WV Pedestrian Accident Lawyers – Injury Statistics
Our WV Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Know Statistics Are More than Numbers
Thousands of pedestrians are hit by vehicles and injured or killed each year. The number of pedestrian deaths resulting from these incidents has increased by more than 80 percent over the last 15 years, and a pedestrian is now the victim in 18 percent of all fatal vehicle crashes.
Statistics like these can be shocking. However, unless you have been personally affected by a pedestrian accident, you might not realize the true and devastating toll each of these accidents takes on the injured individuals and loved ones represented by these numbers.
The WV pedestrian accident lawyers at Burke, Schultz, Harman & Jenkinson work directly with victims of pedestrian accidents and their families. These numbers are personal to us. Our relationships with these clients are the motivation behind our drive to secure the compensation pedestrian injury victims need to recover.
Pedestrian Accidents are Often Preventable
One finding in studies of pedestrian accidents and injuries is particularly upsetting: many of these accidents could have been prevented. Consider these risk factors in vehicle-pedestrian accidents:
- Driving at higher rates of speed increases the likelihood of an accident and the severity of injuries if a pedestrian is hit.
- Areas where pedestrians are likely to be present can be designed to reduce vehicle speed and the risk of collisions. Roadway design conflicts in these areas create risks for pedestrians.
- Larger, heavier vehicles are more likely to cause severe injury to pedestrians. Better vehicle design and safety features like backup cameras can mitigate some of these risks.
- Alcohol can impair the judgment of both drivers and pedestrians. In 2022, nearly half of accidents that resulted in the death of a pedestrian involved alcohol impairment.
The care a person receives after a pedestrian accident is also critical to the outcome for the injured party. People injured in rural areas are more likely to die from their injuries due to the distance to a qualified trauma center. Emergency and medical care that follow the American College of Surgeons’ Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) guidelines can improve outcomes, but medical professionals with this knowledge may not be available.
When Should WV Pedestrian Injury Claims Be Filed?
Knowing that an accident could have been prevented or a person’s injuries less serious is difficult for victims of pedestrian accidents and their loved ones.
In some cases—when someone else’s actions or negligence caused harm—that person or entity can be held liable. That means they are responsible for compensating the injured party (or their loved ones in a wrongful death case) for losses that occurred due to the accident, like medical expenses, loss of wages, and pain and suffering.
In West Virginia, most personal injury claims must be filed within two years after the date the injury occurred.
The WV pedestrian injury attorneys at Burke, Schultz, Harman & Jenkinson assist injured individuals and families in evaluating when valid WV pedestrian claims exist and should be filed against a party or parties responsible.
Contact Our WV Pedestrian Accident Lawyers for Help
If you were injured or lost a loved one due to an accident and believe you may have the right to file a WV pedestrian accident claim, an injury attorney at Burke, Schultz, Harman & Jenkinson is ready to help. Contact our WV pedestrian accident lawyers by calling 304-263-0900 or completing this online form to learn how we can assist you.
