When a person actually suffers an accident with a vehicle, the results are often catastrophic or fatal. If you experienced an accident as a pedestrian, you likely face astronomical medical bills associated with your injuries, the physical inability to return to work to earn an income, and pain and suffering. If you suffered injuries as a result of a car hitting you as a pedestrian, learn more about your legal right to pursue justice by contacting a pedestrian accident attorney at Labrum Law Firm at (615) 338-9500 for a free consultation regarding your case today.

What Happens During Pedestrian Accidents?

According to the Tennessee Department of Transportation, pedestrians have the right of way at crosswalks, which is where the majority of pedestrian accidents occur. However, under TCA 55-8-133, pedestrians still must follow the rules of the road and only cross at designated spots. When a pedestrian accident does occur, it often results in serious or life-threatening injuries. Pedestrian accidents are often the result of a driver failing to monitor ongoing surroundings, or simply driving in excess of the speed limit and unable to stop in time to prevent an impact with a pedestrian. Typically, what occurs when a vehicle hits a pedestrian is that there is an initial impact, a trajectory of the person, and then a violent contact with the ground. Many pedestrians unfortunately are thrown quite a distance from the original point of collision. The faster the speed of the vehicle, the greater the impact and the greater the “throw distance.” As anyone would expect, the injuries suffered by victims of pedestrian accidents are often serious or deadly.

What Types of Injuries Typically Result From Pedestrian Accidents?

The vehicle can impact directly with a person's knees, legs, arms, or torso. If the driver impacts pedestrians in a head-on collision, typically the leg and knee will connect with the hood of the vehicle and throw the person onto the hood or over the top of the vehicle. If the pedestrian accident occurs where the vehicle is traveling at a higher rate of speed, the pedestrian may be thrown several feet from the vehicle and then land on the ground. As a result, some of the more commonly seen injuries resulting from pedestrian accidents include the following:

• Traumatic brain injuries (skull fractures, intracranial swelling, hemorrhages, concussions, etc.)
• Spinal cord injuries
• Lower body injuries (hip fractures, pelvis fractures, knee injuries, broken bones, abrasions, cuts, or burns)
• Internal organ damage
• Internal bleeding
• Nerve damage
• Torso injuries (rib cage fractures or breaks, liver injuries, lung injuries, heart injuries or other organ injuries)

The severity of the pedestrian injury will depend on where the pedestrian was hit on their body, the force of the impact, the speed of the vehicle, the type and shape of the vehicle, and the height and age of the pedestrian. Some injuries related to pedestrian accidents are so severe they cause permanent brain damage, the need for amputations, paralysis, or even death. If you experienced a pedestrian accident that resulted from the negligence of a driver, contact the experienced pedestrian accident attorneys at Labraum Law Firm to learn more about how you can receive compensation for your medical out-of-pocket expenses as well as your lost wages and pain and suffering.

What Should a Victim Do After a Pedestrian Accident?

If you are reading this article, there is a good chance that the pedestrian accident already occurred. While it is often easier to follow these steps immediately following the pedestrian accident, you should do so as soon as possible if you have not done so already.

• Contact the police and provide a complete explanation of the events regarding the pedestrian accident
• Request a copy of the police report when it is finalized
• Obtain the contact information (name, address) and insurance information of the driver that caused the pedestrian accident. If you were unable to obtain this due to your physical injuries, this information will be made available on the police report
• Seek a medical evaluation and treatment from a medical professional. If you were taken by ambulance to a hospital, you should have received a proper evaluation and treatment plan. However, if your symptoms worsen after your visit to the emergency room, or if you develop any new symptoms, you should immediately seek a medical professional to evaluate your new or worsening symptoms
• Follow your medical provider's treatment plan carefully in order to ensure that you have the ability to receive compensation for your injuries and losses from an insurance company or a court of law
• Keep all documentation regarding any of your medical expenses, doctor visits, medical treatments, prescription medications, lost wages, expected loss of future wages, expected future medical expenses, and a diary of your pain and suffering.

One of the most important steps a victim can take after a pedestrian accident is to contact an experienced pedestrian accident attorney in order to better understand their legal rights and options following their accident. Every pedestrian accident will have a different set of facts and circumstances, and therefore, each victim will have a different amount of compensation that they will have the legal right to pursue under Tennessee law.

Contact a Pedestrian Accident Attorney To Help You With Your Legal Rights

A pedestrian accident can prove to be complicated and legally challenging. Some pedestrian accidents require independent investigations, medical experts, and even accident reconstruction witnesses. Visiting with an experienced pedestrian accident attorney at Labrum Law Firm at (615) 338-9500 can help you better understand all of your legal rights. Our consultations are free and we work on a contingency fee basis, meaning that you do not pay us until we win your case on your behalf and you either receive a settlement from an insurance company or win a judgment in court. Learn more about your legal options to receive compensation for your injuries, lost wages, pain and suffering, and even psychological trauma by contacting our experienced attorneys today.