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Everyone who drives on a public street owes a duty of care not just to other people in motor vehicles, but also to bicyclists and pedestrians with whom they are sharing the road. Unfortunately, not every driver is as responsible behind the wheel as they should be, and people on foot can sustain serious injuries when a motorist’s negligent behavior causes an accident.
Understanding some of the ways these crashes regularly occur can be helpful in figuring out whether you have grounds for a lawsuit and to effectively pursuing that lawsuit after being struck by a car while walking. With that in mind, here are some common causes of pedestrian accidents in Philadelphia that a skilled pedestrian accident attorney from Lowenthal and Abrams can help you file suit over.
Distracted Driving
Even though texting while driving is against the law, plenty of drivers in the City of Brotherly Love still choose to focus on their phones instead of the road while driving. Because it is so common, this—alongside other forms of distraction like looking at a map or GPS, eating or drinking, talking to someone else in their car, or even personal grooming—is perhaps the single most common cause of pedestrian crashes in the Philadelphia area.
Failure to Yield Properly
Even when a motor vehicle driver has their full attention on the road, they may still end up striking and severely injuring a pedestrian if they do not yield the right of way to that person while they are inside a crosswalk. This is especially dangerous when drivers make left turns at four-way intersections because they may accelerate to get out of the way of oncoming traffic without seeing a pedestrian in the crosswalk crossing over the street they are turning onto.
Excessive Speed
Drivers who go over the speed limit are more likely to lose control of their vehicles and cannot brake as quickly in response to an obstacle ahead of them, which makes it much more likely for them to end up causing a pedestrian accident in Philadelphia. Similarly, failing to slow down during rainy, snowy, or foggy conditions can also increase the risk of a pedestrian crash occurring, even if the driver is not technically speeding.
Impairment by Drugs or Alcohol
In Philadelphia, alcohol, illegal drugs, and even certain prescription medications are another common cause of pedestrian accidents and can dramatically impact a driver’s reaction time and general awareness of the road around them. When someone chooses to drive while impaired in an urban or suburban area, they are not only putting themselves and other drivers at risk of serious injury but nearby pedestrians as well.
Speak With a Philadelphia Attorney About Common Causes of Action for Pedestrian Accident Claims
While any of the scenarios mentioned above could potentially give rise to a personal injury case, getting a favorable result from a claim like this can be far from simple. In fact, there is no shortage of legal and procedural obstacles that can keep you from getting the restitution you need if you are not prepared to counteract them—something that can be extremely difficult to do without guidance from experienced legal counsel.
The support of a lawyer from Lowenthal and Abrams is key to taking effective legal action over any of these common causes of pedestrian accidents in Philadelphia. Call our firm today to learn more and to schedule a consultation.
