Pedestrian Accidents
Walking is one of the healthiest things that you can do for yourself, and most experts would recommend that citizens of Oklahoma City should walk more as part of a plan for longevity and wellbeing. But walking, as good for you as it may be, isn’t always safe. Indeed, a report published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that Oklahoma did not meet its target goal for a reduction in pedestrian accident deaths. Indeed, there are dozens of pedestrians killed in Oklahoma every year.
Most pedestrian accidents are completely avoidable, and typically occur because one of the parties involved is not paying attention to their surroundings. Unfortunately, regardless of which party is not paying attention, it is almost always the pedestrian who suffers a greater amount of damages. It is not uncommon for a pedestrian’s injuries to be fatal.
At the Owens Law Office, PC, our Oklahoma City pedestrian accidents attorneys work hard for our clients. If you or a loved one has been harmed in a pedestrian accident, call our law offices today for a free consultation about what steps you can take to recover compensation.
How Pedestrian Accidents Occur
As mentioned above, most pedestrian accidents are the result of one party not paying attention. For example, a pedestrian accident might occur because a pedestrian is texting and walking, and therefore walks into an intersection without having the right of way. Or, a pedestrian accident could occur as a result of a driver who is changing the radio, eating, or looking left before turning right (a common cause of pedestrian accidents).
Of course, distraction is not the only cause of pedestrian crashes; drivers’ errors and acts of carelessness, recklessness, and negligence also lead to pedestrian collisions. These include acts like drinking while driving, speeding, running red lights or stop signs, and driving aggressively.
Pedestrians Are at Risk of Serious Losses
When a pedestrian is hit by a car, one of the things that has the greatest effect on the amount of damages that the pedestrian will incur is the speed at which the vehicle was traveling at the time of impact. The greater the speed, the more force that is involved in a collision, and the more serious the damages will be. Even when a vehicle is traveling at a lower (relative) speed, however, the damages can still be serious. A pedestrian could incur injuries such as:
- Traumatic brain injury;
- Spine, neck, or back injury;
- Spinal cord injury;
- Internal injury;
- Bone fracture injury;
- Psychological injury;
- Abrasion, laceration, and bruising; or
- A combination of the above and more.
These injuries are not only physical (and potentially have psychological effects as well), but also result in high medical bills, potential for lost wages and loss of income-earning abilities, and can cause pain and suffering. It is important that you work with a pedestrian accident attorney who understands what you’re going through and is prepared to advocate for your right to seek your maximum compensation amount.
You Deserve to Be Compensated
When a pedestrian accident happens, the pedestrian surely wants to seek compensation for all of the damages listed above. Typically, the party who will be responsible for paying for a pedestrian’s losses is the at-fault party, which may very likely be the driver of the car that hit the pedestrian. If the driver carries liability insurance–which is required under Oklahoma state law–then the driver’s insurance provider will open an investigation into the accident, evaluate the claim and damages, and (hopefully) offer a settlement.
While you may be zero percent to blame for your crash and assume you will be offered the settlement that you deserve as such, do not be too sure; insurance adjusters are experienced at low-balling claims in order to save an insurance company money, and may try to do so in regards to your case.
Our Lawyers Are Here To Help You
The goal of our personal injury lawyers at the Owens Law Office, PC, is to make sure that our clients are well taken care of, and ultimately walk away with the settlement that fully compensates them for their losses. In order to do this, we investigate your claim, gather evidence, work with various experts, and aggressively negotiate on your behalf.
To learn more about our process and whether or not working with our team is a good fit for you, call our law offices by phone today, or send us an email at your convenience. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means we never charge you if your case isn’t won.