If you’ve been injured in a pedestrian accident caused by a negligent driver, you may have legal options available to you. Contact our Southaven pedestrian accident lawyers at Mama Justice to protect your legal rights.
Being severely injured in a motor vehicle accident can turn your life upside down. Having to be rushed from the scene of the accident and forced to undergo emergency surgery is not something most people are prepared to face. However, this is a reality that thousands of people across Mississippi deal with on a yearly basis.
Being injured in a pedestrian accident means that you will most likely have to take time off work. Dealing with painful injuries and the mental and financial strains associated with a pedestrian crash can be challenging.
Should you be harmed in a pedestrian accident, you may be eligible to receive financial compensation from those who caused you harm. Working with a skilled pedestrian accident lawyer in Southaven can provide you with the best opportunity to pursue legal action against negligent drivers.
The Southaven personal injury lawyers at Mama Justice have decades of experience protecting the legal rights of victims across the state of Mississippi who have been injured in accidents due to the negligent, reckless, and malicious actions of others.
Our lawyers provide fearless representation to ensure each person we work with is able to obtain the compensation they need and deserve. Contact our pedestrian accident lawyers in Southaven as soon as possible to see how we can help you.
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Southaven
Pedestrians are harmed in auto accidents in Southaven and across the state of Mississippi at an alarming rate. According to the Mississippi Department of Transportation, since 2017, our state has seen a 42% increase in the number of fatal pedestrian accidents. Although authorities are constantly enacting laws to keep pedestrians safe, we continue to see them harmed in accidents due to the careless, negligent, and reckless actions of others.
Some of the leading causes of pedestrian crashes in Southaven include:
Driving while impaired
We constantly see a significant number of pedestrians harmed in accidents caused by drivers who are impaired by drugs or alcohol.
Speeding
Drivers who fail to maintain a safe speed can cause serious accidents involving pedestrians. When drivers travel above the posted speed limit, they may not be able to stop their vehicles in time to avoid striking others.
Driving while distracted
Given the dramatic increase in technology, it is no surprise that we are seeing more people using their cellphones while operating their vehicles. As a result, we see many people harmed in crashes caused by people who are using their cellphones to talk, text, or browse the web. We also see many people hurt in accidents caused by drivers distracted by other people in their vehicles, food, and other objects.
Failing to yield the right of way
Pedestrians are afforded the right of way when traveling through designated crossing areas. We see many people suffer severe injuries in pedestrian accidents caused by drivers who fail to yield the right of way to pedestrians.
Inclement weather
Heavy rain, snow, fog, and other inclement weather conditions can make it incredibly challenging for drivers to see pedestrians traveling near and across roadways in the Southaven area.
Running red lights
It is quite common for pedestrians to take advantage of red lights at intersections in order to safely cross. Unfortunately, we continue to see many people struck by vehicles when drivers run red lights.
Driving while drowsy
When drivers are too tired to operate their vehicle or fall asleep behind the wheel, they are likely to lose control of their vehicles. We see many people struck while traveling on sidewalks and other areas designated for pedestrian traffic.
Left-turn accidents
Even in marked crosswalks, pedestrians are at risk of being harmed by drivers making left-hand turns at intersections. When drivers fail to allow pedestrians to cross before turning, they place their lives at risk.
Additionally, traveling between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. can make it challenging for drivers to see pedestrians. This is especially true when pedestrians wear dark clothing. If you have been injured in a pedestrian accident in the Southaven area, you may have legal options available to help you recover. Our Mississippi personal injury lawyers at Mama Justice can help you hold negligent drivers to account. Given the rise in pedestrian crashes in our area that we have witnessed over the past decade, it is more important than ever before that victims get justice.
Injuries Sustained by Pedestrians in Accidents
The fact that pedestrians are entirely exposed during automobile accidents means they are likely to suffer catastrophic injuries that require emergency surgery and other immediate care. Some of the most common injuries sustained by pedestrians involved in crashes in Southaven include:
- Neck and soft-tissue injuries
- Broken bones
- Loss of limbs
- Major cuts, scrapes, and lacerations
- Leg and Knee Trauma
- Internal organ damage
- Nerve damage
- Brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Back injuries
- Crush Injuries
A fair share of pedestrian crash victims are left with psychological injuries as well. These include:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Posttraumatic stress disorder
- Feeling hopeless
- Feeling helpless
Depending on the type and severity of injuries, victims may have to go through surgery, therapy, and rehabilitation. Given the vulnerability of pedestrians, these victims are likely to suffer severe injuries that leave them permanently disabled and unable to work. If you have been hurt in a Southaven pedestrian accident as a result of a negligent, reckless, or malicious driver, you may be entitled to compensation to help you move forward.
Types of Pedestrian Accidents we see in Southaven
According to statistics provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, one pedestrian is struck by a vehicle and injured somewhere in the United States every eight minutes. Every 108 minutes, a pedestrian loses their life as a result of a traffic-related incident.
