If you were a pedestrian who sustained injuries in an accident that wasn’t your fault, contact the Liberty personal injury lawyers of House Packard McElderry, LLC immediately for legal representation. You might be entitled to compensation for your injury and resulting losses, such as medical bills, lost wages, and out-of-pocket expenses. You should not be responsible for your incurred costs if your actions didn’t contribute to your injuries.

Pedestrians can suffer debilitating and life-threatening injuries when they’re hit by motor vehicles. Some drivers ignore pedestrians walking through parking lots and crossing the street. Others break traffic laws and don’t yield the right of way when necessary. This increases a pedestrian’s risk of severe physical harm and death. The human body typically can’t withstand the sudden and violent forces it suffers in such situations.

Pedestrian accidents can result from various contributing factors but mostly happen when a driver makes an error at the wheel. They can occur in intersections, on sidewalks, and in parking lots. Whether someone jogs on the side of the road, crosses the street, or walks to their car, a vehicle could crash into them. The consequences of injuries inflicted on a pedestrian by a motor vehicle can be long-term and interfere with every aspect of a person’s life.

At House Packard McElderry, LLC, we understand how traumatic a pedestrian accident can be. You might face intense rehabilitation or physical therapy to recover from your injuries. Many people suffer complications and permanent physical or mental harm. If you can’t return to work, you won’t earn the money you need to pay for your expenses. It could lead to financial strain and result in crushing medical debt.

The Liberty pedestrian accident lawyers of House Packard McElderry, LLC know how to handle cases like yours. We can be your advocate and fight by your side for the justice you deserve. You can count on our legal team to aggressively pursue the maximum possible compensation so you can heal your injury and move forward with your life. We will not give up without a fight.

For a free consultation to learn more about your legal options after a pedestrian accident, call House Packard McElderry, LLC at (816) 381-9105 today.

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You can reach out to our top-rated Liberty pedestrian accident lawyers 24/7 to request a free consultation. Request a free consultation

Common Types of Pedestrian Accidents

Multiple types of pedestrian accidents can happen, including:

Crosswalk Accidents

Many collisions between vehicles and pedestrians occur at intersections. When drivers don’t yield the right of way, they can hit someone already in the middle of the street.

Right-turn Accidents

When drivers approach an intersection, they must check for pedestrians about to cross the road. Taking a right-hand turn without looking first could endanger a pedestrian who happens to be in the path of the approaching car.

Left-turn Accidents

Motorists must take certain precautions before turning left at intersections. They must wait for oncoming traffic to pass if they don’t have a green arrow. Turning without checking for pedestrians could result in a collision with a person trying to walk across the street.

Hit and Run Accidents

Hit and runs can be deadly. Drivers often flee the scene of a crash because they don’t realize what happened or are under the influence of alcohol and don’t want to get caught.

Backing up Accidents

Backing out of a parking space requires motorists to look behind them first and proceed cautiously. If a pedestrian passes behind the vehicle and the driver isn’t paying attention, they can back up into the person.

Parking Lot Accidents

Accidents involving pedestrians can occur in parking lots. Drivers must scan their surroundings and slow down or stop for people walking to and from their cars.

If your injury resulted from any type of pedestrian accident, do not hesitate to contact House Packard McElderry, LLC. We could investigate the crash and determine who we can hold liable.

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Our Liberty pedestrian accident attorneys have the skills and experience needed to handle complex injury cases.

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Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents

Driver error commonly leads to accidents involving pedestrian victims. Distracted and careless motorists don’t take the necessary precautions to notice foot traffic and avoid collisions. Many drivers might not know right-of-way laws and when they should allow others to proceed ahead of them. The most common causes of pedestrian accidents include:

Distracted Driving

Distractions are dangerous to everyone on the road. If a driver looks at their phone to send a text, reaches into the back seat for something, or focuses on a task other than driving, they could lose control and crash. Distractions prevent drivers from perceiving and reacting to dangers.

Speeding

High-speed accidents can be fatal to pedestrians. Unlike the occupants of motor vehicles, pedestrians don’t have anything protecting them during the impact. Drivers who speed have a harder time stopping or swerving out of the way and could lose control of their cars.

