Hit while walking or running? You need a pedestrian accident attorney.
Our pedestrian accident attorneys love Colorado for the same reasons that attract people from all over the world: gorgeous trails, amazing mountains, challenging terrain and unique scenic beauty. As a result, Colorado ranks among the states with the most physically active population. Much of that exercise occurs on foot, in our beautiful parks and on our roads. To maintain a safe community for all Colorado residents, we work to ensure that our community is a safe place to walk, run and hike. At the Law Offices of Peter M. Anderson, we advocate for new safety measures each year to decrease traffic accidents and increase pedestrian safety, from new crosswalks to better on-road signage.
We all share the responsibility of keeping pedestrians safe; unfortunately, thousands of pedestrian accidents involving motor vehicles occur every year. In Colorado alone, pedestrian accidents resulted in a staggering 93 pedestrian deaths and untold severe injuries in 2020, according to recent Colorado Department of Transportation data. We have seen the devastating toll of these accidents on our clients’ lives. Not only can the physical effects (broken bones, brain injuries, spinal fractures, etc.) be felt for years, but the trauma can lead to limited outdoor activity, significantly reducing one’s enjoyment of life. Our experienced team of pedestrian accident attorneys stand ready to help.
“There is no habit you will value so much as that of walking far without fatigue.”
THOMAS JEFFERSON
Pedestrian accident FAQs
The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) projects there were 6,721 pedestrian deaths in 2020 – a 4.8% increase from the 6,412 fatalities reported by SHSOs the year before. This projection is the largest ever annual increase in the pedestrian death rate since the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) was established in 1975.
That doesn’t take into consideration the nearly 140,000 pedestrians treated for non-fatal, but very serious injuries at local emergency rooms across the country.
In the United States, one pedestrian fatality occurs every 88 minutes.(Source: CDC: Pedestrian Safety)
By far, the most common cause of pedestrian accidents is careless and distracted drivers. Reckless driving, distracted driving (texting while driving), speeding, and driving while under the influence are among the most common reasons for pedestrian accidents. Nearly one in five pedestrian fatalities (17%) involved a driver with a blood alcohol concentration of at least 0.08 g/dL.
A pedestrian might do everything right — crossing the street at a crosswalk, or where there is a stop sign or clear right of way — and it still might not be sufficient to avoid being hit by a negligent driver.
About 74 percent of pedestrian fatalities nationwide occurred in urbanized areas and 88 percent in metropolitan statistical areas. (Source: HNTSA Geospatial Summary of Crash Statistics)
Most pedestrians accidents occur on local roads, in the dark and away from intersections. During the past 10 years, the number of drivers striking and killing a pedestrian after dark increased by 54%, compared to a 16% rise in pedestrian fatalities in daylight. (Ibid.)
The majority of pedestrian injuries occur within daylight hours, 6 AM and 6 PM, with a peak time in the late afternoon (3-6 PM). Pedestrian fatalities usually happen at night, between the hours of 5:30 PM and 11 PM. (Source: ASU)
Pedestrian accidents are not like car-on-car accidents. A person struck by a vehicle has no protective gear; in most pedestrian accident cases, sustained injuries will be worse and medical expenses higher. Our seasoned team of attorneys work closely with medical teams to understand the extent of injuries, which may include:
Traumatic brain injury (“TBI”)
Spinal cord injury
Paralyzation
Broken bones or fractures
Internal bleeding
Permanent disfigurement
Mobility / ambulation (walking) issues
You should not have to suffer due to someone else’s negligence. If you have been the victim of a pedestrian accident, you may be entitled to compensation. This can include wage loss and medical bills, as well as compensation for your pain, ongoing medical treatment and physical impairments.
Watch out for pedestrians: driver tips
- Use extra caution when driving in hard-to-see conditions, such as nighttime or bad weather.
- Slow down and be prepared to stop when turning or otherwise entering a crosswalk.
- Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and stop well back from the crosswalk to give other vehicles an opportunity to see the crossing pedestrians so they can stop too.
- Never pass vehicles stopped at a crosswalk. There may be people crossing where you can’t see.
- Follow the speed limit, especially around people on the street, in school zones and in neighborhoods where children are present.
- Be extra cautious when backing up and look for pedestrians.
I was hit by a car while walking. What do I do?
The cardinal rule of any accident is: seek medical attention as soon as possible. After a serious accident, you should:
- Call the police. Emergency vehicles will arrive as soon as possible; you will file a police report.
- Stay where you are until help arrives.
- Collect contact information from the driver and any witnesses, if you are able to do so.
- In the hours and days that follow, be sure to seek medical attention for your injuries. Be consistent in your medical care, and always tell the truth.
- If needed, contact a pedestrian accident attorney in your area. Note that not all law firms are experienced with pedestrian accidents; lawyers should have experience with pedestrian cases — including trial experience — and be available to discuss your case very quickly.
- Be aware of the statute of limitations in your state of residence, which may limit the amount of time you have to file a claim. In the state of Colorado, the deadline for a car accident personal injury claim (i.e. car vs. pedestrian) is three years.
At the Law Offices of Peter Anderson, our experienced pedestrian accident attorneys make sure you receive the help you need if you have been hit by a car in a crosswalk or on a roadway. Once working together, we handle all of the nitty-gritty of the crash (driver’s insurance, witness contact information, police reports, medical bill collection, insurance company queries, etc), so that our clients can focus on their medical recovery. Call us today at 303-444-1505 for a free consultation, and learn more about how we can help if you have been in a pedestrian accident in Colorado.
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