Kansas Pedestrian Accident Attorney

Kansas Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

In the United States, a pedestrian is killed in a traffic accident every two hours and injured every eight minutes. (NHTSA 2020 Traffic Safety Fact Sheet). In any collision with a moving vehicle, the pedestrian typically suffers most injuries and damage. A pedestrian is 1.5 times more likely to be killed from a collision than occupants in a vehicle. If you or a loved one have been injured in a pedestrian accident, you must seek legal representation to make sure your rights are protected.

The catastrophic injuries common in a pedestrian accident may leave you facing a lengthy hospital stay and prevent you from working or enjoying time with your loved ones. Such injuries may permanently affect your way of living and enjoyment of life. You will need a skilled personal injury attorney to recover any available damages, including medical bills, lost wages and earning capacity, and pain and suffering.

When injured as a pedestrian, more than one party may be responsible. While the vehicle’s driver is likely responsible for the accident, it is possible to hold the party who maintained the sidewalks, road, or streetlights responsible. Pyle Law has the experience and resources necessary to navigate this complicated process and help you recover from your losses.

At Pyle Law, our experienced Kansas pedestrian accident attorney will thoroughly investigate your accident to determine if it was caused by a negligent driver or any other responsible party and then work to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. Your initial consultation is free and without obligation. You will pay nothing unless we successfully resolve your claim.

What is a Pedestrian Accident?

A pedestrian is anyone walking on the road, sidewalk, or crossing a street. Whether you are walking to work or simply through a parking lot, you are at risk of getting hit by a driver and suffering serious injuries. 

Walking can be a healthy and desirable mode of transportation, but almost one thousand people have been hit while walking in Kansas in recent years. Of those reported accidents, many needed medical attention for serious injuries, and 28 pedestrians did not survive. 

If drivers do not obey all traffic safety laws, watch for pedestrians, or get distracted, a car accident and serious injuries are likely to occur. When a negligent driver causes you injuries as a pedestrian, that driver should be liable for all your losses. 

How to Avoid Pedestrian Accidents?

There are several things both pedestrians and others using a road or street can do to avoid pedestrian accidents. For pedestrians, some of the things one can do include the following:

• Be vigilant. Look on both sides of the street before crossing. You just don’t look, but even when you have the right of way, make sure the approaching vehicle sees you or is not moving at a speed where attempting to cross the street will result in an inattentive driver hitting or running you over. Always watch for vehicles entering or exiting driveways or backing up at a parking lot.

• Avoid Distractions. With the advent of smartphones, people use them all the time – even while driving or walking. This is an accident waiting to happen, so if you must use your smartphone while walking on a road, street, walkway, or crosswalk, make sure you stop using your phone and proceed only when finished.

• Use Sidewalks. When possible, walk on the sidewalk. If not, walk facing traffic and as far from the traffic as possible.
  
• Walk in Well-Lit Areas. If an intersection or crosswalk is unavailable, find a well-lit area where you can see traffic in both directions. Just stand there for as long as it takes to ensure a good traffic gap that will allow you enough time to safely cross the street and continue watching the traffic as you cross. Be prepared to dash across if you underestimate an approaching vehicle, but do so, being aware of any other impediments in front of you, such as a pothole that can trip you and leave you sitting there for a vehicle to run you over.

• Obey All Other Laws. It is never a good idea to stagger along a road or street while drunk or under the influence of other mind-altering substances. Alcohol or drugs in the body impair your abilities to judge and make fast decisions, and just as either would cause you to have an accident when driving, either can also have you poorly judging traffic speeds and patterns, leaving you vulnerable to being hit or run over even by a carefully driving driver. 

For drivers, here are some of the things you can do to avoid hitting or running over a pedestrian:

1. Slow down in pedestrian areas
2. Be always vigilant, avoid distracted driving, and stay on the lookout for pedestrians
3. Pay particular attention and be patient with seniors and others who may have difficulty moving or walking at a pace one would normally expect
4. Make eye contact with a pedestrian walking or attempting to cross the road
5. Observe all traffic rules, including school zone rules
6. Do not drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs

What Are the Common Places in Kansas Where Pedestrian Accidents Happen?

Pedestrian accidents can occur anywhere there are vehicles and people, but the most common areas where pedestrian accidents occur in Kansas include the following areas or places:

1. Crossing a street or road at a traffic light
2. Crossing at intersection points
3. Walking across crosswalks
4. Walking in parking lots
5. Dropping off or picking up children at a school zone
6. Walking up a driveway
7. Walking along road shoulders
8. Getting off a bus or other public transport vehicle

What to do after a pedestrian accident?

If you are not seriously injured, you should first contact an experienced pedestrian accident lawyer, who can advise you on what you need to do next to protect your rights best and ensure those who have caused your injury are held responsible for compensating you for your injuries. Some of the things we will advise you to do immediately after the accident include the following:

• Call 911 or the Police. Regardless of how minor or serious your injuries are, you should call 911 or the police. The police will take and file a report, which can be critical later in pursuing a personal injury case against the driver who hit or ran you over. Calling the police will also ensure that first responders come to the scene, do a medical assessment, and transport you to the nearest medical facility for urgent care.

• Seek Medical Attention. If you have not suffered obvious injuries, you may be asked whether you desire to be taken to the hospital, and the better answer is yes, even if you feel okay. This is because some internal injuries may not be obvious, and some could take time to develop. Therefore, you must seek immediate medical care at the nearest hospital or emergency center.
•  Document Details. To the extent possible, get the details of the driver who hit or ran you over, including their driver’s license number, type of vehicle, and license plates. You should also take still photos and video recordings of anything that could help determine what happened, including the accident scene and surrounding area. If there is a posted sign for the speed limit in the area, take a photo of it as well. All this information could be crucial in making your case for personal injury down the road.

Do I need a Kansas pedestrian accident attorney?

Yes. You may think you do not need a pedestrian accident attorney, but when you are injured as a pedestrian, many legal steps must be taken to make sure you get the right compensation for your injuries. For example, there may be more than one party responsible. While the vehicle’s driver is likely responsible for the accident, holding the party responsible for the sidewalks, road, or streetlights is also possible. Tom Pyle has the experience and resources necessary to navigate this complicated process and help you recover from your losses.

At Pyle Law | Kansas Personal Injury & Workers Compensation Lawyer, our experienced Kansas pedestrian accident attorney will thoroughly investigate your accident to determine if it was caused by a negligent driver or any other responsible party and then work to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. Your initial consultation is free and with no obligation. You will pay nothing unless we successfully resolve your claim.