Auto accidents involving pedestrians frequently result in serious, life-threatening injuries. In fact, you can be seriously injured or even disabled if you are hit by a car traveling at just 10 miles per hour. The faster the car is going, the greater the chances of critical or even fatal injuries. Our Springfield car accident lawyers want to remind both drivers and pedestrians to be cautious of each other throughout the warm spring months ahead.
Here are a few statistics related to collisions between pedestrians and automobiles, courtesy of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS):
• In 2012, 4,743 pedestrians were killed and approximately 76,000 were injured in traffic crashes nationwide.
• On average, a pedestrian is killed in a traffic crash every 120 minutes and injured in a traffic crash every 8 minutes.
• Fatal collisions involving pedestrians are most likely to occur between 6:00 p.m. and midnight on Fridays or Saturdays.
• Alcohol is often a major contributing factor in pedestrian accidents. In 2012, 36% of pedestrians age 16 and older who suffered fatal injuries had BACs at or above 0.08%.
I've been involved in a pedestrian accident: What should I do?
If you have been hit by a car, truck, or motorcycle, do not move until you are sure you are not seriously injured. Often, the shock and adrenaline that follow an accident make it difficult for victims to realize how badly they're hurt. You will need to be assessed by a professional emergency medical technician, which means that you may need to wait as calmly as possible for help. If you can move and you are still in danger due to oncoming traffic, move to the side of the road and make sure someone has called 911.
If you have a cell phone, and you're physically able, take pictures of the scene and your injuries. Also, when possible, make notes of the road, weather, and traffic conditions. We recommend that you contact a personal injury attorney as soon as is reasonably possible, so that witnesses and evidence can be located quickly.