Pedestrians are the most vulnerable users of the road, along with bicyclists and motorcycles. You could argue that they’re even more vulnerable, since there’s typically no way to escape when a car is bearing down on them. As a result, they are more prone to suffering catastrophic, life-altering injuries – or even worse. Treatments for these types of injuries can take years, and the victim will very likely never be able to get back to the quality of life they once enjoyed.
At Sand Law, our attorneys have years of experience representing people who have been severely injured after being hit by a car. If you or a loved one has been involved in a pedestrian accident, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. We’ll keep you completely updated throughout the entire process, and fight passionately on your behalf to ensure you get all the money you deserve from those whose negligence led to your suffering.
You can learn more about our firm or schedule a free consultation by using our online contact form or giving us a call at 701-609-1510.
It might be hard for you to believe, but a pedestrian is struck by a car once every three days on average. Between 2015-2019, 624 pedestrians were hit in North Dakota. Amazingly, “only” 480 of them suffered injuries. You would think every pedestrian would have been not just hurt, but severely hurt.
There were, however, 30 pedestrian fatalities during that period of time. What makes these tragedies even worse is that all of them could have been prevented. These are just a few of the reasons why pedestrian accidents take place.
Obviously, pedestrians don’t wear protective gear like motorcyclists and bicyclists. They don’t walk around wearing helmets. So, when they get hit, the results are usually horrible. These are just some of the more common injuries they suffer.
In Fargo, North Dakota, pedestrians have specific rights, especially when using crosswalks. Motorists are required to yield the right of way to pedestrians in crosswalks, ensuring their safety. However, pedestrians also have responsibilities.
They should always use crosswalks when available, obey traffic signals, and avoid jaywalking. Being aware of these rights and responsibilities can help reduce the risk of accidents and ensure safer roads for everyone.
While pedestrians are vulnerable on the road, certain precautions can enhance safety. Always use designated crosswalks and wait for traffic signals. Wearing reflective clothing or using lights during low visibility conditions, such as nighttime or fog, can make pedestrians more visible to motorists.
Avoid distractions, like using a phone, when crossing streets. By being vigilant and proactive, pedestrians can significantly reduce their risk of being involved in an accident.
Both motorists and pedestrians play a role in ensuring road safety. Motorists should always be on the lookout for pedestrians, especially in areas with high foot traffic or near schools. Reducing speed in pedestrian-heavy zones, being cautious while turning, and always checking for pedestrians before reversing are essential practices for drivers.
On the other hand, pedestrians should make eye contact with drivers when possible, ensuring they are seen. Mutual respect and awareness can go a long way in preventing accidents and ensuring safety for all road users.
It can be nearly impossible to expect anyone to be able to think clearly when they’ve been hit by a vehicle. However, trying to keep as clear a head as possible will be extremely important when that victim attempts to obtain compensation. The reason is that the more evidence they can obtain at the scene of the accident, the stronger their case will be.
If at all possible, try to take pictures of the scene, as well as any injuries you’ve suffered if you can. Of course, after you’ve sought the medical attention you need. Call the police so an officer can come out and file an accident report. And exchange contact information with the driver of the vehicle.
After you’ve received medical treatment, get in touch with an attorney as soon as possible. The sooner you do this, the faster your legal representative can get to work uncovering even more evidence.
The importance of solid evidence can’t be overstated. It can make or break your case. The insurance company of the negligent driver is going to do everything it can to reduce the amount of money they will have to pay you. In a perfect world – at least from the insurer’s perspective – they won’t have to pay a dime.
It will be up to your attorney to find the proof needed to convince the insurer that you deserve every dime to which you’re entitled.
So, how will your attorney do this? One way will be to obtain a copy of the police report and find out if the officer who arrived at the scene is of the opinion that the driver was at fault. There’s also a good chance a nearby surveillance camera captured footage of the accident. That could be the powerful evidence needed to ensure you receive full compensation.
Your attorney will do everything possible to convince the insurance company that it will be in its best interests to offer you a fair settlement. But if one isn’t forthcoming, your legal representative will be more than willing to take the case to a courtroom. The vast majority of personal injury cases such as pedestrian accidents never go to court. But a good attorney will be ready to do just that – and also be well prepared to win – should a trial prove necessary.
