Pedestrian Auto Accident Attorneys in Maine
Walking down the street in Maine may seem like an safe activity, but the truth is that thousands of Maine citizens are seriously hurt or killed in pedestrian motor vehicle accidents each year. Both in urban areas such as Portland, Bangor, and Lewiston-Auburn as well as in the suburbs and rural areas, people are struck by vehicles each day. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Association, over 5,000 Americans are killed and over 60,000 are seriously injured in pedestrian motor vehicle accidents each year.
At Hardy, Wolf & Downing, we have 35 years experience and a thorough knowledge of the issues involved in understanding pedestrian motor vehicle accidents and injuries. Let us help you and your loved ones recover the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
Pedestrian Auto Accident Statistics
- Pedestrians represent just over 11% of all traffic accidents in the country.
- On average, a pedestrian is injured in a traffic accident every 8 minutes and killed every 111 minutes.
- Almost half of all pedestrian accidents take place on the weekend, in the evening hours. This is generally because both vehicle drivers and pedestrians are more likely to have consumed alcohol on the weekends.
- In 2007, 20% of all fatal pedestrian accident cases were hit-and-run incidents.
Where do Accidents Generally Occur?
- Although a substantial number of pedestrian injuries occur at intersections, 65% of pedestrian auto accidents occur at locations other than intersections such as sidewalks, median strips and traffic islands. This is most likely due to higher vehicle speeds and the fact that drivers are not expecting any obstacles.
- The vast majority of pedestrian accidents - 86%- take place in cities and large towns, according to the National Safety Council. The remainder of pedestrian accidents take place in rural settings.
Who Are the Victims?
- Elderly pedestrians, 70 years and older are much more likely to be the victim of a fatal pedestrian accident. This group accounts for 16 percent of all pedestrian fatalities and 6 percent of all pedestrian injuries.
- Seventy percent of fatal pedestrian accident victims are male.
- About one fifth of deaths to children ages 5 to 9 are the result of being hit by a car.
Contributing Factors in Maine Pedestrian Auto Accidents
The Hardy, Wolf & Downing pedestrian auto accident attorneys have found that negligence and speeding are the major contributing factors in pedestrian motor vehicle accidents.
- Cell phone use, texting while driving, talking with other passengers, playing with the radio, and eating or drinking are all leading causes of driver distraction.
- A driver’s failure to observe posted speed limits, yield the right of way to pedestrians at marked cross walks, and a disregard for traffic control devices can also increase the chance of being involved in a motor/vehicle accident.
- At higher speeds, motorists are not as likely to see a pedestrian and even less likely to be able to stop in time to avoid hitting a pedestrian.
- A pedestrian has an 85% chance of death when involved in a motor/vehicle collision at 40 mph, a 45% chance of death at 30 mph, and a 5% chance of death at 20 mph.
Consequences of Pedestrian Accidents
When a pedestrian is involved in a motor vehicle accident they are at risk for countless serious injuries. Pedestrians’ head, spine, legs, and arms are the most vulnerable in an accident. Quite often, pedestrians endure extreme bodily injuries such as:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Paraplegia and Quadriplegia
- Coma
- Fractured bones
If you or a family member has been involved in a pedestrian auto accident, call 1-800-INJURED to speak with one of our Maine pedestrian accident attorneys regarding your case. There are laws against negligent driving and Hardy, Wolf & Downing will help enforce them for you.
Contact our Maine personal injury lawyers today to schedule a consultation.
