The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that pedestrian accidents make up nearly 10 percent of all fatalities from motor vehicle accidents. Motor vehicle accidents are one of the most common causes of death in Connecticut.
Pedestrian injuries are often severe and include head and brain injuries, injuries to the spinal cord and paraplegia. Fortunately, the injuries to three people who were hit in a Hartford church parking lot recently were described as minor.
The accident happened when a car driven by an elderly driver hit the people who were waiting in the parking lot for a low-income food assistance program. All three of the victims, as well as the driver, were transported to a local hospital for treatment.
More often, the conditions for pedestrian accidents are created by a mix of increased traffic and driving speeds as well as a activities that involve pedestrians on roadways, such as jogging and skateboarding. Driver negligence, including speeding, distracted driving and failure to stop at crosswalks are often the cause of pedestrian accidents.
Personal injury claims can be filed by those injured in pedestrian accidents. These claims may provide compensation for expenses such as medical bills, rehabilitation, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Claims often begin with a detailed assessment of the victim’s current and future medical and emotional needs.
As with the majority of vehicle accident personal injury claims, cases from pedestrian accidents are commonly resolved in a negotiated settlement outside of court. However, sometimes the driver or the driver’s insurance company is unwilling to compensate the victim or to provide full compensation, resulting in litigation of the case.
Source: WTNH-TV, “3 pedestrians hit in church parking lot,” July 15, 2013
