Serious personal injury can occur very quickly when an accident involves both a motor vehicle and a pedestrian. These types of accidents can cause extensive damage to your quality of life. If you have been involved in an accident, you can be prepared to assert your right to compensation after these common causes of pedestrian accidents in Columbia and surrounding South Carolina communities. The experienced and competent pedestrian accident attorneys at Whetstone Perkins & Fulda are here to help.
Pedestrian Accidents
Broadly speaking, pedestrian accidents are collisions involving both motor vehicles and people who are standing, walking, or otherwise not in a vehicle at the time of the accident. This can include construction workers, whose work often necessitates close interaction with busy roadways. Unfortunately, the state’s infrastructure leaves pedestrians particularly vulnerable to such accidents.
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents
In Columbia, SC, several factors often contribute to accidents involving both pedestrians and vehicles, creating unsafe conditions. The most common causes generally fall into the following categories:
Unsafe Driving Practices
- Drunk Driving: Driving while under the influence of an intoxicant can lead to impaired driving ability
- Distracted Driving: Texts, passengers, music, or any other distraction that takes a driver’s attention away from the road can result in an accident
- Failing to Yield: Drivers should practice yielding to pedestrians in all circumstances. Failure to yield can lead to serious injuries to the pedestrian
- Speeding: When a driver speeds, their reaction time is greatly reduced and can result in not responding to conditions or pedestrians
Environmental Factors
- Unclear Crossing Areas: When pedestrian crosswalks are not clearly marked or enforced, a collision can occur. When municipalities fail to evaluate the needs of pedestrians and safe walking conditions, accidents are more prevalent
- Inclement Weather: Poor weather, including rain, fog, sleet, or even snow, can reduce visibility and affect a driver’s ability to see a pedestrian
- Poor Lighting or Road Defects: Unsafe road conditions can make it difficult to notice and avoid a pedestrian, who may have more difficulty navigating poor road conditions
Unsafe Pedestrian Practices
- Jaywalking: Walking where a driver does not anticipate a pedestrian can result in perpetuating an unsafe environment
- Dark Clothing: When a pedestrian or utility worker chooses to wear clothes that make it difficult to distinguish them from the road or surroundings, accidents can become more common
While the responsibility always falls on a driver to remain alert and respond to conditions, factors such as these can influence the likelihood of a personal injury in a pedestrian accident in Columbia.
Helping Injured Individuals Move Forward
After a person sustains an injury in a vehicle, they may feel dazed, anxious, and pressured by the driver’s insurance company to accept a settlement that does not reflect their best interests. You don’t have to go it alone. An attorney can help you get the compensation you need to move forward.
Work With an Experienced Personal Injury Law Firm
If your personal injury is a result of any combination of these common causes of pedestrian accidents in Columbia or the surrounding area, work with the talented attorneys at Whetstone Perkins & Fulda. You deserve to be heard and assisted by a law firm that is competent and concerned for your well-being. Contact us today and schedule a consultation about your unique circumstances.
