Pedestrian Accidents in California
I”m Ed Smith, a Rancho Cordova Personal Injury Lawyer. In California, where the weather is often conducive to walking for pleasure and for short errands or work, safety is a primary concern. Because California also has a high rate of pedestrian accidents compared to the rest of the nation, working on ways to decrease pedestrian accidents and improve safety is particularly important.
Common Motor Vehicle Injuries to Pedestrians
Traumatic injuries can result when a pedestrian is involved in a collision with a motor vehicle, even if that vehicle is traveling at a lower speed. Studies have shown that the higher the speed of the car, higher the rate of injuries. Following are some of the more common injuries:
- Lower Limbs: Damage to the legs is a common injury since this is the location commonly struck directly on an adult by a vehicle.
- Brain and head injuries: These may range from cuts and bruises to concussions or traumatic brain injuries. After being struck, the pedestrian’s upper body may be thrown back, crashing into the vehicle’s windshield or hood, according to a report by the National Institutes of Health.
- Bone fractures: Fractures may be severe anywhere but particularly so when it involves the hips, pelvis or spine.
- Spinal cord injuries: Any injury to the spinal column may cause long-lasting or even permanent damage. At its most serious, complete or partial paralysis may occur.
- Damage to upper limbs: This type of damage is common and can be caused by the impact with a vehicle or when landing on the ground. Scrapes, cuts, abrasions and broken bones occur.
Pedestrian Fatalities and Injuries
Nationwide, the number of injuries in pedestrian accidents totaled nearly 129,000 with 5,376 fatalities, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. When it involves an accident with a motor vehicle, a pedestrian is about 1.5 times as likely to become a fatality. Nineteen percent of those fatalities were to older Americans, who were 65 years old or older. Rancho Cordova, because it had a low number of injuries and fatalities from traffic accidents in 2015, also had a low number of pedestrian accident fatalities and injuries. In 2015, there were 19 injuries/fatalities as reported by the California Office of Traffic Safety. However, in Sacramento County, 535 were reported that year, making it number 24 out of the 58 counties in the state.
Clarifying a California Pedestrian Law
One problem facing California pedestrians has been a law on crosswalks that was unclear. This has been clarified through California Assembly Bill 390. Under this change, pedestrians, if they are in a crosswalk when the light changes to wait or don’t walk, can continue passing through the crosswalk without being ticketed. Previously, they risked getting a ticket with added surcharges that made it surprisingly expensive.
Knowing When to Call a Personal Injury Lawyer for Help
Pedestrian injuries caused by a negligent driver can be traumatic and result in high medical bills as well as lost time from work. In more serious injuries, the individual may not be able to return to the same job or may be permanently disabled. A seasoned personal injury lawyer helps by compiling the evidence, sometimes with the use of accident reconstruction experts and expert witness, to obtain the compensation to pay those expenses. In this way, an injured person can begin to put their lives back together without financial worry.
Rancho Cordova Personal Injury Lawyers
I’m Ed Smith, a Rancho Cordova Personal Injury Lawyer. Collisions between pedestrians and vehicles are often caused by the careless actions of a driver. If you are facing medical bills and other expenses because of this, call me for free, friendly advice at (916) 921-6400. Outside the local number, reach me at (800) 404-5400 or access my online form at AutoAccident.com.
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I have been honored to have served the people of Rancho Cordova and Northern California since 1982 as an injury lawyer. Among my practice areas are personal injury cases such as brain injury and wrongful death.
I belong to a group called Million Dollar Advocates, comprised of top trial lawyers in the country. To become a member, the lawyer must demonstrate client settlements and/or verdicts of $1 million.
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