Every year, many pedestrian accidents take place at intersections. In most of these cases, a vehicle is turning left at the time and trying to navigate the intersection when the pedestrian walks ahead and passes through traffic. This can easily lead to a serious accident that takes the life of a pedestrian or causes some of the most serious accidents. According to research, approximately one out of five of these accidents occurring at intersections takes place in these ways but there are other reasons as well. This is why drivers are constantly being urged to look out for the well-being of pedestrians at all times.
Pedestrian Accidents Commonly Occur at Intersections
In 2015, over 5,000 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes in the U.S., and tens of thousands of pedestrians were hospitalized with either minor or serious injuries. There are many hazards that commonly lead to pedestrian accidents, such as:
- The physical location where the accident took place
- Two-lane roads or highways being present
- What time of the day the accident occurred
- Road obstructions or bad weather
The reason why pedestrian accidents so commonly take place at intersections is due to the fact that both pedestrians and drivers co-mingle as they are changing roads or trying to cross the street to get to new locations. Many people have no choice but to be present in the area of intersections at certain times, but this can lead to serious results to pedestrians, who commonly become injured or lose their lives in these areas.
Some of the most common reasons why pedestrians are injured in these accidents include vehicles that drive directly through a red light, failing to yield for pedestrians even though they are supposed to have the right-of-way, speeding in order to make a light and striking a pedestrian, or crossing without a signal. In many of these cases, the accidents take place due to human error caused by the driver, as drivers commonly forget that pedestrians share the area and could be placed in one of those situations.
In other cases, outside accidents might lead to the pedestrian accident at an intersection. Perhaps the intersection was dangerous in its design and pedestrian accidents are known for happening in this area. In other cases, the intersection might not be as well-maintained as it’s supposed to be and potholes, broken concrete, or missing crosswalks are prevalent. Finally, in other cases yet, there might not be adequate signals in the area or signals that don’t leave enough time before they change, leaving the pedestrian in the middle of an intersection before vehicles clear.
An Attorney Who Will Stand Up for Your Rights
Being involved in a pedestrian accident is one of the most difficult things that you might ever experience. If you have been injured and you know that your accident happened due to the negligence of another driver, you have the right to gather evidence and move forward with a personal injury claim that will help you receive damages during this difficult time. Our attorneys at Katz Kantor Stonestreet & Buckner are here for you to help you through every step of this process. Contact us for more information at (304) 713-2014.
