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Thousands of people walk up, down, and across Philadelphia each day. With the city’s surplus of traffic it can be a real challenge to get to work or school, or just enjoy the sights on foot without a tense moment or two while trying to cross the road. Pedestrians are the most vulnerable of anyone who uses the streets, crosswalks, and sidewalks, and sometimes it feels like they are protected the least.
A distracted driver in a large car or SUV can be worried about one hundred different things, but not be concerned with the small pedestrian stepping into a crosswalk. The lack of care can lead to a devastating accident that can suddenly change the life of the victim.
Philadelphia Pedestrian Accident Lawyer, Edith Pearce Esq. is not only a nationally recognized trial attorney but she understands the unique issues pedestrians face daily. If you are injured in an accident caused by a careless driver, The Pearce Law Firm would like the opportunity to support you in your recovery. The at-fault driver couldn’t take the time for a second glance to keep a pedestrian safe. Now they should absolutely be held accountable for your physical, emotional, and financial hardships. The cost of your entire recovery should be compensated. We want to see you on your feet again and without any debt from an accident that wasn’t your fault.
Pedestrian Hazards Around Philadelphia
The parking issues in Center City and elsewhere around the city pose a dilemma for pedestrians. There is very little parking to be had, so some people feel forced to leave their cars at home and take to the sidewalks. It’s a walk that wouldn’t be as bad if people felt reasonably safe.
But the local problems are detailed every year in accident reports. The Pennsylvania DOT documented 154 tragic pedestrian deaths across the state in 2019. Another 4,099 pedestrians received treatment for injuries. Philadelphia, alone, saw 29 pedestrian deaths in the same year and reported an astounding 1,514 accidents involving injuries.
A Study on Pedestrian Safety Issues in Philadelphia
Edith Pearce and the attorneys on her team have their offices downtown and know the real struggle pedestrians face each day. In fact, Edith Pearce commissioned a recent study into the worst problems pedestrians see all over Philadelphia.
A poll of local residents found that 41% of people thought that construction and blocked sidewalks were the biggest obstacles facing Philadelphia walkers. The constant city construction work often forces pedestrians and bicyclists out into traffic and closer to danger.
The report pinpoints the exact streets where the pedestrian hazards were highest. It may come as no surprise that Roosevelt Boulevard and Bustleton Avenue were the most deadly corridors for pedestrians. In 2018 Roosevelt Boulevard claimed nine pedestrian lives. In that same year, seven lives were lost along Bustleton Avenue.
Recent Examples of Pedestrian Accidents in Philadelphia
Woman Badly Injured by Strike from Car
A woman who had just gotten out of her car was struck by a hit-and-run driver early Sunday morning in Philadelphia. CBSN-TV reports the accident happened around 4 a.m. on the 200 block of East Cheltenham Avenue in the Oak Lane neighborhood on February 7, 2021.
Philadelphia police say the 25-year-old woman had exited her car because she believed she’d struck some parked vehicles. She was trying to find the cars she hit when another vehicle came along and hit her. The victim was taken to Albert Einstein Hospital where she was said to be in critical condition.
The driver involved left the scene. Investigators believe the suspect was at the wheel of a dark-colored sedan that may have front bumper damage. Anyone who may have information on the driver or the vehicle is asked to call the Philadelphia Police Department.
Pedestrian Struck and Injured in Northern Philadelphia
A woman is in the hospital after getting hit by a car early Tuesday in the northern section of Philadelphia. FOX29-TV reported the pedestrian accident happened on eastbound Stenton Avenue near Broad Street around 4:30 a.m. on December 22, 2020.
Police say the woman and another pedestrian were crossing the street when the driver of a 1997 Toyota approached. The Toyota struck the woman. The 34-year-old victim was taken to Albert Einstein Medical Center and was listed in critical condition. The other pedestrian did not report injuries.
The driver of the Toyota stayed on the scene. Police continue to investigate the accident.
Pedestrian Struck and Killed in North Philadelphia
A man was killed in a hit-and-run accident over the weekend in North Philadelphia. Fox29-TV reported the collision happened on Saturday, October 3, 2020.
