Lucas County Pedestrian Accident Attorney

While it is true that most traffic accidents involve collisions between two or more vehicles, a surprising number of car crashes actually involve only one car. Unfortunately, these types of accidents can be just as dangerous, if not more so, than collisions between two cars when pedestrians are involved. This is largely due to the fact that pedestrians remain largely unprotected from impact and so are much more likely to sustain painful, serious, and even permanently debilitating or deadly injuries. In fact, pedestrians are one and a half times more likely than vehicle passengers to lose their lives in a collision.

Because the injuries sustained by pedestrians tend to be so severe, it is critical for injured parties to seek compensation from the at-fault motorists who caused their accident, as this will enable them to receive the best medical care possible and to focus on healing without the stress of paying off mounting medical bills and household expenses. If you were injured in an accident with a vehicle and were not at fault, please contact a member of our Lucas County pedestrian accident legal team today for advice.

How Often do Pedestrian Accidents Occur?

Accidents involving both vehicles and pedestrians occur at a surprisingly high rate, not only in Ohio but across the country. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that in a single year, as many as 5,376 pedestrians will lose their lives in collisions with vehicles, while an additional 129,000 will be treated for non-fatal injuries. Ohio is not immune from this type of accident, as the Ohio State Patrol reported that in 2016, 140 pedestrians lost their lives in collisions with vehicles.

Who is at Risk?

All pedestrians are at risk of being involved in an accident with a vehicle. However, certain individuals are more at risk of sustaining injuries, including:

• Pedestrians who are over the age of 65 years old, as these individuals account for nearly 20% of all pedestrian fatalities and 13% of pedestrian injuries;
• Children, as approximately one out of every five minors under the age of 15 years old who passed away in traffic accidents in 2015 were pedestrians; and
• Drivers and pedestrians whose judgment has been impaired by alcohol, as an estimated 48% of accidents resulting in pedestrian deaths involved alcohol consumption by either the driver or the pedestrian.

Finally, drivers who engage in certain types of behavior are also more likely to be involved in a collision with a pedestrian. For instance, speeding tends to increase both the likelihood of a pedestrian being struck by a vehicle and the seriousness of the injury sustained. It is also important to keep in mind that most pedestrian fatalities occur in urban areas at night, although surprisingly, not in intersection locations.

Call Our Lucas County Pedestrian Accident Attorneys Today for a Free Consultation

Pedestrians who are injured in accidents with motorists can recover damages to compensate them for medical bills, lost wages, pain, and suffering, and loss of future income. To learn more about filing a claim against the at-fault party who caused your accident please contact Lafferty, Gallagher & Scott, LLC at 419-241-5500 today.