Pedestrian Injury Lawsuits

Everyday in Maryland, pedestrians who are crossing in a crosswalk, jogging down the street, and even walking on the sidewalk are stuck by a car or truck.   Particularly in Baltimore City (71 percent of all accidents involving pedestrians occur in urban areas), but everywhere in Maryland, streets are replete with activity; cars, motorcycles, bikes, and pedestrians engage in a circus of events in which minor mistakes can cause grave consequences.  No one endures this risk more than pedestrians who do not have the seat belt or the protection that a car affords its occupants in a car accident.  Incredibly, every 7 minutes a pedestrian is injured in a traffic accident and over 4,000 people are killed in pedestrian accidents every year in this country.

Many of our Maryland pedestrian accident cases involve:

• Pedestrian accidents caused by abject confusion at a construction site
• Cars not stopping completely at stop signs or turns “on red”
• Not providing enough room for bicyclists on a street or road
• Cars that just see past pedestrians
• Traveling too fast down neighborhood streets

Maryland pedestrian accidents often involve our most vulnerable population: children, the sick, and the elderly.  Statistically, children are at greater risk for pedestrian accidents because their lack of size leads drivers to see past them.  The elderly and the sick have more pedestrian accidents in Maryland because they have a more difficult time evading negligent drivers.  (One statistic that is hard to explain: males account for 68% of pedestrian fatalities.)

Defendants’ lawyers in Maryland pedestrian accidents often contend that the pedestrian crossed against the light or otherwise failed to obey the traffic control device denying the pedestrian the right-of-away.   Often, a good investigation can destroy these defenses. To combat these defenses of auto insurance companies in Maryland pedestrian accident lawsuits, our lawyers often immediately consult with investigators and accident reconstructionists to measure skid marks, evaluate any damage to the pedestrian, the car or bike, and interview witnesses to cement their testimony.