The National Center for Health Statistics found that the majority of injuries suffered by pedestrians struck by motor vehicles occurred in urban areas and during dark lighting conditions. https://www.nsc.org. Unfortunately, these accidents normally result in serious injuries to the pedestrian.
In order to minimize the risk of being struck by a motor vehicle, the Michigan State Police recommend the following safety tips for pedestrians:
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- Use sidewalks whenever available.
- Obey traffic signals, signs and markings.
- Cross streets at a corner, using traffic signals and crosswalks whenever possible.
- If you must walk along the roadway, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible.
- Always stop at the edge of a parked car, curb, or vehicle before walking out into traffic.
- Look left-right-left before crossing a street and continue looking while crossing.
- Make eye contact with drivers prior to crossing roadways.
- Be visible: wear reflective clothing and lights at night and wear bright colors during the day.
- Never allow children under age 10 to cross the streets alone. Young children do not have the skills to accurately judge traffic risks.
Types of Compensation Pedestrians May be Entitled to if Injured in Michigan
If you or a family member is injured in an accident with a motor vehicle, you may be entitled to compensation including the following:
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- Compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, attendant care and replacement services;
- Compensation for pain and suffering including mental anguish, physical pain and suffering, denial of social pleasures and the effect on your quality of life.
The amount of compensation depends largely on the seriousness of the injuries suffered by the pedestrian. The injuries sustained by pedestrians include traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage, broken bones, scarring and disfigurement and even death.
Our office recently settled a lawsuit for a pedestrian injured in the City of Ann Arbor where the police department found that the pedestrian was completely at fault. A forensic examination by the engineers hired by our office determined that the speed calculations by the investigating police officers were completely inaccurate and based on false data. The injured accident victims recovered a multi-million dollar financial settlement including compensation for pain and suffering, $500,000.00 for home accommodation and lifetime medical care.
If you or a family member is injured in a personal injury accident, you should contact the Logeman, Iafrate & Logeman, PC law firm for a Free Consultation.