Police say the pedestrian was traveling on the southbound side of Whitaker Avenue and was in the rightmost lane when he was hit. Investigators believe the victim was carried over 500 feet and then thrown to the sidewalk. Emergency responders pronounced the man dead on the scene around 3 a.m.
Investigators say debris on the scene indicates the motorist involved was driving a dark-colored sedan. They continue to search for the car and its driver. Anyone with information on the crash should call the police.
Multiple Vehicle Pedestrian Accidents
When multi-vehicle accidents occur, there might be more than one injured person, especially if the accident occurs in an area with heavy pedestrian traffic. Most pedestrian accidents in and around Philadelphia involve a single vehicle and a single driver, but sometimes pedestrians are injured or killed in multi-vehicle accidents. In that type of scenario, the pedestrian or the decedent’s estate might have difficulty determining which driver he or she should pursue for damages. That’s when victims or their surviving family members need the knowledge and experience of an experienced and highly rated pedestrian accident lawyer. Our law firm can be of great help in learning exactly how a crash occurred and determining the legal options that might be available to obtain compensation for the pedestrian’s injuries.
Anybody Can Be a Victim
There are a few ways pedestrians could be injured in multi-vehicle accidents. First, the pedestrian might have the right-of-way in a cross walk when a vehicle stopped for a red light is rear-ended in a chain reaction pile-up. The impact from that crash can force the stopped vehicle into the pedestrian.
Another scenario involves a multi-vehicle collision that forces a vehicle onto a sidewalk. That vehicle then hits a pedestrian. Police officers, paramedics, tow truck drivers and Good Samaritans can also get hit by vehicles when assisting at the site of a multi-vehicle crash.
Finally, a pedestrian could be hit by a driver and thrown into a lane and hit by yet another vehicle. That’s what happened recently in Edgewater Park, New Jersey. According to 6ABC, a 25yr old man was hit in the southbound lane of Route 130 and he was thrown into a center lane where he was hit a second time. Tragically, the young man died from his injuries.
Liability Might Be Shared
If two or more vehicles are involved in an accident involving a pedestrian, more than one driver may be found liable. That’s why a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the injury or death of a pedestrian must be performed. Of course, any resulting claim or lawsuit will get complicated quickly, but that probably means more insurance coverage with which to maximize compensation for the injured victim or surviving family.
Multiple Pedestrian Injury Accidents
These types of crashes are almost always preventable. Aside from distracted driving, here are some other causes of multiple pedestrian accidents:
- Weather Conditions: Driving too fast for weather conditions can cause a driver to lose control of a vehicle and slide into pedestrians.
- Speeding: Excessive speed might not allow adequate time to react and slow down or come to a stop when pedestrians are present.
- Driving Under the Influence: Drivers who are intoxicated or under the combined influence of alcohol and drugs are far more likely to lose control of a motor vehicle.
- Drowsy Driving: Falling asleep behind the wheel is the cause of many single vehicle accidents. Vehicles leave the roadway, cross sidewalks and hit pedestrians.
Hit-and-Runs
Many pedestrian accidents with motor vehicles turn into hit-and-runs. That’s because pedestrians, simply can’t give immediate chase, especially after being hit and injured. Philadelphia police take about 40 hit-and-run reports every day. Some common reasons for hit-and-runs are the recent commission of a crime, driving without a license or insurance or outstanding warrants.
Uninsured Motorist Insurance Can Help
What most people don’t realize is that if they own a vehicle and have uninsured motorist insurance, they’re likely covered as pedestrians in the event of a hit-and-run accident that was caused by a careless and negligent driver. Even residents of their household who are blood relatives might be covered as pedestrians, bicyclists or skateboarders. Unfortunately, uninsured motorist insurance in Pennsylvania is optional. If you own a car and you don’t have uninsured motorist insurance, you’ll want to get as much of the coverage as possible. It might even help you if you’re injured through the fault of an underinsured motorist who doesn’t have policy limits that are high enough to cover your injuries and damages.
