Being a pedestrian can be extremely dangerous at times. Simply walking down the road, or crossing a street, could leave you as the victim of a serious pedestrian accident. Sidewalks, crosswalks, intersections, pedestrian signals and other safety features can go a long way to protecting pedestrians, however they cannot provide a guarantee of safety. It is up to each individual to exercise caution and do his or her best to avoid being involved in a fatal, or life-threatening accident. We do understand, however, there can be circumstances beyond your control, when it comes to the dangers facing pedestrians. The time of day, position of the sun, weather, visibility, age, clothing color, road maintenance, speed of an approaching vehicle, alcohol-impairment, driver distraction and many additional circumstances can all play a role in causing a pedestrian accident.
According to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were more than 4,200 pedestrians killed, and at least 70,000 pedestrians injured, in vehicle-related accidents nationwide during 2010. If you break that number down, it means one pedestrian was injured every 8 minutes and one pedestrian was killed every 2 hours. Not surprisingly, the report also stated that pedestrians are 1.5 times more likely to be killed in a vehicle-related accident than the driver and vehicle occupants themselves. The majority of pedestrian accidents occur in urban setting, at night, and on inadequately lit roads. The people who are most at risk are pedestrians who are 65 or older, young children, and those individuals who are suffering from alcohol- (or -drug) impairment.
If you have sustained serious injuries in a pedestrian accident, you need an aggressive Sierra Vista personal injury attorney on your side. When you contact our office, we will be able to answer any questions you may have, work diligently to see that you are receiving the medical treatment you require, review the exact circumstances surrounding your accident, gather additional evidence and documentation, help you compile your claim, negotiate a settlement on your behalf or represent your case at trial, and be the overall advocate you need during this difficult time.
For the last 25 years, the Law Offices of Perry Hicks, P.C. has been representing the victims, and families, of pedestrian accidents in Sierra Vista and the surrounding areas. If you need an attorney you can count on to fight hard to protect your rights, contact a Sierra Vista personal injury lawyerat our office today.