If you want the best possible chance to get the money you deserve for your injuries will be to hire a skilled, experienced personal injury attorney. At Sand Law, we have a team of them. Our firm has a long track record of success in these kinds of cases, and we’re ready to put our deep knowledge to work for you.
Schedule a free case review by calling 701-609-1510 or contacting us online.
Hit & run accidents are particularly disturbing. Someone leaves the scene of an accident, one that may have led to a severe injury or even a fatality, and refuses to take responsibility. If you have been hurt or suffered the tragic loss of a loved one due to this kind of accident, you’ll need to get the help of an experienced attorney as soon as you can.
The attorneys with Sand Law may be able to help. We will listen to the details of your case, and then let you know how we may be of assistance. You can give us a call at 701-394-3912 or use our online form to schedule a free review of your case.
The “hit,” so to speak, of a hit & run accident isn’t a whole lot different from the typical car accident. The at-fault driver could have been impaired, or could have been distracted due to using a cell phone or looking at something other than the road. The road could have been slippery due to black ice, and the driver lost control of their vehicle as a result.
What makes this sort of accident different is what possesses someone to leave before exchanging contact information with the other driver, or checking to see if anyone has been hurt.
It almost seems unfathomable that anyone would choose to run after causing an automobile accident. But if someone falls into one of the following categories, the reasons behind fleeing an accident scene become clearer.
Just like any other type of automobile accident, in order to obtain compensation for the injuries or other losses you’ve experienced, you’ll need to have evidence in order to prove the accident wasn’t your fault.
Photographs and videos are among the most powerful forms of evidence that exist. If at all possible, you should take pictures of the accident scene with your phone. It would be even better if you could somehow take a video of the hit & run driver leaving the scene.
Also, you should try to talk to witnesses who may have seen the accident, and know exactly what happened. Get their names, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses if you can.
Another potential source of evidence will be any nearby security cameras that might have footage of the accident. One of the reasons you’ll need to hire an attorney as quickly as you can is that your attorney may be able to obtain that footage. It could very well be the difference between obtaining the compensation you deserve and getting nothing.
Much of the evidence mentioned above is key to helping you prove you weren’t at fault – and, as a result, helping you obtain the compensation to which you are entitled. But it could possibly also be helpful in helping to locate the hit & run driver. You might have been able to capture the license plate of the fleeing vehicle on your smartphone, or a security camera may have captured the plate.
It’s also possible that the hit & run driver may actually choose to do the right thing and come forward. Again, you should never expect that this will happen, but it does.
Either way, once that driver is located, you’re going to need the help of an attorney in order to get the most money possible. Your attorney will help you file your claim, and will also negotiate with the insurance company that covers the other driver. You can focus on recovering from your injuries while the attorney handles all the paperwork, as well as all other aspects of your case.
Unfortunately, there’s a very high likelihood that no one will be able to find the hit & run driver. But even if that’s the case, you may still be able to obtain compensation through your uninsured motorist coverage. Some people find that their health insurance will also include coverage for automobile accidents. This typically isn’t the case, but it will at least be worth it to check.
There’s also a chance an attorney could find that there were other factors that contributed to the accident. The road could have been negligently maintained, for example, or some sort of manufacturer’s defect could have played a role. If you choose Sand Law as your legal representative, we will do everything we can to help you get as much money as we can.
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with an attorney as soon as you can if you’ve been hurt or lost a loved one in a hit & run accident. You can contact us online for a free review of your case, or you can call 701-394-3912.
In North Dakota, if you are struck by a vehicle as a pedestrian you may be able to get compensation through the negligent driver’s insurance company using negotiations and a lawsuit. At Sand Law, we have the resources and expertise to help guide you through this often-complicated process and to help you get compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering that resulted from your injuries. Pedestrian accidents are often very serious due to their nature and the fact that the pedestrian is completely unprotected from motor vehicle.
If you were injured while you were a pedestrian, you may eligible to get compensation for you damages. To schedule a free, no obligation consultation with Sand Law contact us today. We will evaluate your claim and help you to understand your rights, options, and what steps to take next.