Help for Philadelphia Pedestrian Accident Victims
You may never feel more vulnerable as when you’ve just been struck by a vehicle and left to suffer in pain. In fact, you may find yourself overwhelmed and asking questions like, “my son was hit by a car, can I sue?” The recovery can be long and challenging, and you may feel alone once again as you try to face insurance companies and potentially other lawyers working to diminish your case.
They may try to use their own doctors to try to discredit your injuries. They may try to use your own statements against you to try to prove their driver wasn’t at fault. It’s important that you don’t face these difficult proceedings by yourself.
The Pearce Law Firm has handled pedestrian accident cases throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Having worked for almost 10 years for an automobile insurance company and for an accident defense firm, Philadelphia pedestrian accident lawyer Edith Pearce uses her expert knowledge from inside the industry to help you recover maximum compensation. Edith Pearce is a lifetime member of the multi-million dollar advocates forum and has been awarded the prestigious Super Lawyers® designation. The Pearce Law Firm will fight to recover your expenses, replace income, and make sure that your losses, your suffering, your property damage, and your injuries are adequately compensated.
Compensation After a Pedestrian Accident
An accident will leave a pedestrian victim or a bicycle victim with physical injuries, but they’ll also face financial and emotional damages as well. Doctor bills will begin to pile up soon after an accident and at this point, victims may not even be able to attend work to earn a paycheck.
A civil lawsuit involving a claim for damages may recover money for many expenses victims and their families have faced:
- Hospital and medical expenses.
- Past and future lost earnings.
- Past and future permanent physical disability, such as a limp, scars, and loss of a limb.
- Emotional distress, such as depression and anxiety.
- Grief and emotional suffering caused by the death of a loved one.
- Loss of love and companionship caused by the death or serious injury of a loved one.
- Physical pain and suffering.
- Loss of enjoyment of life.
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. While Pennsylvania may offer victims up to two years to file a civil lawsuit over injuries, it’s important to act quickly. Within the first week, important physical evidence can be lost, and witnesses may become hard to find. An attorney on your side can assist in gathering these details and help in building a strong case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Philadelphia safe for pedestrians?
Downtown Philadelphia actually gets a walk score of 86, making it “very walkable” according to the Walk Score website. It’s a comparatively good score as big cities go. Philadelphia’s problem is that the landscape changes from week to week. What was a good route for pedestrians one week, may suddenly have a construction project in the middle of the path the next week. An intersection that usually sees lighter traffic may suddenly be overrun by cars due to a construction detour. These are problems that all big cities face.
If I get hit while crossing the road outside a crosswalk, can I still sue the driver?
While the law typically requires a person to cross a street inside a crosswalk or at an intersection with the light, if a pedestrian is struck outside a crosswalk, he or she can still get compensation. A driver must give pedestrians due caution taking into account their vulnerability and lack of protection. If a jury feels that the driver failed to act reasonably safe, then he or she could be liable for any injuries.
How long can a personal injury case last?
The majority of personal injury cases are settled out of court. The parties involved can settle at any time once the claim for damages has been filed. You and your attorney would have to discuss the offered pedestrian accident settlement and determine if it was fair and covered all of your needs. If a settlement can’t be agreed upon, a case may be heard in civil court. Our attorneys at The Pearce Lawfirm will always prepare as if your case will go to trial and have all evidence and documentation ready. A civil case often takes around a year to begin. It could be longer, depending on the type of caseload the courts are experiencing.
Contact a Philadelphia Pedestrian Accident Attorney
If you or someone you know has been injured in a pedestrian accident in New Jersey or Pennsylvania and is in need of a Philadelphia pedestrian accident attorney contact The Pearce Law Firm, Personal Injury and Accident Lawyers, P.C. online or call (215) 557-8686 for a free consultation. A highly sought after and nationally recognized trial lawyer, Edith Pearce is the founder of The Pearce Law Firm, P.C. The Pearce Law Firm is able to offer our clients the personal attention and individualized representation needed to achieve the highest results possible, and Edith Pearce is personally involved in every case the firm handles.
The Pearce Law Firm, Personal Injury and Accident Lawyers, P.C. is dedicated to protecting your rights and obtaining full and fair compensation for you.
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