Philadelphia Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

The best way to explore Philadelphia is on foot. You could easily spend the day strolling around the Old City, Society Hill, or Rittenhouse Square. You could then head over to East Passyunk Avenue for a classic Philly cheesesteak.

Whether you’re taking in the sights or just stepping out from work to grab some lunch, you have to be sure you’re watching where you’re walking.

Even though you might have the right of way when crossing the street, there are many reckless drivers who won’t be watching out for you. There are thousands of pedestrians who are injured every year in Philadelphia. In many of those accidents, the car driver will try to blame the pedestrian for “stepping out in front of them without warning.”

If you’re a pedestrian in this scenario, you need an experienced Philadelphia pedestrian accident lawyer to be your advocate.

The attorneys at Laffey Bucci D’Andrea Reich & Ryan have been fierce advocates for many Philly residents who have been injured by reckless drivers. When we take on a pedestrian accident claim, we’re confident we can secure a fair settlement.

If you’ve been injured in a pedestrian accident, you and your attorney need to put together all the relevant details of your accident. Here’s what you need to know:

Leading Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Philadelphia

The city has launched the Vision Zero Philadelphia initiative, which has conducted a deep dive into crash and accident data to develop a plan of action to reduce those numbers.

This program has found that 80% of all traffic deaths and serious injuries happen on just 12% of Philadelphia Streets. The program aims to reduce those numbers through street redesigns, traffic-calming measures, and lowered speed limits.

Pedestrian accidents in Philadelphia are overwhelmingly caused by driver negligence, particularly in heavily congested areas like Roosevelt Boulevard and North Broad Street, and Center City intersections.

The leading causes of pedestrian accidents are:

Failure to Yield a.k.a. Angle Crashes

Angle crashes often involve vehicles turning into crosswalks. According to city data, these types of accidents account for roughly 30% of severe pedestrian injuries. This happens when drivers ignore a pedestrian’s right-of-way, especially when they try to beat yellow lights or rush through a right-on-red turn.

Distracted Driving

When a driver takes their eyes off the road to check their phone, reset their GPS, or adjust in-car systems, they may miss pedestrians entering crosswalks.

Speeding

Exceeding the speed limit drastically reduces a driver’s reaction time.

It also significantly increases the risk of severe impact injuries.

Impaired Driving

When a driver is under the influence of alcohol or drugs, their reflexes slow down.

That leads to bad lane control, failure to stop at signs, and devastating pedestrian collisions.

Poor Visibility

Inadequate street lighting, obstructed views at intersections due to parked cars or trucks, and inclement weather can all contribute to obscuring both drivers’ and pedestrians’ lines of sight.

Determining the causes of a pedestrian accident is how your Philly pedestrian accident attorney will determine who is liable for the accident.

Common Injuries Sustained in Pedestrian Collisions

There are many factors that determine the severity of injuries a pedestrian can sustain when hit by a vehicle. Those factors include the vehicle’s speed, the pedestrian’s height, and how the person was struck, such as frontal impact versus being thrown or dragged.

Common injuries fall into the following categories:

Lower and Upper Extremity Fractures: Broken bones are among the most common pedestrian injuries. Direct impact from a vehicle’s bumper often fractures the pelvis, femurs, knees, tibias, and fibulas. A pedestrian’s upper extremities, including the hands, wrists, arms, and collarbones, are also frequently broken when the pedestrian tumbles to the ground and braces for impact.

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs): Traumatic brain injuries and concussions are the leading causes of pedestrian fatalities and long-term disability. When a pedestrian is hit by a car, the impact usually sends them slamming into the hood, windshield, or the ground.

That jolts the brain against the skull. In the aftermath of this type of injury, the victim can experience memory loss, cognitive difficulties, sensitivity to light, and severe headaches. In extreme cases, there can be prolonged comas or disability.

Soft Tissue Damage: The violent force of an impact with a car can tear ligaments, tendons, and muscles. This includes contusions or deep bruising, lacerations, whiplash, and sprains that could limit mobility for months.

Internal Injuries: Blunt force trauma from a vehicle’s grill or hood often causes internal bleeding and damages vital organs, such as the liver, spleen, or kidneys. Rib fractures are also common. Those can lead to secondary complications like a punctured or collapsed lung.

Spinal Cord Injuries: A collision with a car can fracture vertebrae, herniate discs, or sever the spinal cord. These are the types of devastating injuries that can result in temporary or permanent paralysis. That will create a life-altering scenario requiring ongoing specialized care.

Once the full extent of the injuries is understood, the attorneys at Laffey Bucci D’Andrea Reich & Ryan can calculate a fair estimate of the costs needed to cover current and future expenses. It is vital to get that number correct because once a settlement offer is accepted, you will release all rights to return for any additional funds.

Determining Liability in Philadelphia Pedestrian Claims

Determining liability in Philadelphia relies on two key factors: Pennsylvania comparative negligence laws and the specific circumstances of the accident.

Pennsylvania follows a “modified comparative negligence” rule. That means a pedestrian can recover damages from an accident as long as they are assigned 50% or less of the fault.

For example, drivers have a legal duty of care to be alert and yield to pedestrians in marked or unmarked crosswalks. Pedestrians also have a duty of care to obey traffic signals, use crosswalks when available, and not dart into traffic.

A pedestrian could be considered partially at fault if they crossed against a red light or were jaywalking. In that scenario, their compensation would be reduced by the percentage of fault they bear. If a pedestrian is found 51% or more at fault, they are barred from recovering damages.

In order to make those determinations, you’ll need to pull together key evidence such as police reports, surveillance footage, witness accounts, and data regarding vehicle speed, lighting, or line-of-sight. That might seem like an overwhelming task, but it is the exact type of support that Laffey Bucci D’Andrea Reich & Ryan provides.

We have a team of expert investigators who support all our clients.

Getting the Right Support From a Philadelphia Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Pennsylvania is a “choice no-fault” state. That means that your own auto insurance typically covers initial medical expenses through its Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage.

What happens if your medical bills exceed those limits?

At that point, you can file a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance carrier. That is where things get complicated, and you’ll need the support of Laffey Bucci D’Andrea Reich & Ryan.

If we agree that your personal injury claim has merit, we can take over the communications with that insurance company on your behalf. Our experience has taught us that holding an insurance company to its obligations is not a challenge when you have the right evidence on your side.

Even with a strong claim, an insurance company will try to settle for a lower amount or deny the claim outright in the hopes of you getting frustrated and moving on. We don’t want to see that happen. If the insurance company is not being fair, we might suggest filing a lawsuit. That will certainly get their attention.

It is important to note that in Pennsylvania, there is a two-year deadline from the date of the accident to when you can file a personal injury lawsuit. That is why you need to act fast.

The team at Laffey Bucci D’Andrea Reich & Ryan is standing by to hear what happened and discuss your next move. Call for a consultation today. When your recovery and financial future are at stake, you want the right support from attorneys who have a proven track record of success.