Pedestrians Can Suffer Catastrophic Injuries

 Posted on October 30, 2023 in Car Accident

Pedestrian fatalities in the United States have reached a 40-year high, with an estimated 7,500 pedestrians being killed by drivers in 2022. 

While pedestrians in the “Sun Belt” states face the highest risk of suffering injuries, anybody traveling by foot can suffer catastrophic injuries when hit by a vehicle.

If you have been injured in a pedestrian accident, a Fort Collins pedestrian accident lawyer is available to help you recover the compensation that you deserve.

Data on Pedestrian Fatalities

According to data collected by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), in one year, the largest number of pedestrian fatalities occurred at night (74%). This remained constant, whether the road had street lights or was pitch black. 

The majority of pedestrian traffic fatalities take place in cities (84%) on an open road (77%). Interestingly, intersections only account for 23% of pedestrian deaths.

As far as day of the week, the largest portion of pedestrian fatalities occur on Fridays (1,248 deaths), closely followed by Saturdays (1,220 deaths), with the majority of fatalities happening in dark conditions.

Types of Catastrophic Injuries

A pedestrian who is hit by a vehicle may experience any of the following injuries:

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)

A pedestrian hit by a motor vehicle may experience a blow or jolt to the head, causing brain damage. Signs of a TBI may include nausea, vomiting, loss of consciousness, or headaches. Depending on severity, a TBI may cause a person to have slurred speech, experience vision loss, and suffer permanent disability.

Soft tissue injuries

Damage to muscles, ligaments, tendons, or nerves are all signs of a soft tissue injury. A soft tissue injury may compromise your ability for your limb to bear weight. You may also experience numbness and tingling and lose the ability to move the limb that was affected by the accident.

Soft tissue injuries in a pedestrian accident usually involve injury to the legs and knees, leading to long-term disabilities. A pedestrian may be confined to a wheelchair for the remainder of his or her life and may need “round-the-clock” care.

Spinal cord injuries

An individual who suffers a spinal cord injury may lose strength or sensation below the site of injury. Spinal cord injury victims may lose the ability to feel sensation or to move their arms or legs. 

Other symptoms of spinal cord injuries include loss of bladder control, muscle spasms, an intense or painful stinging sensation, and trouble breathing. 

Chest and abdominal injuries

When a pedestrian is hit by a vehicle, the person may experience fractured ribs, a fractured sternum, or bruising to the lungs. There is also the possibility of fluid building up between the lungs and chest wall, which will require immediate medical attention. Any of these injuries can cause difficulty breathing.

Abdominal injuries may involve blood pooling in your abdominal cavity or damage to internal organs. Some people who have internal bleeding may exhibit lethargy, nausea, vomiting, or pain, while others may show few symptoms prior to having extreme blood loss.

Based on the severity of your injuries, a Larimer County pedestrian accident attorney will be able to assess how much compensation you are entitled to receive.

Contact a Fort Collins, CO, Pedestrian Accident Attorney

A run-in with a motor vehicle will most likely cause a pedestrian to sustain catastrophic injuries. If you have been the victim of a pedestrian accident, you need the guidance of an experienced Larimer County, CO, pedestrian accident attorney. Contact Hoggatt Law Office, P.C. online or call 970-225-2190 today to schedule your free consultation.