Struck as a Pedestrian? You Deserve Answers and Fair Compensation.
Crosswalks, sidewalks, and parking lots should be safe. When a driver's negligence changes that, get matched with a pedestrian accident attorney, free and fast.
Understanding Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrian accidents frequently result in some of the most severe injuries seen in motor vehicle collision cases, simply because a person on foot has no protection at all against a moving vehicle. Whether you were struck in a marked crosswalk, on a sidewalk invaded by a vehicle, or in a parking lot, the physical and financial toll can be enormous — and the path to fair compensation often depends on quickly establishing that the driver, not the pedestrian, was at fault.
Drivers and their insurers sometimes attempt to shift blame onto the pedestrian, alleging jaywalking or inattention, even in situations where the pedestrian had the right of way. An experienced pedestrian accident attorney knows how to gather crosswalk signal timing, traffic camera or nearby business surveillance footage, witness statements, and police reports to establish exactly what happened.
Because pedestrian injuries are so often catastrophic, these cases also require a careful, forward-looking calculation of future medical needs, long-term care, and lost earning capacity — not just the bills that have already arrived.
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents
Failure to yield at crosswalks
Drivers turning or proceeding through an intersection without yielding to pedestrians with the right of way.
Distracted driving
A driver looking at a phone or infotainment screen is less likely to notice a pedestrian stepping into the roadway.
Backing up in parking lots
Limited visibility while reversing is a common cause of parking lot pedestrian injuries.
Speeding in pedestrian-heavy areas
Excess speed near schools, downtown areas, and residential streets sharply increases injury severity.
Impaired driving
Alcohol or drug impairment significantly increases the risk and severity of pedestrian collisions.
Common Injuries
Every case is different, but people injured in a pedestrian accident frequently experience:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Multiple and complex fractures
- Spinal cord injury and paralysis
- Internal organ damage
- Severe lacerations and degloving injuries
- Lower extremity crush injuries
- Wrongful death
Who Can Be Held Liable?
The driver
Most pedestrian accidents result from driver negligence, such as failure to yield, distraction, or speeding.
A government entity
Missing crosswalk signals, poor lighting, or obstructed sightlines can create liability for the municipality responsible for road design.
A property or business owner
In parking lot accidents, inadequate lighting or signage can sometimes create additional liability.
Compensation You May Be Entitled To
Extensive medical costs
Emergency care, surgery, and long-term rehabilitation are common in pedestrian injury cases.
Lost income and earning capacity
Compensation for time away from work and any long-term impact on your ability to earn.
Pain and suffering
Damages reflecting the often severe and life-altering nature of pedestrian crash injuries.
Wrongful death damages
Compensation available to surviving family members in fatal pedestrian accident cases.
Legal Issues Unique to Pedestrian Accidents
Right-of-way disputes
Establishing that you had the right of way — or that the driver's violation caused the crash regardless — is often central to these claims.
Comparative fault allegations
Insurers sometimes argue a pedestrian was jaywalking or inattentive; strong scene evidence is key to countering this.
Catastrophic injury valuation
Because pedestrian injuries are frequently severe, accurately projecting future medical and care costs is critical to a fair settlement.