Pedestrian accidents can cause devastating injuries and jarring consequences. The rippling effect of being injured and unable to work or participate in daily activities and chores can quickly lead to significant physical, emotional, and financial burdens. If you or someone you love was a victim in a pedestrian accident, you should speak with a pedestrian accident lawyer in Jackson at your earliest convenience.
Types of Pedestrian Accidents
Generally, a pedestrian accident is when a motor vehicle strikes a walking pedestrian. However, many scenarios and types of accidents can occur.
Our pedestrian accident attorneys in Jackson handle cases involving:
- Intersection and crosswalk accidents,
- Parking lot accidents,
- Pedestrians stuck on a sidewalk or shoulder,
- Runners or joggers struck by vehicles in walking paths/lanes,
- Pedestrians struck while exiting a bus or train,
- Failure to yield to crossing pedestrians,
- Running a red light or stop sign accidents, and
- Pedestrians hit by distracted and drunk drivers.
Motor vehicles must share the road responsibly with pedestrians, and failing to do so can result in drivers being held liable for accidents and injuries.
Common Causes of Jackson Pedestrian Accidents
In exchange for the right to operate a motor vehicle, drivers must obey all traffic laws and regulations. Drivers must exercise reasonable care when driving a car, motorcycle, bus, or truck. Following state and local traffic laws significantly reduces the risk of pedestrian accidents. There are many causes of pedestrian accidents, but the one thing they have in common is the failure on one party’s part to follow traffic laws or use reasonable care.
Speeding
Speeding is illegal for a reason, and vehicles driving at a high speed can severely injure or kill pedestrians crossing the street. The sheer impact of a speeding vehicle can have catastrophic consequences on an innocent pedestrian.
Drunk Driving
Driving while intoxicated poses many risks, but it can be especially harmful to pedestrians sharing a road with an intoxicated driver. Drunk driving impairs motor skills, the ability to think clearly, and reaction times.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving can include many types of conduct. Most notably, using a cell phone while driving to talk, text, chat, post, or browse poses a significant risk to pedestrians. Even mere seconds with their eyes off the road could result in a driver striking a pedestrian. Distracted driving can include eating or drinking behind the wheel, applying makeup, searching the floor for lost items, and many other activities.
Other Causes
Other causes of pedestrian accidents include failure to stop or yield, poor weather conditions, and illegal turns.
Who Is Liable for Damages After a Pedestrian Accident?
It is common to have significant medical bills after a pedestrian accident. If you cannot work because of your injuries, it will only add to your financial strain. So who is responsible for paying your medical bills? Most often, the responsible party will be the driver. However, there are three basic types of pedestrian-involved accidents, and who may ultimately be liable for your damages will depend on the particulars of your situation. But remember, in Mississippi you generally have only three years from the date of the accident to pursue a claim, so it is important to act quickly.
Single Driver Accident
The liable party is typically most evident in a single car v. pedestrian accident. For instance, if it is clear you were struck by a single vehicle while crossing a crosswalk, identifying that responsible party is easy. You may then choose to file a lawsuit against that driver.
Multiple Driver Accident
Identifying the liable party can be more challenging if multiple cars are involved in the accident, and numerous parties may be responsible. For example, if Driver 1 is stopped at a stop sign and Driver 2 hit them from behind, causing them to strike you in the crosswalk, both may be liable. Reviewing the accident report, speaking with witnesses, and watching surveillance or red light cam footage, our pedestrian accident attorneys in Jackson can help you identify all potentially liable parties.
Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Accident
The most challenging pedestrian accident to pursue is a hit-and-run incident. Sadly, they are prevalent because the driver panics and takes off. If the driver is identified, they will likely face criminal charges and can be held civilly liable. However, it can be challenging to locate the fleeing driver. It can take an extensive investigation to track down eyewitnesses and review video surveillance footage to identify the driver. Our Jackson pedestrian accident attorneys can help with that.
Jackson Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
At Harris Law Firm, for four decades, we have been helping pedestrian victims hold drivers responsible for the injuries they caused. If you or a loved one was struck by a vehicle in or around Jackson, MS, contact us to schedule a no-cost, no-obligation consultation.