Pedestrians share U.S. roadways with all types of vehicles. Sadly, pedestrians are among the few groups of road users to experience a continuous increase in fatalities throughout the past decade. Between 2003 and 2012, 47,000 people died as the result of a vehicle/pedestrian accident. That is 16 times the number who died from natural disasters during the same time period.
As healthcare and environmental experts encourage more to walk from place to place, it might be reasonable to expect heightened awareness by drivers. But pedestrian accidents happen far too often. Even seasoned drivers tend to focus more on other vehicles and less on pedestrians on the periphery of the roadway. Our Michigan pedestrian accident lawyers could help you secure compensation through a personal injury claim.
Where Most Pedestrian Accidents Occur: On the Road
Drivers have a responsibility to look out for others – vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians – while they are in control of their vehicle. A pedestrian accident is most likely to occur in a parking lot (where drivers are backing up) or near an intersection (where drivers are making turns). Drivers often take their foot off of the brake and begin moving when they see that traffic has cleared. Unfortunately, by the time they recognize that a pedestrian is in their pathway, it is sometimes too late.
What Are Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents?
Drivers frequently fail to notice pedestrians due to preventable, reckless actions. When motorists neglect their duty of care on local streets and crosswalks, the consequences for pedestrians are severe. Modern driving often involves hazardous distraction, with drivers focusing on screens rather than their surroundings. This combination of inattention and speed leads to significant, often life-altering trauma for pedestrians.
- Distracted driving: Texting, checking navigation apps, or looking down at phone screens while the vehicle is in motion.
- Speeding through neighborhoods: Driving too fast for conditions, which limits the time a motorist has to react and brake.
- Failure to yield at intersections: Turning right or left through a marked crosswalk without checking for individuals crossing the street.
- Driving under the influence: Operating a vehicle while impaired by alcohol, recreational drugs, or heavy prescription medications.
- Careless backing maneuvers: Reversing out of parking spaces or driveways without checking blind spots for adults or small children.
- Disregarding traffic signals: Speeding through yellow lights or completely rolling through stop signs where foot traffic is heavy.
Careless motorists rarely take responsibility immediately, and insurance companies often blame the pedestrian to avoid fair settlements. Swift legal action is necessary to preserve evidence and hold the responsible party accountable. An experienced Michigan pedestrian collision lawyer will thoroughly review phone logs, records, and reconstruct the scene to demonstrate negligence. We are committed to ensuring your voice is heard and that you receive proper legal representation.
Recovering Compensation for Pedestrian Accident Injuries
When a vehicle strikes a pedestrian, the human body absorbs the full impact, resulting in severe, life-altering injuries. These incidents lead to long, painful recoveries that put immense pressure on families. Our personal injury team collaborates with medical experts to document your injuries and estimate future care costs. We fight for families dealing with severe diagnoses that negatively impact their daily lives and ability to work.
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI): Concussions, skull fractures, and long-term cognitive damage that requires physical and speech therapy.
- Spinal cord damage: Vertebrae fractures resulting in partial or permanent paralysis, taking away an individual’s mobility.
- Complex bone fractures: Severe compound breaks in the legs, arms, pelvis, or ribs that often require surgical rods and pins.
- Internal organ damage: Ruptured spleens, punctured lungs, and internal bleeding that pose immediate, life-threatening complications.
- Severe soft-tissue trauma: Deep lacerations, torn ligaments, and friction burns that leave behind permanent physical scarring.
Navigating Michigan’s complex, multi-layered auto insurance system is essential for obtaining compensation, with Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits usually covering initial medical bills and lost wages. These benefits help keep your finances stable during recovery. If your injuries are severe, a pedestrian accident lawyer in Michigan can file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver to pursue damages for pain, suffering, and reduced quality of life. This legal step helps secure the maximum compensation you deserve.
Timeline to File a Pedestrian Accident Claim
Filing a claim after a collision requires strict adherence to Michigan’s specific legal deadlines, and missing these dates will permanently bar you from financial recovery. Because Michigan is a no-fault state, you can only step outside the standard PIP system and file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver if your situation meets specific legal requirements. This means your physical injuries must meet the legal definition of a serious impairment of body function, which typically requires medical proof that your normal life has been fundamentally altered.
If your case satisfies this criteria, you generally have a strict three-year legal deadline from the exact date of the accident to file a negligence lawsuit against the driver. In contrast to the three-year window for a claim against the driver, the timeline to secure your first-party no-fault Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits is much shorter.
You must file a formal application for PIP benefits with the appropriate auto insurance company within one year of the pedestrian accident, regardless of who caused the crash. Consulting an experienced Michigan pedestrian accident attorney immediately helps ensure that all paperwork is completed properly and submitted well ahead of these tight deadlines.
Understanding Your Rights and The Experience You Need
At Thurswell Law, we understand how devastating any accident can be. We also know that vehicle accidents involving pedestrians are some of the most catastrophic. When it comes to receiving much-needed monetary compensation for you or a member of your family, depend on the compassion and expertise of our legal team.
No fee unless you collect.
Call Thurswell Law today at (248) 354-2222 for your free consultation with a Michigan pedestrian accident lawyer.
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