Failure to Yield

Yielding the right-of-way is frequently necessary. Intersections are common locations where drivers must allow pedestrians to cross before continuing along the road. Running a stop sign or red light can put someone on a collision course with a person on foot who is already in the middle of the street.

Driving Under the Influence

A driver is under the influence if they operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher. Alcohol and drugs impair faculties and can prevent a person from reacting quickly enough to a hazard on the road or noticing traffic signals.

At House Packard McElderry, LLC, we have the necessary experience and knowledge to take on any pedestrian accident case. Whether your injury is minor or severe, we will create a strategy to hold the negligent party liable and try to resolve your case favorably.

Common Injuries in Pedestrian Accidents

Debilitating injuries and long-term medical problems can result from pedestrian accidents. When a car crashes into someone, permanent damage and internal injuries can occur. Many accident victims get thrown into the air from the force of the impact or run over by the vehicle and suffer crush injuries. Emergency medical care and ongoing treatment are typically necessary to heal the injuries from an accident of this sort. Some people end up with psychological damage and develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or depression. The most common types of pedestrian injuries include:

  • Loss of limb
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Road rash
  • Back injuries
  • Significant disfigurement
  • Internal bleeding
  • Paralysis
  • Broken bones
  • Mental and emotional trauma
  • Nerve and tissue damage
  • Pelvic injuries

Pedestrian deaths account for 17 percent of all traffic-related fatalities. In 2020, 6,516 pedestrians died in motor vehicle accidents. This is a four percent increase from the year before. Most pedestrian fatalities happened while drivers traveled 55 miles per hour or higher. Additionally, 26 percent of pedestrian deaths occurred in crashes that happened between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Compensation Available for Injuries in Pedestrian Accidents

Since Missouri is a “fault” accident state, you could hold the at-fault driver financially responsible for your injury. All motorists must purchase minimum liability limits with their auto insurance policies. These limits can pay for an injured person’s medical treatment and other costs that stem from the crash. You could file an auto insurance claim even if you were a pedestrian at the time of the accident. The settlement you recover might compensate you for accident-related losses, such as:

  • Permanent impairment and disability
  • Mental anguish
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Medical bills
  • Pain and suffering
  • Lost wages
  • Lost earning capacity
  • Out-of-pocket expenses
  • Property damage

If you file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver, you could also recover punitive damages. This form of compensation punishes the defendant for their actions. You can only receive this financial award if you prove by clear and convincing evidence the defendant’s deliberate and flagrant disregard for the safety of others or intent to cause harm without just cause. Losing someone in a pedestrian accident is devastating. You could pursue legal action against the negligent party if you are a surviving spouse, child, parent, or deceased child’s descendant. The compensation you receive in a wrongful death lawsuit could compensate you for losses related to your loved one’s accident, such as:

  • Medical bills related to the fatal injury
  • The reasonable value of consortium, services, guidance, companionship, instruction, comfort, support, training, and counsel the deceased could have provided to family
  • Funeral and burial expenses

If you file a survival action, you could also pursue compensation for:

  • Pain and suffering the deceased experienced between the date of their injury and death
  • The value of benefits and income the deceased could have earned if they were still alive

At House Packard McElderry, LLC, our pedestrian accident lawyers in Liberty, MO, know how to maximize the value of a client’s case. We can’t predict the exact amount of money you can expect to receive but can pursue the maximum possible compensation to cover your losses.

Statute of Limitations for a Pedestrian Accident

You must adhere to the time period established by the statute of limitations to file a lawsuit for compensation. In Missouri, the statute of limitations for injury cases allows five years. This is the timeframe you have from the date of the accident to initiate your lawsuit against the at-fault party. If you want to sue someone for your loved one’s death, you must file your lawsuit within the three years allowed by the statute of limitations. The timeframe ends three years after the date your family member died.

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House Packard McElderry, LLC knows the burden you face while healing your injury and pursuing a case against the negligent driver. It can be overwhelming, especially if you attempt to handle everything alone. You don’t have to go through this devastating experience by yourself. We will remain by your side during every step and provide the guidance and support you need. If you suffered injuries in a pedestrian accident someone else’s negligence caused, call House Packard McElderry, LLC at (816) 381-9105 for your free consultation with one of our award-winning Liberty pedestrian accident lawyers.