Pedestrian accidents plague North Carolina

We have read in recent days about collisions between automobiles and people trying to walk across the streets of Charlotte and other cities and towns across North Carolina. Not all of these pedestrian accidents are the same, of course.

In some cases, the driver was distracted or speeding or impaired, and in other situations it appears that the pedestrian was at fault or that fault has not yet been determined.

The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Association) says that approximately 5,000 pedestrians are hit and killed in motor vehicle accidents each year and that about an additional 75,000 pedestrians are injured.

The reasons for these collisions of humans and automobile are many, and include incidents in which truckers don’t see pedestrians crossing in front of their large tractor-trailers, when drivers of cars, pick-ups and SUVs roll through stop lights without checking for pedestrians, when people speed through student crossing areas, and so on.

When a pedestrian is injured, there can be several parties that have legal responsibility, including the driver who struck the person, or the party responsible for maintaining a street or road or parking lot, or the pedestrian herself or himself.

When drivers are at fault, there are often reasons that include the following:

• Distractions
• Excessive speed
• Failure to obey traffic signs or signals
• Failure to yield the right of way
• Failure to drive appropriately for weather conditions
• Driving while impaired

When you or a loved one has been injured by a negligent driver, you can pursue justice and full compensation for all damages. You can speak with a lawyer experienced in personal injury litigation about your legal options.