Pedestrian accidents are much like collisions that occur between two vehicles: at least one party is most often negligent. When seeking compensation and holding someone accountable, causation is one of the most important factors. As such, it’s vital to recognize some of the most common causes and how they can cause the most severe damage.
Distracted Driving
When a driver texts, it takes them about five seconds to read or respond to something (depending on the message length). That’s at least five seconds of them looking away from the road. It takes about another 10 to 15 seconds to refocus. In that time span, the driver can cause a lot of damage. If they’re approaching a crosswalk, even the slightest distraction puts pedestrians in harm’s way.
Drunk Driving
Drinking can cause fatigue, impairment, and other problems. As such, a drunk driver may not have the same reaction time as someone who is fully alert. Drunk drivers can speed through intersections, not even knowing if they’ve gone through a legal crosswalk. Pedestrians are at direct risk of catastrophic harm.
Drunk drivers can also swerve onto sidewalks, and pedestrians can potentially suffer injuries in this situation.
Fatigued Driving
Someone who is tired may not have the same reaction time or decision-making ability as they would when they’re fully awake. They may close their eyes or doze off at the worst times, such as when going through an intersection. A fatigued driver may not stop in time to prevent a crash with a pedestrian, resulting in severe injuries.
Impatience
Impatience most often occurs at intersections when the driver is trying to turn. The driver may not be as willing to wait for a pedestrian crossing a street, so they try to turn faster than the person walking. It’s easy to see how this type of situation can lead to a collision.
If you suffer from a pedestrian accident, 'MAGGIO LAW is ready to be on your side. Our Jackson pedestrian accident attorneys are here to seek maximum compensation on your behalf when you need it most.