After a motor vehicle crash, the people involved will often exit their vehicles if they are able. When emergency responders arrive, they too, are often in the lanes of travel helping the injured or investigating the crash. With all of these people roaming around, it is not surprising that quite a few auto-pedestrian accidents occur at these scenes.
Auto-pedestrian accidents can easily occur at crash sites
2 auto-pedestrian accidents raise questions about road safety
Nearly every city and town in Ohio, or anywhere else in the country for that matter, has at least one road and/or intersection where the number of crashes is inordinately high. Some even have higher instances of auto-pedestrian accidents than others do. When this happens, people in the area often wonder why something is not done in order to fix the problem.
Parking lot auto-pedestrian accidents can result in fatalities
People here in Ohio and elsewhere do not often consider parking lots particularly dangerous. Vehicles are supposed to move slower and those walking to and from their vehicles have the right-of-way. While that may be the case, many auto-pedestrian accidents occur in parking lots, and some result in fatalities.
What can be done to prevent auto-pedestrian accidents?
As the weather continues to improve here in Ohio, more people may take the time to get out and walk. With more people on foot, the possibility of auto-pedestrian accidents increases. While drivers need to pay attention and look out for them, pedestrians can take some steps to try to improve their chances of avoiding injury.
Residential areas see a fair share of auto-pedestrian accidents
Busy intersections in Akron's urban areas often make those who walk nervous since they must navigate around traffic. People tend to be a bit more relaxed in residential areas because they feel safer due to a perceived lower concentration of vehicles. However, plenty of auto-pedestrian accidents occur in neighborhoods as well, and they can be just as deadly.
This one issue is common to every auto-pedestrian accident
Many Ohio residents know that walking is good for their health. However, they also know that it could be hazardous. You risk suffering serious injuries anytime you are around vehicles as you walk. This is the one issue that is common to every auto-pedestrian accident -- the person walking tends to suffer more severe injuries, and could even die, while the occupants of the other vehicle could walk away unscathed.
Contributory negligence in auto-pedestrian litigation
Negligence forms the backbone of many personal injury claims and when an Ohio resident is hurt in an auto-pedestrian accident, they may sue the other party for that party's wrongdoing. To prevail, they must generally show that the other party owed them a duty of care, that they breached their duty and that their breach caused the victim's injuries and losses. However, a party who is sued for causing another person's harm may allege that the victim exercised negligence as well and that they were partially responsible for their own injuries.
Do drivers have different duties when children are present?
When an Ohio resident gets behind the wheel of their car they are expected to operate their vehicle with care and to act reasonably given the circumstances that they encounter. That can mean slowing down when traffic builds, using caution when weather makes it difficult to see and practicing safe driving at intersections where they may encounter other automobiles or pedestrians.
Statistics on pedestrian accidents paint alarming picture
Car accidents happen with an incredible amount of frequency, but readers of this Ohio personal injury law firm may not realize just how often pedestrians become victims of vehicle crashes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 4,700 pedestrians were killed in accidents with vehicles in 2013.
Man in wheelchair killed in accident
No one expects that they or their loved one will be in a serious accident on any given day. No matter how hard we try to avoid these accidents, sometimes they just occur. A fatal auto-pedestrian accident recently occurred in Cleveland that resulted in the death of a man in a wheelchair.
