Accident Seriously Injures Pedestrian on Eastbound Elsie Avenue
An accident on November 9 in Sacramento seriously injured a pedestrian, resulting in a major injury. According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the incident occurred on eastbound Elsie Avenue at a strip mall between Stockton Boulevard and Robinette Road. The CHP report said that the pedestrian was hit by the vehicle at approximately 3:17 in the afternoon. The pedestrian was rushed to Kaiser Permanente for treatment of significant injuries. The CHP will be actively investigating the accident. There is no word yet whether the driver remained at the scene.
Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrians are often seriously injured in accidents with motor vehicles. This is due to the pedestrian’s lack of bodily protection and the discrepancy between the vehicle and the walker’s size. In 2017, almost 6,000 pedestrians died in traffic accidents. That amounts to one death every 88 minutes. In addition to the fatalities, about 137,000 walkers were seen in emergency rooms nationwide for injuries due to a traffic accident. Overall, while car accident fatalities and injuries have decreased somewhat, the number of pedestrians who suffered harm has risen.
Main Causes of Pedestrian Accidents
- Lack of crosswalks: Crosswalks that are well-designed, maintained, and well-lit are a safety net for pedestrians. Deviation from these standards results in many walker-related accidents.
- Left-hand turns: Many drivers fail to look for and recognize pedestrians on the road. They are aware of other vehicles but do not expect a pedestrian to be sharing the road with them. For this reason, pedestrians are killed or tragically injured when a car is making a left or even a right-hand turn.
- Ill-lit traffic areas: Even in a crosswalk, the driver must be able to see the pedestrian. When the crosswalk is not well lit, accidents can occur.
- Distracted drivers and pedestrians: Distraction is a major problem for drivers. The temptation to use the phone or text is often overpowering and will take the driver’s focus off the road. Pedestrians are also distracted sometimes when they use a cell phone or listen to music as they walk.
- Electric vehicles: All of the pedestrians’ senses need to be used to stay safe. This includes hearing. Typically, the walker can hear a vehicle as it approaches. However, with electric vehicles, this advance notice is gone.
- Dark-colored outfits, especially at night: A pedestrian needs to wear light-colored clothing if possible at night.
- Inebriated drivers: Drunk drivers find it difficult to control their vehicle and make judgments based on reason. They often misjudge distance or speed, causing a pedestrian accident even in a crosswalk.
- Intersections: These are problematic areas where drivers, pedestrians, and other motorists come together. A large number of pedestrian fatalities and injuries occur in intersections.
- Speeding: Drivers who speed are unable to stop in time to avoid hitting a pedestrian. Besides, the faster the car is traveling, the greater the injury that occurs.
Investigation Into a Pedestrian Accident
To successfully resolve a pedestrian accident for a client, it is necessary to provide evidence of liability on the defendant’s part. To do this, a thorough examination of the reasons the accident occurred is needed. That is why our Sacramento car accident attorneys dispatch our investigators to the accident scene.
There, they check for videos of the crash from various sources, interview witnesses, and review police reports for mistakes. They use accident reconstruction, which shows vehicle positioning before, during, and after impact. Our investigators also check crosswalk design and other aspects linked to pedestrian safety.
Once all the information is gathered, our investigators turn the data over to our car accident lawyers. The data is used to build a strong case for our clients.
Sacramento Car Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, and I am a Sacramento car accident lawyer. As an injury lawyer, I know the trauma a pedestrian accident can cause. Our firm fights for our clients’ rights. Call me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free and friendly advice. You can also reach out to me online.
I have helped numerous clients obtain the compensation they deserve in pedestrian accidents and all types of car crashes along with wrongful death cases.
I am pleased to be a member of the following organizations:
Learn more about my practice by using the links below:
Photo Attribution: https://www.pexels.com/photo/ambulance-architecture-building-business-263402/
:cd llo ds [cs 749]