Walking is a healthy, eco-friendly activity that is becoming riskier every year. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 5,987 pedestrians were killed in traffic accidents in 2016, as compared to 5,495 in 2015 and 4,910 in 2014.
If you have been injured as a pedestrian, your best course of action is to consult with an experienced Denver pedestrian accident lawyer as soon as possible. Our Denver accident lawyers at The Fang Law Firm are dedicated advocates for injured pedestrians.
NHTSA reports that:
As stated by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA):
Drivers have a duty to exercise the level of care that a reasonable person would use under the circumstances. Breach of that duty is considered negligence. Some of the most common factors contributing to pedestrian accidents caused by negligent drivers include:
Drivers have a special duty of care to children, as they are smaller, less visible, and less predictable than adults. Drivers must exercise greater care when children are present, for example, in school zones or driving by parks and residential areas.
A driver who breaches the duty of care may be held liable for pedestrian accidents and injuries. Drivers should operate with extra caution when pedestrians are nearby. Even if a driver is traveling at or below the speed limit, he or she should slow down or stop to avoid hitting a pedestrian in the road. A pedestrian can be held liable if the driver is going the speed limit and the pedestrian behaves in a careless way that makes it impossible for the driver to avoid hitting the pedestrian – for example, jumping out in front of the vehicle or walking in the street at night wearing dark clothing.
Our experienced Denver pedestrian accident attorneys at The Fang Law Firm can investigate your accident and collect evidence to show that the at-fault driver was negligent. Call us to schedule a consultation after a serious pedestrian accident in Colorado.