Pedestrian accidents can cause many types of severe injuries, and it is important to choose an attorney who understands them all.
A wide variety of factors can affect the type and severity of injuries that may be suffered in a pedestrian accident. The most important is probably the speed of the vehicle at the time of the impact. Research has shown that about 75 percent of pedestrian accidents involve vehicles traveling 25 miles per hour or less, which is good news for survival rates because generally speaking faster speeds bring bigger injuries. However, in any case, when an unprotected human body meets 5,000 pounds of steel, nothing good is going to result.
The following types of injuries are common in pedestrian accidents where a person is struck by a car or truck.
Head Injuries
Head injuries are very common in pedestrian accidents because the victim is going to get thrown down on the pavement hard. In fact, head injuries are the leading cause of pedestrian fatalities. Even a “minor” concussion injury is considered a traumatic brain injury and can have a lasting impact on the victim’s future quality of life.
Back & Neck Injuries
If a driver does not take any evasive maneuvers or even hit their brakes to try to avoid hitting a pedestrian, the individual is likely to get thrown up onto the hood of the car, possibly rolling up over the windshield and ending up on the ground behind the vehicle. Naturally this kind of accident can cause serious back and neck injuries as the victim is tossed like a rag doll against the vehicle and the ground. In some cases the pedestrian may be left with permanent pain or disability.
Leg Injuries
A passenger car’s bumper will hit the average pedestrian around the knees, which can cause serious leg injuries including torn knee ligaments, fractured bones, pelvis and hip fractures, and of course extensive soft tissue damage. In some cases, the damage to the limb may be so extensive that amputation is required. This would open up a whole other set of problems including mobility issues and pain from phantom limbs.
Torso Injuries
The bumper of an SUV, pickup truck, or semi truck will hit a pedestrian higher up on the body. This can cause anything from a few cracked ribs to serious damage to the lungs, liver, or other vital organs. Head and back injuries may also result as the individual is thrown to the ground or rolled up over the windshield of the vehicle.
Hire an Attorney Who Understands Your Injury
Different kinds of injuries need to be treated differently when preparing personal injury cases. It is essential to hire an experienced attorney such as Fernando D. Vargas who has studied different kinds of injuries extensively, understands your pain, and will not overlook any possible areas of compensation that may be linked to your unique combination of injuries. To schedule your free initial case evaluation with Attorney Vargas, please call 909-982-0707 now.