We are the most vulnerable when we walk near roadways. And unfortunately, the risks have increased as drivers have become more distracted than ever. In places without sidewalks, crosswalks, or safety measures in place, these accidents can be more common, leading to more injuries and more fatalities.
In 2017, more than 16% of all traffic deaths were pedestrian. That’s about 6,000 deaths total; this is about one death every 88 minutes, and that’s only counting fatalities. On top of that, there were an additional 137,000 pedestrians treated in emergency rooms for non-fatal crash related injuries in 2017.
According to the CDC, pedestrians are 1.5 times more likely than motor vehicle occupants to be killed in a car crash.
Furthermore, pedestrians that are 65 and older account for nearly 20% of all pedestrian deaths and 10% of all pedestrian injuries on average.
And despite the risk to our older population, the risk to children is even greater, with one in every five children that were killed in traffic crash were pedestrians.
Risk factors for pedestrian accidents include higher vehicle speed, urban areas, non-intersection crossings, and nighttime.
There are many different types of pedestrian accidents but some are more common than other. Pedestrian accidents are categorized by how the pedestrian was hit, where the accident is located, and a few other factors.
Pedestrian accidents can be broken down into:
Dart-out accidents occur when a pedestrian runs out into the road and the driver doesn’t have enough time to react before hitting them.
Intersection accidents are accidents that take place in intersections, specifically at a crosswalk. These types of accidents can occur when a pedestrian miscalculates how long it will take to cross the street or doesn’t follow the road signals. They are also commonly caused by drivers who either do not see the pedestrian or miscalculate their distance to the pedestrian.
Passing accidents occur when a vehicle tries to pass another stopped vehicle and hits the pedestrian. This can happen when a bus is stopped, or when any other large, view-obstructing vehicle is stopped.
Vehicle turn and merge accidents occur when the driver is too focused on making a specific turn or merge, and doesn’t see a pedestrian. This is common when a car driver is waiting for the vehicle traffic to clear and fail to focus on the pedestrian crossing in front of them. This is most common with right hand turns.
Back-up accidents occur when a driver doesn’t look behind them before backing up, most commonly in parking lot or parking garage.
There are many different causes of pedestrian accidents, such as drunk driving, distracted driving, and speeding. If a driver is not paying attention, or has been drinking, they may not see the pedestrian in the roadway, leading to serious injuries or death for the pedestrian. This is especially true for intersection accidents and back-up accidents.
The responsibility falls on both the driver and the pedestrian to remain aware of their surroundings while walking or driving. Both parties can be negligent in these situations so it is up to all of us to make sure that we are aware of our surroundings when operating, or walking near, dangerous vehicles.
Pedestrian accidents can cause a variety of different injuries, depending on how the accident occurred and how the car struck the pedestrian. These injuries can vary from mild to severe to even fatal.
Most injuries occur at the point of impact, where the car strikes the pedestrian. However, many pedestrians also suffer some secondary injuries. For example, if the car were to throw them into another object, like another vehicle, building, or the pavement.
Pedestrian accidents can cause injuries like cuts, scrapes, bruises, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, neck and back injuries, torn ligaments, and fractures, breaks, or sprains to a variety of different parts of the body.
The most serious injuries are brain injuries and spinal cord injuries, as these can cause paralysis, impairment, or other serious, life-long issues.
Whether or not you receive compensation for your accident greatly depends on who was at-fault for the accident. If you’re the pedestrian, it’s likely that you suffered much greeter injuries than the driver.
If the driver was at fault for the accident, then you are likely eligible to receive compensation for any medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and any other damages the incident caused.
Understanding the specifics of your pedestrian accident and any compensation you may be eligible for needs to be discussed with a personal injury attorney since factors vary greatly from situation to situation.
If you’ve been injured in a pedestrian accident, please reach out to one of our experienced lawyers at Sand Law. We’re ready and willing to take on your case. Our attorneys are ready to help you get the compensation that you deserve for your pedestrian accident. For more information or a free case evaluation, please contact us at 701-394-3912 or contact us online.
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