Pedestrians in Kentucky must share the roads with cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles, bicycles, and many other vehicles. This can prove to be a severe hazard since a pedestrian has little in the way of protection in the case of a collision. Pedestrians involved in motor vehicle crashes tend to suffer more severe injuries as a result, with these injuries sometimes proving fatal.
In 2015, Kentucky State Police recorded over 1,000 crashes involving pedestrians, with 6 percent leading to fatalities and 14.4 percent causing an incapacitating injury. In response to these sobering facts, the city of Louisville has become more aware of the high rate of pedestrian injury in the state and launched a campaign to promote driver and pedestrian safety.
However, accidents happen every day, and for a pedestrian involved in a crash with a motor vehicle, the severe injury can be debilitating and may cause financial and emotional stress in addition to physical pain. In these cases, it is crucial to be aware of legal rights and the possibility of reimbursement for wage loss and medical bills from the accident.
Hiring a Louisville personal injury lawyer may be essential for those who are severely injured in a pedestrian crash, in order to protect their rights and help them deal with the aftermath.
The Facts
Anyone who walks on the street could be involved in an accident with a motor vehicle, but there are certain situations and demographics in Kentucky associated with higher rates of pedestrian crashes.
The Louisville Public Works Department’s 2013 report found that motor vehicle crashes peak during rush hour, between 3-6pm, and increase on Fridays and Saturdays. This makes for an average of 404 pedestrian-motorist collisions in the city each year.
While pedestrian crashes can happen at any time, 40% of pedestrian crashes and 75% of fatal pedestrian crashes happen after dark. Additionally, pedestrian crashes in which a motor vehicle is making a left turn while the person crosses a street outnumber right-turn crashes two-and-a-half to one.
The demographic most affected by pedestrian crashes in the city are those aged 51 – 64, who represent 16.1 percent of these accidents. This means that the most at-risk group is also those who are most prone to injury.
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Types of Injuries Sustained
Injuries that result from pedestrian-motorist crashes are often serious, and in many cases impair the pedestrian permanently. The most frequently sustained types of injuries in pedestrian collisions are:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Fractured or broken bones
- Severe or disfiguring lacerations
- Blood vessel and tissue damage that requires amputation
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Death
Pedestrians who survive motor collisions may face a long and painful recovery period after the trauma endured, requiring many doctor visits and possible surgery and ongoing physical therapy. If an injury is permanently debilitating, the person affected may have to adjust to a life of disability, unable to do activities they once enjoyed. Sometimes, this leads to those affected being forced to quit their jobs. Losing a means of income, in combination with the high cost of medical care, can lead to financial ruin for an individual and his or her family. Hiring a Louisville pedestrian accident lawyer can help ensure that the case is handled with the affected person’s best and clearest interests in mind.
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Reasons to Sue
An individual involved in a pedestrian accident may decide to take legal action for many reasons, especially given the disruption the resulting injuries can cause to his or her life. It is important to have a Kentucky pedestrian accident attorney on your side in order to receive adequate compensation from the resulting pain and suffering. Having a lawyer to review pedestrian collision laws in Kentucky will ensure that a victim is able to procure the appropriate financial compensation for the wage loss, medical bills, and ongoing medical costs that are part of the recovery process.
In the tragic case of a pedestrian fatality, a family may file a lawsuit for damages to deal with the loss of their loved one and the financial burden that that may place on the household.
Advocating For Those Injured
The period following a serious injury caused by a pedestrian accident can be overwhelming and highly distressing. A Louisville pedestrian accident lawyer can assist by protecting your rights and procuring the financial compensation you deserve after an accident. If you would like to know how we can help, contact us today.
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