Any collision between a motor vehicle and an unprotected pedestrian is likely to have catastrophic consequences for the pedestrian, no matter where or at what speed the collision occurs. Most of the time, that pedestrian can then demand civil compensation from the driver who struck them.
Knowing some of the most common causes of pedestrian accidents in Philadelphia can be helpful when it comes to protecting yourself from getting hurt in an avoidable traffic crash. If you have already been injured by this type of wreck, a skilled pedestrian accident attorney could help you effectively enforce your right to civil recovery from anyone and everyone who played a role in harming you.
Under Pennsylvania state law, all motor vehicle drivers are expected to yield the right of way to pedestrians in marked and unmarked crosswalks at all times. Anyone who violates the law in this way or commits any other kind of traffic offense is almost certainly at fault for an ensuing collision with a pedestrian since that crash likely would not have happened if that driver had not breached their duty of care to act lawfully and responsibly behind the wheel.
The most common cause of pedestrian collisions—not just in Philadelphia but all over the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania—is a driver not seeing a pedestrian near them in the first place. With that in mind, texting behind the wheel and other forms of distracted driving are particularly likely culprits for crashes of this nature, especially if the driver is young and inexperienced with operating a motor vehicle alone.
Even experienced drivers who are comfortable behind the wheel can sometimes neglect to check their blind spots before turning across crosswalks. The blind spots along the sides of a typical passenger car are often big enough to completely hide a person on foot from the natural view of the car’s driver, so unless that driver makes sure to use their mirrors and adjust the position of their head to check those blind spots, they may collide with someone they did not even know was near them.
While pedestrians are rarely the ones primarily at fault for causing pedestrian wrecks in Philadelphia, there are some ways in which pedestrians can inadvertently increase their own risk of being hurt in this sort of way. For instance, a pedestrian who chooses to wear dark clothing while walking at night can make it hard for even a diligent and skillful driver to see them.
Unfortunately, even if you know all about the most common causes of pedestrian accidents in Philadelphia and do everything you can to protect yourself while walking, you may still end up getting seriously hurt solely because of the negligence of a driver near you. If that has happened to you, you have support available from knowledgeable legal counsel to demand every cent of compensation you deserve.
A lawyer could discuss your potential claim and offer custom-tailored guidance about the next steps during a private initial consultation. Schedule yours by calling today.
