On Monday, April 23, 2018, a vehicle struck and killed a pedestrian in north Philadelphia. Although the investigation into this crash is ongoing, police believe alcohol was a major factor. The 65yr old driver of the vehicle was charged with DUI.
According to 6ABC, this car crash occurred at the intersection of American Street and Lehigh Avenue. Allegedly, a vehicle crashed into a pedestrian crossing these streets at 1:30AM. When safety crews arrived on the scene they soon pronounced the 25-year-old pedestrian dead as a result of the crash.
Pedestrian Accidents & Laws In Philadelphia
Sadly, pedestrian-related accidents and fatalities aren’t uncommon in big cities like Philadelphia. Recent data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that 12 pedestrians die every single day in the USA in traffic-related accidents. Amazingly, 72 percent of all pedestrian fatalities in America happen in industrialized cities like New York, Los Angeles, and, of course, Philadelphia.
These statistics can be a bit frightening for city-dwellers, but you should know that you have legal rights as a pedestrian. In Pennsylvania, vehicles are required by law to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians walking at intersections and on crosswalks.
Contact a Philadelphia Pedestrian Injury Lawyer
To protect your legal rights following a pedestrian accident in Pennsylvania or New Jersey, it is wise to consult a pedestrian accident lawyer. Philadelphia and the tri-state area can turn to Edith Pearce and The Pearce Law Firm for experience handling pedestrian accident claims as soon as possible. It is especially important to seek advice from an attorney if you have sustained a serious injury or a loved one died in a crash. Even in crashes like this one when a driver “appears” to be completely at fault, insurance companies will often work to delay, minimize or deny injury claims. When you contact us, we will advise you only of options which are in you and your family’s best interest.
