Serious personal injuries usually occur when a driver hits a pedestrian in a crosswalk accident. Many times, drivers begin making a right-hand turn and enter the crosswalk unlawfully, striking a pedestrian in the crosswalk. Under Ohio and Kentucky law, drivers must yield to pedestrians in the street under every circumstance. Unfortunately, this prohibition doesn’t stop distracted or speeding drivers from hitting pedestrians in the crosswalk, causing severe injuries.
If you’ve suffered an injury in a crosswalk accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Under Ohio and Kentucky law, at-fault drivers are legally responsible for the costs associated with the injuries they cause. Pedestrians have legal rights, and if you’ve suffered an injury that caused permanent damage, injury-related pain, and medical expenses, you should consider filing a personal injury lawsuit. At Jones Kahan Law, LLC, we offer potential clients a free initial consultation, including in-home consultations. Contact our Cincinnati, Dayton, and Northern Kentucky crosswalk accident lawyers as soon as possible.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 6,000 pedestrians died in traffic accidents in the United States. Approximately 137,000 pedestrians received treatment in an emergency department for non-fatal accidents that year. Children and older adults are the groups most likely to die in pedestrian accidents. One out of every child age 15 and younger killed in a traffic crash was a pedestrian. Pedestrians age 65 and older make up 20 percent of all pedestrian deaths.
Overall, pedestrians are 1.5 times more likely to be killed in a car crash than drivers and passengers in vehicles. Crosswalks and intersections are some of the deadliest locations for pedestrians. Even when pedestrians follow all of the relevant traffic laws, they are at risk of being injured or killed by a motor vehicle. Anytime a pedestrian sets foot in a crosswalk, he or she is vulnerable to an oncoming motor vehicle.
Crosswalk accidents can happen when people are walking to work in downtown Cincinnati, Dayton, and Northern Kentucky; crossing the street to grab lunch on their lunch break or heading across the street to pick up their kids from schools. The most important thing you can do after suffering an injury in a crosswalk is to call an experienced Cincinnati, Dayton, or Northern Kentucky crosswalk accident lawyer to seek compensation.
Year after year, pedestrian injuries and fatalities continue to be a significant problem in Cincinnati, Dayton, and Northern Kentucky. Nearly every single crosswalk accident involving a pedestrian causes injuries or death to the pedestrian. Even when motor vehicles drive at relatively slow speeds, a collision with pedestrians in a crosswalk can be fatal. Motor vehicles weigh thousands of pounds, and pedestrians have no protection. Additionally, pedestrians suffer two severe impacts: first with the motor vehicle, and then with the hard ground. In many cases, pedestrians suffer the following types of severe injuries in Cincinnati, Dayton, and Northern Kentucky crosswalk accidents:
Determining fault is an essential step in the personal injury lawsuit process. Under Ohio law, drivers owe pedestrians a reasonable duty of care. When drivers act negligently, they breach that duty of care. Negligent drivers who cause a crosswalk accident are liable for the cost of damages related to that accident. If you were injured in a crosswalk accident, you would need to prove that the defendant was at fault for your accident to recover damages.
In many cases, distracted drivers cause crosswalk accidents. It only takes a second or two of looking at a cell phone instead of the road to run through a crosswalk and collide with an innocent pedestrian. In other cases, speeding drivers don’t have time to stop in time and collide with pedestrians. Many crosswalk accidents happen when drivers make a right-hand turn without noticing the pedestrian in the crosswalk. Other crosswalk accidents happen due to road hazards, weather conditions, and a lack of adequate signage.
All of these severe injuries require emergency medical treatment. In many cases, the victim needs multiple surgeries, extended hospital stays, and extended rehabilitation before they can make a full recovery. Some victims who suffer traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries require full-time or part-time care for the rest of their lives. Pedestrian crash victims and their families need a source of income, especially when the victim cannot earn an income.
Unfortunately, insurance policies don’t cover all of the costs related to the victim’s injuries. For example, home and vehicle accommodations and in-home care are often not covered by insurance policies. In other cases, insurance companies refuse to offer a fair settlement amount. When insurance companies or at-fault defendants do not provide adequate compensation, a lawsuit may be necessary to recover damages. At Jones Kahan Law, LLC, we will review the facts of your case and help determine your best strategy for obtaining the most compensation possible for your injuries.
If you’ve suffered an injury from a crosswalk accident, speaking to an experienced lawyer is incredibly important. Victims of personal injury accidents must file their lawsuit within two years of the accident in most cases. If you fail to file your lawsuit before the statute of limitations expires, you will lose your right to bring a lawsuit.
At Jones Kahan Law, LLC, our legal team will review the facts of your case and help you develop a legal strategy. We will help you hold the negligent driver who caused your injuries financially accountable. Car accidents can lead to significant medical bills, along with hidden costs.
We will advocate for you to seek compensation for your medical bills, lost time at work, loss of enjoyment, possible punitive damages, and pain and suffering damages. We have a proven track record of securing large payouts on behalf of our clients. Contact us today to schedule your initial consultation.
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