Nashville Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Only a tiny fraction of the people on Nashville, TN roads are pedestrians, yet pedestrians make up a significant portion of serious injury victims. Vehicle occupants have multiple safety system layers to protect them during accidents. But pedestrians literally only have the clothes on their backs. As a result, common car crash injuries like internal bleeding and head injuries are much worse for pedestrian victims.
The dedicated Nashville pedestrian accident lawyers at Mitch Grissim & Associates protect victims like these. We force negligent drivers to accept responsibility for the accidents they unintentionally cause. If we all accepted responsibility for our mistakes, Tennessee would be an even better place to live.
Crosswalk Injuries
If the victim was inside a permanent or virtual crosswalk and walking with the light, the pedestrian clearly has the right of way. Therefore, if these victims are injured, it’s easier to prove the driver showed a lack of care.
Some crosswalks have Walk/Don’t Walk alerts and/or countdown timers. The presence or absence of these devices often affects liability if the pedestrian was caught in the crosswalk when the light changed colors. If the pedestrian didn’t know when the light would change, oncoming motorists have a duty to exercise additional caution.
A virtual crosswalk is a temporary crosswalk. Pedestrians push buttons that activate flashing yellow lights which command oncoming drivers to yield. This command isn’t always clear. Furthermore, many motorists mistake virtual crosswalk warning lights for school zones and other warning lights. These facts make virtual crosswalks more dangerous for pedestrians, but they don’t affect the driver’s legal responsibilities.
Non-Crosswalk Injuries
Most pedestrian incidents happen outside marked crosswalks. Usually, these victims are still entitled to compensation. The claim is simply harder to prove in court.
In the moments before a non-crosswalk pedestrian accident, the motorist is often traveling at or near top speed. Velocity multiplies the force in a collision between two objects. At impact speeds under 20mph, the pedestrian death rate is less than 10 percent. At impact speeds above 50 mph, the pedestrian death rate catapults to over 90 percent.
The duty of reasonable care requires drivers to avoid accidents when possible. They mustn’t hit jaywalking pedestrians if at all possible. If drivers fail to avoid a wreck, they could be liable for economic damages, such as medical bills, as well as noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering.
Frequently, insurance company lawyers try to use the sudden emergency defense in these situations. This legal loophole excuses negligence if the driver reasonably reacts to a sudden emergency.
Most drivers react reasonably to accidents involving pedestrians. They pull over and wait for emergency responders.
But a jaywalking pedestrian is not a “sudden emergency” in this context. This category is reserved for things like hood fly-ups and other completely unexpected situations. Drivers should be ready to deal with everyday hazards like stalled cars and jaywalking pedestrians. Since everyday hazards are not sudden emergencies, the defense usually does not apply.
Common Pedestrian Accidents
Aside from crosswalk injuries and non-crosswalk injuries, there are many different ways in which pedestrians can be injured by a vehicle. Here are the most common pedestrian incidents.
Dart-Out Accidents
Dart-out accidents occur when it seems like a pedestrian appears out of nowhere. These accidents are extremely dangerous as drivers typically have no time to react. At the same time, dart-out accidents typically happen when the driver’s view is obstructed leading to serious injuries and possible death for the accident victims.
Intersection Dashes
Similar to a dart-out intersection, dashes leave the driver no time to react. These types of accidents occur when a pedestrian dashes out across an intersection at the last moment, usually after drivers believe they already checked for any crossing pedestrians.
Passing Accidents
Passing accidents occur when a larger vehicle such as a bus or a truck stops to let a pedestrian cross but ends up obstructing the view of other drivers. Since the other drivers can’t see the pedestrian and don’t know why they are stopped, they may drive around the stopped vehicle and end up colliding with the crossing pedestrian who took them by surprise.
Turning/Merging Accidents
Both drivers and pedestrians have a lot to pay attention to on the road, especially on heavily trafficked intersections. Merging accidents can occur when a car turns right at an intersection while the pedestrian thinks it is safe to cross. Since neither the driver nor pedestrian can anticipate what is happening it can turn into a dangerous situation for both parties involved.
