Walking to get from one place to another is an everyday part of life for most people in the state of Wisconsin. What few people likely think about is that under certain circumstances it can be dangerous. This is particularly true when motor vehicles are around. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association, close to 5,000 pedestrians lose their lives in auto-pedestrian accidents each year. In 2012, around 76,000 were hurt in accidents such as these.
Pedestrians of all ages are involved in incidents of this nature. That said, because of their short stature, children €”specifically those who are between the ages of 5 and 9 are particularly at risk. Because of the unpredictability of their actions, drivers who are near parks and schools should pay even more attention to their surroundings.
There are a number of things that drivers might do to cause such incidents. The first is to operate a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Second, speeding can contribute to auto-pedestrian accidents occurring. Next, ignoring traffic or weather conditions could be a factor. Sometimes, the failure to follow the rules of the road such as not yielding the right of way to pedestrians at crosswalks is to blame.
Depending on the specifics surrounding an accident involving a car and a pedestrian, if a pedestrian in injured in the incident, he or she may seek damages via a personal injury lawsuit. As is the case with all cases of this type, the best place to start is by contacting a lawyer. That individual should be able to help the injured person determine the best course of action.