersection accidents and back-up accidents.
The responsibility falls on both the driver and the pedestrian to remain aware of their surroundings while walking or driving. Both parties can be negligent in these situations so it is up to all of us to make sure that we are aware of our surroundings when operating, or walking near, dangerous vehicles.
Common Pedestrian Accident Injuries
Pedestrian accidents can cause a variety of different injuries, depending on how the accident occurred and how the car struck the pedestrian. These injuries can vary from mild to severe to even fatal.
Most injuries occur at the point of impact, where the car strikes the pedestrian. However, many pedestrians also suffer some secondary injuries. For example, if the car were to throw them into another object, like another vehicle, building, or the pavement.
Pedestrian accidents can cause injuries like cuts, scrapes, bruises, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, neck and back injuries, torn ligaments, and fractures, breaks, or sprains to a variety of different parts of the body.
The most serious injuries are brain injuries and spinal cord injuries, as these can cause paralysis, impairment, or other serious, life-long issues.
Can I Receive Compensation For My Pedestrian Accident?
Whether or not you receive compensation for your accident greatly depends on who was at-fault for the accident. If you’re the pedestrian, it’s likely that you suffered much greeter injuries than the driver.
If the driver was at fault for the accident, then you are likely eligible to receive compensation for any medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and any other damages the incident caused.
Understanding the specifics of your pedestrian accident and any compensation you may be eligible for needs to be discussed with a personal injury attorney since factors vary greatly from situation to situation.
Contact A North Dakota Pedestrian Accident Attorney
If you’ve been injured in a pedestrian accident, please reach out to one of our experienced lawyers at Sand Law. We’re ready and willing to take on your case. Our attorneys are ready to help you get the compensation that you deserve for your pedestrian accident. For more information or a free case evaluation, please contact us at 701-394-3912 or contact us online.
Offices in Fargo, Watford City, Williston, Bismarck, and Minot