More than 4,000 pedestrians are killed and approximately 70,000 are injured each year in the United States. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that on average, a pedestrian (a person traveling on foot) is killed in a car crash every 120 minutes, and injured in a car accident every eight minutes. Sadly, it is children and the elderly who are most vulnerable to pedestrian accidents. According to the NHTSA, the fatality rate for pedestrians aged 65 or older was higher than for any other age group in 2008, and nearly one-fifth of the children between ages five and nine who were killed in auto accidents in 2008 were pedestrians. Pedestrian accidents most frequently occur at night, but can occur at any time of day when people cross busy intersections, go out for a walk, or run errands in urban areas. A pedestrian may be hit by a car, truck, bus or other vehicle due to driver inattention, failure to yield the right of way to the pedestrian, failure to obey a traffic signal, failure to stop for a school bus, dangerous or aggressive driving, or as a result of a motorist driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Unfortunately, pedestrian accidents are often very serious. The human body is no match for a heavy vehicle, and collisions between pedestrians and motor vehicles may result in broken bones, lacerations, brain injury, spinal injury, amputation, organ damage, internal bleeding and even death. If you or a loved one has suffered serious injury in a pedestrian accident, we urge you to immediately contact an experienced personal injury lawyer to protect your rights.

Scartelli Olszewski’s Pennsylvania injury lawyers provide sound counseling and representation of pedestrian accident victims and their loved ones. Our attorneys not only understand the rules of the road affecting who was at fault in an accident, but are prepared to take pedestrian crash matters to trial to fight for the rights of our clients. We understand the medical and financial hardships that can arise as a result of pedestrian accidents, including pain and suffering, lost wages, rehabilitation and long-term care. We have represented accident victims in alternative dispute resolution forums such as mediation and arbitration, and before state and federal courts. We can help you obtain all of the compensation to which you may be entitled as a result of your pedestrian accident. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, contact us today at (877) 353-0529.