Pedestrian Crashes

It’s lunchtime, and you run out to grab a quick bite to eat and head back to the office, or you try and fit in a quick 20-minute jog in the middle of the day when, unfortunately, you are hit by a car driver who was not paying attention. Anyone can be a pedestrian at any time of the day or night, whether it is for several hours a week, or just for a few minutes during the day. Unfortunately, the rise of both pedestrian and vehicle traffic in downtown Denver, surrounding cities, and the suburbs has also increased the risk of being involved in a pedestrian accident.

By definition, a pedestrian accident is one between a pedestrian and a car, motorcycle, or any other vehicle. Pedestrians include people who are walking, jogging, hiking, standing by the road, and lying on the ground. Due to the size difference between the two parties, pedestrians are usually, if not always, the ones who suffer the most from such an accident.

In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA),

• On average, a pedestrian was killed every 88 minutes in traffic crashes in 2017
• 5,000 pedestrians die, and about 70,000 are injured on average, every year in the United States
• In 2018, there were 6,283 pedestrian fatalities due to an accident, marking a 3% rise

When it comes to Colorado specifically, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) reported that:

• Pedestrian fatalities increased by a staggering 84% from 2013-2017 
• 43.5% of pedestrian fatalities were between the ages of 9 - 20 and 55+ age groups in 2017
• 93 pedestrians died in traffic crashes in 2018, and 76 pedestrians died in 2019

Needless to say, these numbers are worrisome, especially when considering the fact that young children and older adults are among the most at-risk demographics.

When and where do most pedestrian accidents occur?

In 2018, the NHTSA found that most pedestrian accidents occur at non-intersections, more specifically in urban areas. And in terms of national data, the largest number of pedestrian deaths occur on Saturdays, with most of them happening at night.

While in many cases, the party responsible for the accident is the driver. The driver may have been speeding, talking on their cell phone, texting, intoxicated, distracted by others in their vehicle, or just not paying attention to traffic and their surroundings. It is important as a pedestrian to act with caution on the road and cross at the appropriate crosswalks.  There are times when the responsibility is on the pedestrian. If, for example, a pedestrian is acting recklessly and with no regard while crossing the road, therefore not giving enough time for the driver to react and act accordingly, they could be held liable.

Because many factors are involved in such accidents, it is crucial to have an experienced and knowledgeable pedestrian accident lawyer by one's side during this tragic situation.

Common injuries

In non-fatal pedestrian accidents, the resulting injuries can range from mild to severe. Some of the most common ones include:

• Lower body injuries - the most common, including trauma to the ligaments, muscles, pelvis fractures, lacerations, and broken bones in the legs and feet
• Neck, face, and head injuries may include head trauma, jaw fractures, skull damage, lacerations, and concussions. Most commonly, these occur due to your body striking the windshield or hood of the car.
• Internal injuries, such as musculoskeletal injuries affecting nerves, tendons, muscles, ligaments, discs, and blood vessels
• Injuries to the chest, abdomen, shoulders, arms, wrists, and/or hands
• Spinal cord or vertebrae injuries 
• Loss of limbs

What can a Denver pedestrian accident attorney do for you?

At Lapham Law, we understand the complexity and confusion that sometimes define accidents involving motor vehicles and pedestrians. For that reason, we make it a point to stand by your side and fight for your financial compensation.

While you focus on your recovery and healing, our team at Lapham Law will focus on:

1. Ensuring you are receiving quality medical treatment. We can connect you with medical providers, if necessary, who will do a comprehensive examination and determine the best treatment plan for you. Your uninterrupted medical care is crucial to your healing. We maintain constant communication with your medical team throughout your case to ensure your progress.
2. Dealing with insurance companies on your behalf. Your health and recovery are most important. As your trusted attorneys, we can work with the insurance companies and handle their questions, requirements, policy details, adjusters, and insurance attorneys. Insurance companies like to protect their profits.  We want to make sure you are fully compensated for your injuries, damages, and losses.
3. Gather a detailed investigation of the crash. Our goal is to understand exactly what happened at the time of the accident. We will collect witness statements, police reports and internal files, photographs, phone records, and surrounding video recordings, if applicable. We can consult with necessary experts, such as accident reconstruction specialists. All of this effort will help us put the best case together for you.
4. Filing all claims and, if necessary, filing a lawsuit on your behalf. Our goal is to work together with you and the insurance company to identify and pay a fair settlement amount. If the insurance company refuses, our experienced trial attorneys can take your case to court and present your case to the jury. Our success rate in the courtroom is well over 95% if we are forced to take your case to trial.
5. Constant communication - We understand that you never asked or imagined that you would be in the situation you are going through. Our staff will always be available to you to discuss your case, timelines, treatment goals/plans, concerns, and questions. We want you to feel like you can contact us with your questions at any time.

We know that no amount of money can cover the pain and suffering you have endured and believe that you deserve to be compensated and have the best care.

Our team of experienced, skilled, and determined Colorado pedestrian accident attorneys will ensure that no insurance company takes advantage of you or tries to minimize your current and future suffering.

So if you or any of your loved ones have been the unfortunate victims of a pedestrian accident, then call us now at 303.815.1587 and book your free consultation. With us by your side, your only focus will be on recovering your health and well-being.