Every day, we see victims and their families forced to endure overwhelming hardships that impact nearly every aspect of their lives. For this reason, it is imperative that they are able to get justice and hold negligent parties accountable for their actions. Our lawyers at Mama Justice fight to ensure victims are protected after being harmed in various types of pedestrian accidents, including:
- Crosswalk accidents
- Runner and joggers being struck by vehicles
- Parking lot accidents
- Bus accidents
- Train accidents
- Trolley accidents
- Drunk driving accidents
- Distracted driving accidents
These and other accidents involving pedestrians can have a truly profound impact on the lives of those harmed. Suffering debilitating injuries can dramatically change your life and force you to deal with the unimaginable. If you have been injured in a pedestrian accident, you should reach out to our Mississippi personal injury lawyers right away. You may be entitled to financial compensation that you can use to cover a variety of economic and non-economic damages you face.
Compensation Available to Injured Pedestrians
Following a pedestrian accident, you are most likely going to be rushed to a hospital for the treatment of injuries. You may even have to remain hospitalized for several days and spend weeks off work to recover.
When victims are harmed in pedestrian accidents due to the negligence of others, they may be entitled to compensation that can be used to alleviate some of the financial burdens they face. Our Southaven personal injury lawyers at Mama Justice are available to help you protect your legal rights and get the compensation you deserve. Some of the damages our lawyers help our clients recover compensation for include:
- Lost wages
- Medical expenses
- Long-term treatment costs
- Mental anguish
- The loss of parental/spousal financial support
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent scarring or disfigurements
- Pain and suffering
- Punitive damages
- Lost earnings/benefits for victims left permanently disabled
If your loved one has lost their life as a result of a pedestrian accident, our lawyers can help you recover compensation for these damages as well as money to cover funeral and burial expenses, and other end-of-life costs by pursuing a wrongful death claim. Our lawyers take a compassionate and fearless approach toward helping each client we work with get the justice they truly deserve.
What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident
If you are involved in a pedestrian accident, there are various things you should do to protect your health, wellbeing, and legal rights. These include:
Call for help
You or another witness or bystander should immediately call for first responders to provide assistance at the scene of the crash. If you are unconscious, other motorists and people at the scene of the accident will need to call. However, if you are conscious and alert, you must call immediately to get medical attention. The police will respond to the scene of the crash and conduct an investigation to determine what took place and paramedics will be able to render aid to your injuries.
Document your injuries
Once you have called for help, you need to focus on your injuries. What part of your body is in pain? Do you have any visual injuries? Is your clothing torn? Are you bleeding from anywhere? Noticing these changes can help you determine where your injuries are, even if you do not feel them immediately.
Do not admit fault
Do not discuss your accident with anyone at the scene. Anything you say can and will be used against you by insurance companies. You are best to refrain from speaking about your actions. Never admit fault, even partial fault. The same goes for when you speak with any insurance company.
Seek medical care
Even if you do not feel injured, you need to undergo a thorough medical evaluation. You may have internal organ injuries and other injuries that are not readily apparent. Dealing with a rush of adrenalin can make it difficult for you to feel injuries immediately. For this reason, a medical evaluation is crucial.
Contact your insurance company
You will want to contact your insurance company and inform them that you were involved in an accident. Your insurance company may assist you when it comes to filing a claim.
Seek the guidance of an attorney
Finally, you will want to reach out to a qualified legal team to protect your rights. Our skilled Southaven personal injury lawyers at Mama Justice will handle insurance companies, build a strong case on your behalf, and fight to get you the justice and the compensation you need and deserve.
Injured near a Construction Site
Construction sites are required to be safe and secure areas. However, we see many people injured while simply walking by these areas. When construction site managers fail to secure their equipment, make sure all of the grounds are blocked off from thru-traffic, or make reasonable efforts to prevent injuries to others, they place the lives of others at risk. Some of the most common injuries we see near construction sites include those caused by:
- Falling equipment
- Falling debris
- Scaffolding accidents
- Falling ladders
- Dangerous handling of chemicals
- Explosions
- Gate collapses
If you have been harmed at a construction site, you must seek legal guidance right away.
Contact a Southaven Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Today
The Southaven pedestrian accident lawyers at Mama Justice are committed to treating each client we work with like family. Should you be harmed in an accident, we will help you protect your legal rights and hold at-fault parties accountable for your injuries and damages.
We provide our clients with real insight as to what their expectations should be regarding the outcome of their personal injury case. We guide our clients through all the technicalities and help them understand where they are during each step of the legal process.
We recognize the difficulties that injured pedestrians and their families face. We remain by each client’s side every step of the way as we diligently advocate on their behalf. If you have been hurt in a pedestrian accident, you must act quickly to protect your legal rights.
Southaven pedestrian accident lawyer Missy Wigginton, AKA Mama Justice, is available to meet with you at your earliest convenience to discuss your case and to help you get justice. We conduct no-obligation consultations with our clients, at no cost, in Southaven and in all of our thirteen offices across Mississippi. Contact our Southaven pedestrian accident law firm today by calling (888) 484-1476.