Pedestrians probably do not think they are going to get hit by a car when they go about their day. For that reason, it can often be a shock when someone is hit by an oncoming car. Moreover, pedestrians are likely to get badly injured in accidents involving motor vehicles because cars are much larger than people, and pedestrians have nothing going for them in terms of protection.
If you were struck by a car, SVU, or other motor vehicle near New Brunswick, we can help you. Our lawyers know how to handle pedestrian accidents effectively, so we can fight hard for you in court to get you the financial compensation you need when you are injured.
To have our team of pedestrian accident lawyers go over your claim, call Legal Care New Jersey at (732) 838-9769.
Injuries Pedestrians Suffer in Accidents in New Brunswick, NJ
Pedestrians are very vulnerable to getting hurt when they are struck by motor vehicles. Unlike people in cars, SUVs, and other vehicles, pedestrians do not have a suite of safety features looking out for them. Combined with the fact that cars are just plain heavier than pedestrians, pedestrians frequently have very serious injuries when struck by motor vehicles, including:
Bruising
Bruises are the result of blood vessels getting crushed without breaking the skin. Bruises can be identified by their red/purple/blue color, swelling, and pain. Given that bruises are caused by forceful impacts, it is not hard to see how they are a very common injury in pedestrian accidents.
While for the most part, bruises are not serious injuries and can mend themselves on their own, bruising over a large portion of your body is cause for concern, as it could indicate something more serious, such as internal bleeding.
Brain Injuries
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a serious injury caused by a hard hit to the victim’s head that damages the brain. An impact that perforates the skull and enters the brain can also be considered a TBI. So-called “mild” TBIs like concussions can still have very serious side effects like memory loss and mood swings. TBIS, more serious than a concussion, can lead to the loss of basic motor function, paralysis, or even death.
Broken Bones
Fractures are also very common in pedestrian accidents because the impact of an oncoming car can easily snap limbs and break bones. Pedestrians may suffer broken bones when hit by a car, not just from the intimal impact, but if they bounce off the car and subsequently impact another surface forcefully.
All fractures will likely require a sling, cast, or other immobilizing device to properly heal. However, compound fractures, where the bone punctures the skull, will likely require surgery or other procedures to ensure that the break mends properly.
Additionally, there is a good chance that the area around a broken limb will atrophy due to lack of use, so you will need to train and potentially undergo dietary changes to get strength back in the affected areas.
Why Do Pedestrian Accidents Happen in New Brunswick, NJ
It goes without saying that cars are not supposed to strike pedestrians, yet they do anyway. There are a lot of different reasons that a pedestrian accident could happen. It is very important to the success of your claim that you nail down the exact causes of your accident because doing so both determines who you sue and strengthens the argument our pedestrian accident lawyers ultimately take to court.
Speeding
A very large percentage of drivers speed. While many drivers will partake in this behavior only when there is nothing else around them, including both cars and other people, other drivers speed all the time, even in restricted-speed areas like school zones. A speeding driver has less time to react to what is going on around them, so they can easily not have enough time to get out of the way of a pedestrian who has the right-of-way, if they even notice the pedestrian in the first place.
Drunk Driving
Drunk driving is extremely dangerous. Intoxicated people have worse reaction times, make more impulsive decisions, and may not be totally in control of their own actions. All of those things are terrible qualities to have in a driver and make a drunk driver more likely to hit a pedestrian.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is now more likely than ever. Text messaging, phone calls, phone games, and more entice drivers to take their eyes off of important details and fixate on a fun activity. Unfortunately, distracted drivers frequently hit pedestrians that they would have noticed were they paying attention to their surroundings.
Damages in New Brunswick, NJ Pedestrian Accident Lawsuits
When you go to court in a personal injury case, you are looking to get damages from the defendant in order to compensate you for the harm done to you. The damages you seek in court are dependent on the factors affecting the situation, so no two plaintiffs will have the same damages for the exact same reasons.
You can get damages for things like medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage, but you can also get damages for things without inherent value, like physical pain, mental distress, and lost enjoyment of life.
Finally, you can get something called punitive damages if the defendant has acted especially badly. These damages are meant to punish the defendant instead of putting you back to where you were before the accident. You will have to prove more than that the defendant hit you by mistake in order to be awarded punitive damages.
Talk with Our New Brunswick, NJ Pedestrian Accident Attorneys Today
Legal Care New Jersey’s pedestrian accident attorneys can assist you with your needs when you call our office at (732) 838-9769.
