CT Pedestrian Accident

An Experienced CT Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Each year in Connecticut pedestrians sustain serious, sometimes life-threatening injuries, due to inattention and negligence. As such, speaking with a CT pedestrian accident lawyer is critical. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2016 5,987 pedestrians died. Furthermore, another 70,000 pedestrians sustained injuries. Surprisingly, most of these fatal accident’s did not occur in intersections. Instead, 72% of pedestrian accidents occurred outside of intersections or crosswalks. Not surprisingly, Connecticut’s largest cities, including Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven, Stamford and Waterbury, lead the State with injuries and deaths.

Common Causes of vehicle vs. pedestrian accidents?

Many vehicle vs. pedestrian accidents happen because of driver inattention. Distracted driving has become a huge problem over the years. Driving while texting, changing the radio, or eating, takes the driver’s focus away from the road, endangering pedestrians. Drivers who are paying attention often fail to keep a proper look out or stop for stop signs and traffic lights. Speeding, reckless driving, or failing to stop for an extended school bus arm, can be deadly for pedestrians.

Where do vehicle-pedestrian accidents occur?

While many drivers believe they only need to watch out for pedestrians at intersections and crosswalks, recent data show this to be inaccurate. The reality is that most pedestrian traffic fatalities occur in places other than intersections. Pedestrians get hit by cars in all kinds of situations. Many of these accidents happen in parking lots. Also, people get hit while exiting buses, or while walking or jogging along the side of a road. Last, but certainly not least, pedestrians are struck while crossing the street at a non-intersection, and at crosswalks. This is of particular import to Connecticut residents because many towns within the state have limited sidewalks.

How dangerous are vehicle vs. pedestrian accidents?

Pedestrians who have been struck by motor vehicles usually suffer severe injuries. In an automobile collision, drivers have their vehicles, seat belts, and air bags protecting them. Even in an automobile vs. motorcycle accident, the rider is (hopefully) wearing a helmet. Pedestrians on the other hand, have no such protections. Imagine the damage a roughly 3000lb vehicle can cause to an unprotected 150lb human being. These injuries can include:

Tearing of tendons and cartilage
Herniated discs
Internal injuries such as damage to the kidney, spleen or liver
Broken legs, arms, and ribs
Traumatic Brain Injury (aka TBI)
Death

If you or someone you know has been injured, you should speak with an experienced CT pedestrian accident lawyer.

Can I be compensated for my injuries?

As with any motor vehicle collision, pedestrians have a right to recover for their injuries resulting from someone else’s negligence or inattention. The injured pedestrian may be able to recover not only the cost of medical care, but also for loss of income and pain and suffering. In some cases the pedestrian may even be able to recover punitive damages from the motorist.

Punitive damages are money awarded to an injured party for the purpose of punishing the wrongdoer for their reckless or dangerous behavior. These types of damages happen in cases involving a drunk driver.

Drunk driving cases also often present us with the “hit-and-run problem.” Drunk drivers know they’re breaking the law and may flee the accident scene to avoid criminal charges and monetary liability. These cases present a special set of concerns, not the least of which is identifying and finding the reckless driver. Therefore, it’s important to call 911 as soon as possible so that, hopefully, the police can apprehend the hit-and-run driver.

It’s important to remember in vehicle vs. pedestrian accidents, the driver of the car is not always the only person liable for the crash. Sometimes faulty traffic and crosswalk signals, poor road conditions eliminating the driver and/or the pedestrian’s visibility of the intersection or making the crosswalk unusable may also be to blame. Consequently, the injured pedestrian may have a claim against the government agency responsible for maintaining these traffic control devices.

Personal injury attorney Lawyer A. Twillie II will go to the scene of the accident to examine the area for any of these conditions and determine whether they were a contributing cause of your injuries.

Do I Need an Attorney?

As a personal injury attorney, I see too many situations of pedestrians trying to work with the insurance company to settle the claim on their own. Sadly, most of these situations result in the pedestrian being unfairly compensated for their injuries. It’s important to keep in mind that, the driver’s insurance company does not have your best interests in mind when settling the claim. In fact, its quite the opposite. The insurance adjuster’s job is to settle the claim injury as quickly and as cheaply as possible. Our job is to ensure that this quick and cheap method doesn’t happen to you. Get an experienced CT pedestrian accident lawyer on your side. Attorney Twillie routinely litigates personal injury claims throughout the State of Connecticut.

Call (844) 438-5252 to Speak with Attorney Lawyer A. Twillie II

If you or a loved one have suffered an injury as a pedestrian caused by a motor vehicle, call us at (844) 438-5252 or send us an email today. Your consultation with us is Free and Confidential. Furthermore, since we work on a contingency fee basis, you don’t pay anything unless we win your case. If you can’t come to us, we will come to you.