Back-Up Accidents
Back-up accidents are motor vehicle accidents that occur when drivers are not paying full attention to their surroundings while driving in reverse. In addition, back-up accidents are most common when the driver’s view is obstructed. The commonly injured victims from back-up accidents are small children and people in wheelchairs as they are not easily seen while moving behind a car.
Ice Cream Truck Accidents
It is no secret that when neighborhood kids hear the ice cream truck they come running. This creates extremely dangerous situations as drivers may not see running kids as they dart out into the street for ice cream.
Hit and Run Accidents
Hit and run accidents occur when a driver strikes a pedestrian with their vehicle and leaves the scene. These accidents usually involve drunk drivers, distracted drivers, and texting drivers. Once the driver hits the pedestrian they end up fleeing the scene out of fear.
Both pedestrians and drivers have essential roles to play when it comes to preventing accidents. If you or a loved one have been involved in any of these accidents reach out to a Nashville personal injury lawyer to assist in your personal injury cases.
Most Common Pedestrian Injuries
With so many different types of pedestrian-related accidents, there are just as many types of injuries accident victims can suffer. Personal injuries like pedestrian injuries can be serious injuries that may require medical treatment and assistance from a Nashville, TN law firm. Here are the most common injuries related to pedestrian accidents you should be aware of.
Soft Tissue Damage
Soft tissue injuries can be anything from lacerations, contusions, sprains, strains, tears, and dislocations. These types of injuries can cause severe pain and result in high medical expenses. At the same time, while some soft tissue damages can heal quickly, others may leave scars and result in long-term problems for the accident victim. In order to cover your medical bills and other expenses, it is crucial to reach out to a personal injury lawyer to get the compensation you deserve.
Broken Bones and Fractures
The most common pedestrian injuries are broken bones and fractures. Pedestrians have a high chance of breaking or fracturing bones in their arms, wrists, shoulders, legs, and back. These types of injuries are extremely painful and could lead to severe long-term issues and possible amputation. If you or a loved one have suffered any catastrophic injuries like a broken or fractured bone due to a pedestrian accident, reach out to your Nashville, Tn personal injury lawyer for legal expertise.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries are one of the most serious types of injuries a pedestrian can suffer during an accident. Any kind of head and brain injury including concussions can be life-altering and even result in a fatality. Traumatic injuries occur from a forceful blow to the head that inflicts serious damage. Symptoms of a serious head injury include nausea, fatigue, drowsiness, difficulty speaking, insomnia, dizziness, loss of coordination, sensitivity to light, mood swings, and more.
Spinal Cord Injury
Another dangerous injury suffered by pedestrians is a spinal cord injury. Even though regular car accidents are typically the most common cause of spinal cord injuries, they can be frequent in pedestrian-involved accidents. This type of injury can be life-changing and result in the need for long-term care or even death.
Wrongful Death
Wrongful death occurs when a pedestrian passes away due to the severity of their injuries as a result of an accident. If the victim does pass away from their injuries, the lawsuit changes from a personal injury case to a wrongful death case. Our legal team of Nashville personal injury lawyers is experienced in both personal injury cases and wrongful death cases.
If you or a loved one have suffered any of these injuries as the result of a pedestrian accident, it is crucial to reach out to your trusted personal injury attorneys to cover medical expenses, deal with insurance companies, and assist in the legal process.
Connect with a Diligent Davidson County Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Pedestrian accident victims are entitled to significant compensation. Reaching out to your Nashville TN personal injury lawyer can help you or a loved one who has suffered an injury or wrongful death from a pedestrian accident. Our personal injury law firm in Nashville TN can help assist you with your personal injury claims and help you receive the compensation you deserve to cover your medical bills, physical therapy costs, lost wages, and other damages.
For a free consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney in Nashville, contact the law offices of Mitch Grissim & Associates. Our personal injury attorneys can connect victims involved with personal injury cases with doctors, even if they have no insurance or money. Our legal team is composed of dedicated personal injury attorneys who pride themselves in their knowledge and experience from working on many personal injury cases making us stand out among other law firms.
