Walking is, undoubtedly, beneficial to the health and well-being of ourselves and our planet, but sadly, pedestrians often find themselves in a vulnerable position when they take to the streets.
Unlike individuals in a motor vehicle, pedestrians can’t rely on a vehicle’s safety features to protect themselves in case of an accident, and these days, pedestrian accidents occur far too often.
According to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a pedestrian is killed by a motor vehicle every 66 minutes. In Los Angeles, such accidents have made the city one of the deadliest for pedestrians in the entire country. That is not surprising, considering pedestrian accidents usually occur in urban centers with large concentrations of pedestrians and high motor vehicle traffic volume.
With that in mind, experts from Brand Law Group, a leading pedestrian accident law firm in Glendale, California, have outlined six pedestrian accident scenarios that are the leading cause of injury and death.
1. Backup Accidents
A backup accident occurs when a pedestrian is struck by a motor vehicle backing out from a driveway, parking spot, or other location. While backup cameras are a standard feature on all new vehicles, many California drivers are still operating vehicles without them.
2. Turning Accidents
For pedestrians crossing a busy street, turning vehicles can create a dangerous situation. It doesn’t matter which direction the car is turning. If the driver is too focused on other vehicles or switching lanes, they may not spot a pedestrian in the street.
3. Multi-Threat Accidents
Sometimes, pedestrians face multiple threats in situations where more than one driver needs to stop for them to cross. Often, this type of accident will occur when a driver stops for someone crossing the street but blocks the view of a car in an adjacent lane so they cannot see that pedestrian. A pedestrian injury lawyer often refers to this as a “multiple threat scenario,” which can have devastating consequences.
4. Distracted Driving Accidents
Motor vehicle operators are responsible for always remaining focused on the road. It takes mere seconds, whether it’s reading a text, taking a bite of their food, or fixing their hair, to put a pedestrian in jeopardy.
5. School Bus-Related Accidents
Sadly, most pedestrian accidents involving children occur as they are getting on or off school buses. For example, the failure of a driver to stop for a school bus, as required by law, can result in a child getting hit as they cross a street.
6. Trapped Pedestrian Accidents
If you’ve ever heard a pedestrian accident lawyer refer to a “trapped pedestrian” accident, they are referring to a specific situation in which a pedestrian enters the crosswalk while the “Walk” signal is present but changes to a “Don’t Walk” signal before they’ve crossed. As the traffic light changes, a driver might move through the intersection without realizing a pedestrian has been “trapped.”
How An LA Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Can Help
If you or someone you love has been injured in a pedestrian accident, regardless of how it occurred, contact a pedestrian lawyer from the Brand Law Group. Our team of highly skilled litigators has what it takes to handle your case from the claims process all the way to trial. Contact us today for a consultation.