Drivers are obligated to drive safely and obey traffic laws; this includes avoiding distracted driving. Pedestrians suffer severe and sometimes even fatal injuries when hit by a distracted driver. If you or someone you love became the victim of a distracted driver, you could have a claim for compensation.
Pedestrians should be responsible sharers of the road to keep themselves safe. They should obey traffic laws and pay attention to their surroundings, but they cannot control the actions of drivers. Drivers have a duty to do the same to protect other motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Far too often, other things catch their attention, and they are not focused on the road.
Whether it be returning a quick text, skipping a song on their playlist, quickly downing a bagel on the way to work, checking to see if their child spilled something in the backseat, or applying makeup in the car, whenever a driver’s attention is not on the road, the risks to pedestrians increase. Pedestrians who become victims of distracted drivers can benefit from meeting with a skilled Huntsville personal injury lawyer.
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 2,841 people lost their lives because of distracted driving in 2018 alone. Of those, 400 were pedestrians. Pedestrians are arguably the most vulnerable people when it comes to road safety due to their lack of protection. Unlike motorists who have the protections of seatbelts, airbags, and crumple zones, and bicyclists with helmets, pedestrians generally have nothing to protect them from motor vehicles. Without this protection, their injuries are more likely to be severe and to be fatal. A skilled Huntsville personal injury lawyer could help them or their families hold distracted drivers accountable for the injuries they cause.
If you are driving and see another car about to hit you, you might have time to swerve and avoid an accident. You can quickly move your vehicle out of the way if you are paying attention. However, pedestrians aren’t able to move as quickly or swerve like a car can to avoid an accident. By the time they see a car coming, it can be too late to move out of the way.
Since drivers have a legal obligation to obey traffic laws that keep others safe, pedestrians, just like other motorists, typically anticipate that drivers will meet this obligation. When they step into a marked crosswalk or cross the street when the traffic signals tell them to, they anticipate that drivers will stop. When a driver is distracted, they will not notice a red light or that there is a crosswalk or that pedestrians are using the road.
Pedestrians injured by distracted drivers suffer many damages such as medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Nothing will ever erase the accident or their injuries. However, they do have the right to seek compensation for the losses. If you are ready to find out more, don’t hesitate to talk to an attorney. Meet with a knowledgeable Huntsville personal injury attorney by contacting Cloud, Ryan & Rouse at 256-801-1000 or using our convenient online contact form.
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