Common Injuries Caused by Pedestrian Accidents

Injuries caused by pedestrian accidents can be severe and life-threatening, causing long-lasting consequences like disability. Unfortunately, while pedestrians can heed safety tips, dangerous and negligent motor vehicle drivers may still strike.

It’s been well established that Florida is one of the most dangerous places in the entire country to be a pedestrian. In 2019, 700 people died by simply taking a walk – the highest total in the previous 10 years. According to Smart Growth America, an organization that created what it calls the Pedestrian Danger Index (PDI), Florida’s index is 201.4 – the next closest state, Alabama, has a 174.6 rating. The PDI is a compilation of a number of different factors that determine how dangerous it is to walk in the US.

The attorneys with the Jones Law Group will be standing by to help if you’ve suffered a severe injury in a pedestrian accident – even though you were obeying all laws and walking in the safest manner possible. Our attorneys have helped clients win millions of dollars in compensation, and we’re ready to work to do the same for you. Schedule an appointment by contacting us online or calling (727) 571-1333.

Here are some of the more common severe injuries caused by pedestrian accidents.

Soft Tissue Injuries

Soft tissue injuries come in many different forms. They can range from mild muscle pulls to torn tendons, ligaments, and more.

Spinal Cord Injuries

There are some instances where a person can recover fully from a spinal cord injury. However, there are others where an injury victim can face long-term paralysis. In the case of a pedestrian accident, the unfortunate fact is that most spinal cord injuries fall into the latter category.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

As horrible as spinal cord damage can be, it can be argued that someone with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is just as bad. When a car hits a pedestrian, it’s very likely the victim’s head will hit the pavement with extreme force. This causes the brain to move inside the skull – often violently. This can lead to ruptured blood vessels, torn tissues, and irreparable nerve damage.

Broken Bones and Fractures

A pedestrian accident can also result in broken bones. If the impact of the vehicle is forceful enough, bones could splinter or completely shatter, piercing internal organs in the process. When significant internal bleeding occurs, as a result, the victim could die if they don’t immediately receive medical treatment.

Crushing Injuries

Pedestrians will often be pinned between the vehicle that hits them and some other object. It could be the wall of a building, a tree, a telephone pole, or something else. Their limbs can be crushed so badly. As a result, they have to be amputated.

One severe complication of a crush injury is known as compartment syndrome or crush injury syndrome. This is where bodily fluids accumulate in the affected area. They can accumulate to the point where blood can’t reach nearby organs. Crush injury syndrome can result in organ failure, which will often be fatal.

The Lasting Side Effects of Catastrophic Injuries

It’s not hard to see how all of the injuries listed above – as well as many other types of terrible injuries – can have a lasting impact on a victim. A severe TBI, for example, can leave a victim unable to do the things the vast majority of people take for granted. These include dressing or bathing themselves, feeding themselves, or communicating. If someone is completely paralyzed, they will need care 24 hours a day.

Causes of Pedestrian Accidents

There are a lot of reasons pedestrian accidents occur, including the following:

• Distracted driving – When a motorist is focused on their phone instead of the road, they could easily slam into an unsuspecting pedestrian who is following the rules and crossing in the crosswalk.
• Impaired driver – A driver who is drunk or under the influence of a drug can’t properly focus on their surroundings. They could hit someone without having any idea they were there in the first place.
• Recklessness – Even though everybody has a bad day once in a while, some of them take their frustration to an extreme. They couldn’t care less about anyone else on the road, whether that’s another car, a motorcyclist, or even a pedestrian.

Where do Pedestrian Accidents Occur?

Just about anywhere someone walks in Florida, they’re at significant risk of being struck by a car. The usual suspects are obviously crosswalks, parking lots, and sidewalks.

It seems about the only place this risk doesn’t exist in Florida is on a beach. But if you’re walking on Daytona or New Smyrna Beach, Amelia Island, or on a beach in St. Johns County, you still need to be careful. These are the only beaches in Florida that allow driving.

Recovering Damages for Injuries Caused by Pedestrian Accidents

Damages are the monetary losses one experiences after an accident because of another’s negligence. These include money lost due to an inability to work, medical expenses, pain and suffering, and many others.

In order to recover those damages, victims will often file personal injury lawsuits against those who were responsible for their injuries. But their only chance of obtaining the compensation they deserve will be to hire an attorney. A detailed investigation into the accident must be performed, and an experienced legal representative is qualified to do just that.

Talk to an Experienced Pedestrian Accident Attorney Today

At the Jones Law Group, we have the knowledge, skill, experience, and resources it takes to gather the evidence it takes to help our clients win their cases – and achieve full recovery of their damages in the process.

If you would like to learn more about how we may be able to help you obtain maximum compensation, please get in touch with us as soon as you can for a free consultation. You can use our online contact form, or you can give us a call at (727) 571-1333. We look forward to helping you get every dime you have coming.