Pedestrian Accidents

Indianapolis and Evansville Pedestrian Accident Lawyers: Protecting The Vulnerable

“A pedestrian is no match for a speeding vehicle. When you or a loved one is struck and injured by a car or truck, we can level the playing field.”
– Todd Barsumian

Pedestrian injuries and death are a significant portion of traffic-related injuries and fatalities in the United States. In a recent year, over 6,200 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes, accounting for over 17% of traffic-related fatalities in the United States. Over 75,000 pedestrians were injured in traffic crashes.

In Indiana, the duty drivers owe pedestrians is well settled. Drivers have a common law duty to maintain a proper lookout. They must exercise due care to avoid colliding with a pedestrian and exercise proper caution upon observing a child. They must restrict their speed to what is reasonable and prudent to avoid colliding with a person having regard to the actual and potential hazards existing on the roadway. And they must drive at an appropriately reduced speed when special hazards exist with respect to pedestrians.

Premises owners in Indiana also owe a duty to pedestrians to make sure that pedestrians are not subjected to unsafe conditions in their parking lots. Owners must consider the likely traffic patterns and conditions in front of their stores to ensure that their customers are not put in harm’s way in the parking lot. Safety measures include proper markings, signage and, possibly, speed bumps. Moreover, pedestrians entering and exiting a store may face storefront safety issues by motor vehicle drivers who are distracted, intend to cause others harm, or are faced with a sudden emergency. Given the foreseeable injuries that can be caused by a motor vehicle intruding a storefront, safety measures such as bollards or other structural impediments to travel may be appropriate given the serious dangers presented.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) notes various safety tips for pedestrians, including following the “rules of the road” and obeying signs and signals; walking on sidewalks when available; walking facing traffic when walking on the road; crossing streets at crosswalks and intersections, looking in all directions before crossing; crossing roads in well-lit areas when there is no crosswalk or intersection; watching for cars entering or exiting driveways or backing up in parking lots; and avoiding alcohol and drugs when walking.

Barsumian Armiger Injury Lawyers handles claims for pedestrians, including children, the disabled and the elderly, who are often the victims of pedestrian accidents. Even if the victim of a pedestrian accident is partly at fault, they can still obtain compensation if their fault is not more than the fault of all other parties involved in causing the accident. If you have been struck by a car while crossing the road or walking in a parking lot, or if your child has been killed crossing the street from your home to a nearby park, you owe it to yourself and your family to explore your legal options.

Evansville and Indianapolis Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Representing Victims of Negligence

Pedestrian and bicyclist injuries can include:

• Bone fractures and compressions
• Amputations
• Concussions and open head wounds
• Injury to the spine or spinal column
• Lacerations and contusions
• Internal bleeding
• Loss of vision
• Wrongful death

If you or a loved one has been struck by a motor vehicle while on foot, explore whether compensation for your injuries may be available. For more information, contact the experienced pedestrian injury lawyers at Barsumian Armiger Injury Lawyers today at (844) 268-7775. You can also fill out one of our contact forms with information about yourself and your situation, and if we may be able to help, we will contact you.