According to the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration in 2008, 69,000 pedestrians were injured and 4,378 were killed in traffic crashes in the United States, representing 3 percent of all the people injured in traffic crashes and 12 percent of all traffice fatalities. On average, a pedestrian is killed in a motor vehicle crash every 120 minutes, and one is injured every 8 minutes.
Another 37,261 people lost ther lives in motor vehicle crashes. An average of 102 people died each day in motor vehicle crashes in 2008, one every 14 minutes. Vehicle occupants accounted for 72 percent and motorcyclists accounted for 13 percent of traffic fatalities in 2008. The remaining 14 percent were pedestrians, pedal cyclists, and other non-occupants.
Alcohol impared driving fatalities were 11,773 in 2008 and accounted for 32% of the total traffic fatalities for the year. Alcohol involvement, either for the driver or the pedestrian, was reported in 48 percent of the traffic crashes that resulted in pedestrian fatalities.
Pedal cyclists killed in 2008, were 716 and an additional 52,000 were injured in traffic crashes. Pedal cyclists made up 2 percent of all traffic fatalities and 2 percent of all the people injured in traffic crashes during the year. Most of the pedal cyclist injured or killed in 2008 were males (77% and 87%, respectively), and most were between the ages of 5 and 44 (77% and 48%, respectively).
Virginia 2008 total traffic fatalities 824, drivers involved in fatal crashes 1,087, motorcyclist fatalities 86, passenger vehicle occupant fatalities 617, Pedestrian Fatalities 76. See, NHTSA.gov Traffic saftey facts 2008.
Pedestrians are injured in a variety of
situations. Children playing in urban areas may create a duty for motorists
to exercise reasonable care. When crossing the street in places other than
in the crosswalk or at an intersection, the pedestrian may have to yield the
right of way to oncoming cars. Illegally parked cars that create a visual
obstruction for pedestrians may be a contributing factor in a
pedestrian/automobile/motorcycle accident. Automobile and motorcycle accidents involving pedestrians
are very difficult to evaluate without the help of an experienced pedestrian accident lawyer.
When Should You Consider a
Motorcycle or Pedestrian Accident Claim for
Injuries or Loss?
The answer to this question depends on several factors. Probably the first
and foremost consideration is the nature and extent of your injuries and
losses. Minor injuries and losses sometime can be settled quickly with the
insurance company. Serious injuries, such as a brain injury, may take several years to resolve
because you must first determine the ultimate outcome of the injured person.
Frequently, poor treatment by
the insurance adjuster will lead a client, who otherwise would not have
filed a lawsuit, into retaining the services of a pedestrian accident attorney. Many people
simply want to be reimbursed for their out of pocket medical and other
expenses. They are not aware that under the law in the State of Virginia,
they are also entitled to be compensated for pain and suffering, their
inconvenience, and other losses depending on the extent of the injury or
loss.
Another factor
commonly considered by pedestrian injury clients when contemplating whether or not to bring a
legal claim is the exposure of their private life and information. When a
pedestrian accident lawsuit is filed, there are few aspects of your past life that a court will
prevent the other side from discovering. Past criminal arrests, other
lawsuits, divorces, income tax returns, former jobs and employers are areas
which are routinely discovered during a lawsuit. However, your brain injury and accident attorney can
request the court to enter a "protective order" to keep the defense attorney
from disclosing the information for any improper purposes.
Many defense lawyers will intentionally try to
embarrass the plaintiff in an attempt to shift a jury's attention away from
the defendant's negligence. Most lawyers know that juries are less likely to
award substantial sums of money to people they do not like. However, an
experienced trial attorney can take certain steps to minimize any potential
damage the defense lawyer may attempt to cause.
Finally, the cost of proceeding with the litigation as compared to the
potential recovery should be considered. If a case will cost $10,000 to
pursue and the available coverage, if the claim is successful, is $10,000,
the case may not be worth pursuing. However, if the injuries or losses are
substantial, it is worth the high costs of experts fees required to
successfully pursue your pedestrian accident claim. Substantial claims are usually settled after
the plaintiff's attorney has filed suit and properly prepared the case for
trial.
Why
Choose the Brain Injury, Motorcycle,
and Pedestrian Accident Attorneys of Page Law?
We have successfully won
multimillion dollars settlements by representing people who have been
injured in automotive accidents, motorcycle accidents, commercial vehicles including tractor
trailers, buses, trains, etc. This includes people who suffer what is known
as "soft tissue injuries" such as neck and back sprains, as well as people
who suffer catastrophic injuries such as broken bones, brain injuries,
injuries requiring surgery paralysis, etc. This firm practices in all areas
of personal injury and wrongful death.
If you or a loved one has
suffered a serious brain injury or death as a result of an accident, please
immediately contact Page Law toll free at (866) 507-6166 or
(804)353-6166 for an initial free pedestrian accident consultation, or click here to complete our online
consultation form. We will immediately review your information and respond
within 24 hours during the week days and 48 hours during the weekends and
holidays. We handle pedestrian accident cases throughout Virginia.
Free Pedestrian Accident Consultation
Page-Smith Building / 2913 Park Avenue
Richmond, Virginia 23221-1707
Telephone (804) 353-6166
Toll free 1-866-507-6166 / Facsimile (804) 353-3041
Virgina Pedestrian Accident Attorney Disclaimer: The content of this website is presented by Page Law Richmond, Petersburg, and Fredericksburg, Virginia. It is not intended to be legal advice, but general information related to legal issues commonly encountered with brain injury lawsuits. If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident, or have been charged with a crime, please contact Page Law for a free case evaluation.
"It is important to note that case results depend upon factors unique to each case. Prior case results do not guarantee or predict similar outcomes in future cases undertaken by this firm and it's attorneys."
