In North Dakota, you may be able to receive compensation if you’ve been struck by a passenger vehicle or commercial truck as a pedestrian. Our talented attorneys here at Sand Law will be able to negotiate a high settlement offer on your behalf, taking the weight off of your shoulders. At the same time, you focus on relaxing and recovering from your injuries.
Statistics on Pedestrian Accidents in North Dakota
In 2017 there were 5,977 pedestrian fatalities because of traffic accidents in the United States. On top of that, 137,000 pedestrians had injuries treated in emergency rooms in the same year.
In the United States, there’s an average of 1.75 pedestrian accident fatalities per 100,000 people. In North Dakota, there are .92 pedestrian accident fatalities per 100,000 people. Pedestrian accidents can be deadly and are almost always the fault of a driver. If you’re a pedestrian, make sure you’re taking proper safety precautions when walking near traffic.
Common Pedestrian Accident Scenarios
Pedestrian safety is something you should absolutely learn about if you’re commonly walking alongside traffic. Learning about how to stay safe while walking can decrease your risk of an accident by a large percent. Pedestrian safety courses will teach you where you should walk and when you have the right of way.
Unfortunately, the party’s that walk around more—such as those in poverty who can’t afford a car—are more susceptible to these types of injuries. The more you’re on the street, the more likely it is that you’ll be involved in an accident.
Common Injuries Caused by Pedestrian Accidents
Because pedestrians don’t have any protection, their injuries are more likely to be severe when compared to accidents with two motor vehicles or even accidents with motorcyclists and bicyclists. When hit at high speed, pedestrians can experience a traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, shattered bones, and more.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injures (TBIs) occur when one’s head is struck or penetrated with a great force. Even if the victim is wearing a helmet, severe TBI can still occur. Traumatic brain injuries can be life-changing, requiring advanced treatment and care. Even with the best treatment, one’s life may still never go back to normal.
Neck and Back Injury
Neck and back injuries can range from minor to severe. A minor type of neck injury is whiplash, a very common injury associated with all types of motor vehicle accidents. Whiplash occurs when the neck snaps forward and back rapidly. Whiplash is generally a short-term injury but may have complications if left untreated.
Spinal cord injuries are also incredibly common with pedestrian accidents, as they don’t have any protection when a car hits them square on in the middle region of their body. Spinal cord injuries can result in paralysis, long-term physical therapy, and a complete change to one’s quality of life.
Internal or Soft Tissue Injuries
Internal injuries and soft tissue injuries can be hard to diagnose, as the post-accident adrenaline may mask the pain you’re experiencing. The longer you wait to have these injuries assessed, the worse they may get.
Internal injuries include internal bleeding and damage to the organs that can occur because of blunt force trauma.
Broken Bones and Fractures
Broken bones will often heal on their own after being set in a cast. However, more serious breaks (such as shattered bones or fractures) may require surgery before setting the bone in a cast for healing.
Severe breaks may also require the use of physical therapy to help in the healing process.
Lacerations
Lacerations often require stitches and may need to be monitored for any infection. A severe laceration could become infected and require the amputation of a limb. If you believe your laceration is becoming infected, speak to your doctor as soon as possible.
Wrongful Death
Unfortunately, in some circumstances, death may occur because of a pedestrian accident. In the case of wrongful death, a surviving family member may file a lawsuit on their behalf. The family member can claim damages that affected the deceased and damages that have affected them and the family as a whole.
Filing a Personal Injury Claim for Pedestrian Accident Injuries
If you’ve never been involved in a lawsuit before, the process can be daunting. However, a talented attorney will be able to help walk you through it, answering all your questions along the way. Your attorney will ensure that you feel safe and taken care of every step of the way.
Types of Damages in a Personal Injury Claim
There are three different types of damages that you can recover associated with a personal injury claim. You can recover economic damages, non-economic damages, and punitive damages. Economic damages cover monetary losses, like medical bills and lost wages. Non-economic damages cover non-monetary losses, like pain and suffering, loss of consortium, loss of earning capacity, and permanent disability or disfigurement.
Punitive damages are rare but may be handed out to further punish the defendant for their wrongdoings. They’re used to dissuade the defendant from committing the same act again in the future.
Seeking Compensation for Personal Injuries
To receive compensation for your injuries, you’ll want to hire an attorney to take on your case. An attorney will have experience negotiating with insurance companies and will be able to make sure you get the most compensation.
To receive the compensation you deserve, your attorney will conduct a thorough investigation of the accident and contact your doctors regarding your injuries. They’ll also represent your case and argue on your behalf if your case is to go to trial.
Hiring Sand Law as Your North Dakota Personal Injury Attorney
If you or someone you love has been injured in a pedestrian accident, please contact our team of talented attorneys here at Sand Law in North Dakota. We have years of experience working on pedestrian accident cases, and we’re ready to speak with you about yours.
For more information or a free case evaluation, please contact us online or by phone at 701-609-1510.