What Are Some Common Pedestrian Accident Injuries in Alabama?

Pedestrian accidents and injuries are a growing public health and safety concern. The National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) reports that nearly 5,000 pedestrians are killed each year on U.S. roads and over 75,000 injured when struck by a car or truck.

Anytime a pedestrian is hit by a motor vehicle, there’s a good chance that they are going to sustain some serious, if not life-threatening injuries. Even if the driver is doing nothing other than slowly backing out of their driveway, being struck by a 4,000 lb. vehicle can be devastating for a pedestrian. When a car is traveling at a high rate of speed the chances of catastrophic injury or death go up significantly.

Common Pedestrian Accident Injuries

There are two ways that a pedestrian can be injured in one of these tragic accidents. The first is at the primary point of impact, which is when they are struck by the motor vehicle. There can also be secondary injuries that occur after the force of impact propels a victim into another object. For example, the primary impact might break the pedestrian’s leg and the secondary impact sends them crashing into a building, which causes a traumatic brain injury.

The injuries that are most common with pedestrian accidents include:

• Lacerations and contusions
• Brain injuries that include concussions, hemorrhages, hematomas, and other traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuriesincluding partial and full paralysis
• Broken and fractured bones in the legs, arms, ribs, hip, and pelvis
• Injuries to internal organs
• Loss of consciousness, coma, and death

 Who is Most at Risk in Pedestrian Accidents

According to pedestrian accident and injury statistics, some groups are both more likely to be involved in a pedestrian accident and have a greater chance of suffering serious injury from these crashes. According to the CDC, older adults (ages 65 and up) account for 19% of pedestrian deaths and 13% of injuries. Children are also more likely to be involved in these accidents than some other groups. In 2015 alone, one in every five children killed in a traffic crash was a pedestrian.

According to trauma registry study that looked at the details of pedestrian trauma admissions over a 10-year period, some injuries are more common in different age groups. For example, the chances of severe head trauma in a pedestrian accident increases with age. It is 23.7% for adults over the age of 65 and just 7.4% in children ages 14 and under. Likewise, the chance of a spinal cord injury or a thoracic aortic injury is higher in older adults.

The study also found that pedestrians who were hit by vehicles traveling 40 mph or greater had an 80% chance of death. Pedestrians hit by vehicles traveling 30 mph or less had an 80% chance of survival. Regardless of these rates and odds, these can still be serious injuries that need immediate medical care.

 What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident – Contact a Skilled Alabama Pedestrian Accident Attorney

Like any other personal injury case, pedestrian accidents can be complicated and they require investigation and preserving evidence. If you are hit by a motor vehicle, you may be severely injured and not in the best position to protect your rights. You need someone with a deep understanding of Alabama injury law on your side from the beginning.

If you can, collect information about the accident including the driver’s name and insurance information. Also, ask for a copy of the police report. It is important that you avoid speaking with the other party’s insurance company or their lawyer until you have first discussed your case with an experienced Alabama pedestrian accident attorney. The skilled Alabama injury lawyers at the Law Office of J. Allan Brown, L.L.C. believe that you should be compensated for your injuries and welcome the opportunity to discuss your case. Contact us today at (251) 473-6691 or online to schedule a free consultation.