Pedestrian Accidents FAQ

Pedestrian accidents have a similar step-by-step reaction process to automobile accidents. The first step would be to call 9-1-1. The police and an ambulance vehicle will report to the scene to control traffic and address any medical issues of the people involved. If people are able to, the police may ask everyone involved to narrative the accident. At that time, taking a picture of the accident would be beneficial if the accident were to be taken to court. Essentially, the most important action to follow after a pedestrian accident is to visit a medical professional or hospital to ensure your safety.

Once the accident occurs, you should immediately report the case. If you are unable to do so, the state of Pennsylvania has a Statute of Limitations. A statute of limitations is a law that requires an individual to report an accident in a set amount of time. If they fail to file when the time becomes expired, the case will be unable to be opened. In Pennsylvania, the Statue of Limitations is 2 years, which means a person has two years from the date that the accident has occurred to file a claim.

In most occasions, more than one person is to blame for an accident. For example, a motorist could be driving down a road and can unknowingly see a red traffic light and a pedestrian crossing the road. In this scenario, the car would be at fault because the pedestrian had the right-of-way. Other times, pedestrians can cause accidents. For example, if a traffic light is green, motorists have the right to continue moving. During this time, pedestrians do not have the right-of-way and are not allowed to walk in front of traffic. If a person were to disobey traffic laws and walk onto the roadway randomly, they may be hit by a vehicle. On the contrary, the vehicle may be able to stop in time, but they cause a massive traffic accident involving multiple vehicles.

As stated by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), there are an abundance of laws and policies that are created specifically for pedestrians and drivers. If there is a walkway or sidewalk available for people to walk on, they are required by law to walk there instead of on the road. Drivers must yield when people are walking across the street in a crosswalk. Also, it is unlawful for people to randomly run into the middle of the street in front of incoming traffic.

Benefits that a person can receive from an accident varies on the situation. In most cases, people have been able to receive compensation from pain and suffering, property damage or loss from the accident, medical or funeral expenses, and loss of wages if people are unable to work due to sustained injuries.

Due to many catalysts, pedestrian accidents can vary from minor to severe cases. Most commonly, people can become involved in an accident when they are distracted or negligent. When one of these factors is combined with either operating a motor vehicle or walking to a destination, the outcomes can become critically detrimental almost instantly. Therefore, it is imperative to always keep your mind and eyes focused.

In fact, bicycle riders can be considered both motorists and pedestrians. If the bicycle is on the roadway and is moving with traffic, they are motorists. This is because they are entitled to the same rights as drivers when on a road. In some cities, there are designated bike lanes on the side of the road for riders. When a cyclist is on a sidewalk or not on a road, they are considered to be pedestrians. In this case, drivers are expected to treat cyclists the same way that they would a treat a pedestrian.