Causes of Pedestrian Accidents

Unfortunately, many drivers in East Tennessee fail to use appropriate care when pedestrians are in the vicinity. Unlike drivers and passengers of automobiles, there is nothing to protect a pedestrian against the force of an impact, and their injuries may be severe or even fatal. According to the Tennessee Highway Safety Office, there were more than 40 pedestrian fatalities and injuries in Knox County in 2015, for example. If you are hurt or a loved one is killed by a careless driver, experienced Knoxville pedestrian accident lawyer Mark Hartsoe is ready to help you seek all of the compensation that you deserve.

Some causes of pedestrian accidents include distracted drivers, unmarked crosswalks, left-hand turns, speeding, rolling stops, drunk driving, and failures to follow traffic laws. When the cause of a pedestrian accident is a driver's carelessness, the pedestrian may bring a claim and file a personal injury lawsuit against that driver. In these cases, it will be necessary for the pedestrian to establish that the driver failed to drive safely, that this unsafe driving was the cause of the pedestrian's injuries, and that they sustained quantifiable damages like medical costs, lost income, and pain and suffering.

Many pedestrian accidents are caused by drivers who fail to pay attention. They may be using their cell phone, typing into a navigation system, or focusing on their kids in the backseat, for example, rather than paying attention to the road. These acts likely will be found to be negligent and support liability if a pedestrian is injured or killed as a result.

Another common cause of pedestrian accidents is an improper left-hand turn when a driver is focused on whether other cars are coming and fails to look at whether there are pedestrians crossing the road. In Tennessee, drivers have a responsibility to slow or stop to yield to a pedestrian crossing in a crosswalk if the pedestrian is on the half of the roadway where the driver is traveling or when the pedestrian is approaching so closely that they are in danger. Similarly, if a driver is in a marked school zone where warning flashers are going off, they are supposed to yield the right of way to any pedestrians crossing, whether there is a marked or unmarked crosswalk, and they must stay stopped until the pedestrian has crossed.

If you suffered injuries as a pedestrian due to someone else's negligence, you should not hesitate to explore your options and assert your rights. Knoxville pedestrian accident attorney Mark Hartsoe can investigate the cause of a pedestrian accident in East Tennessee and determine whether you should bring a claim. He also can pursue a wrongful death lawsuit if you have lost a loved one to a driver’s carelessness. Call the Hartsoe Law Firm at 865-804-1011 or contact us via our online form to set up a free appointment. Mark Hartsoe can assist victims and families who need a motor vehicle collision lawyer throughout East Tennessee, including in Knox, Blount, Monroe, Loudon, Jefferson, Grainger, Cocke, Campbell, Hamblen, Greene, Anderson, Cumberland, and Fentress Counties.