Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrian accidents occur for a variety of reasons一sometimes at the fault of the pedestrian, sometimes at the fault of the driver, and sometimes both一but are almost always preventable had the responsible party followed roadway regulations. Pedestrian accidents routinely result in serious injury for victims, such as broken bones, head trauma, and even paralysis and death in severe cases. A few of the most common reasons pedestrian accidents occur include:
- Right and left turns: drivers turning left or right often forget to check for pedestrians before they proceed. Drivers often think because they have a green light they have the right of way to turn, but pedestrians may have the signal to walk at the same time.
- Jaywalking: Jaywalking occurs when pedestrians illegally cross a street where there is not a marked crosswalk, which is a danger to themselves and drivers on roadways. Drivers do not expect to have pedestrians cross in the middle of the road, and in certain cases cannot stop in time to prevent an accident.
- Distracted driving: Distracted driving is a major contributor to vehicular accidents of all kinds, and this trend is no different for pedestrian accidents. Drivers who are on their phones, eating or drinking, changing their music, or toggling with their navigation system are at a much higher risk of hitting a pedestrian.
Schuler, Weisser, Zoeller, Overbeck & Baxter P.A. are dedicated to fighting for victims of pedestrian accidents and ensuring they receive the full compensation they deserve. If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident, there may be help for you. For more information or to have any questions answered, please contact any of our qualified West Palm Beach pedestrian accident attorneys at 561.689.8180 today.
