It may sound shocking, but pedestrians don’t have to be crossing a street to be hit by a driver. It’s scary to think about, but pedestrians are never really out of danger from vehicles—even if they are off the road or as far to the side of the road as possible.
Drivers likely are not aiming to hit pedestrians, but they can be so focused on reaching their destinations or on sending a text that they fail to look out for pedestrians. As a result, those who are walking along the side of the road or are even on a sidewalk or grass shoulder are sometimes hit by negligent drivers.
Some of the types of pedestrians struck by vehicles along the road include:
- Walkers. People walk along the side of the road for many reasons—from pedestrians commuting to school or work via the sidewalk to people walking their dogs on the grass near the road. There are even people who find themselves walking near traffic after their vehicles have broken down. Unfortunately, all of these people are at risk of being in a pedestrian accident due to negligent drivers.
- Runners or joggers. Many people who run for exercise run facing traffic as far to the left as possible or run on the sidewalk in the same direction as traffic. Even though they are following the laws and trying to stay safe while running, sometimes vehicles plow right into them.
- Workers. Construction crews and city crews frequently work alongside the road, and while they are aware of the dangers, cars, vans, and trucks have been known to barrel into a work zone and injure or kill a worker.
When a pedestrian is struck by a vehicle along the side of the road, it is possible that a driver is guilty of impaired driving, reckless driving, fatigued driving, or distracted driving such as texting and driving. Sometimes drivers don’t have to break the law to behave negligently. For instance, some drivers turn around to deal with kids or reach into their back seat when they lose control of their cars and hit a pedestrian. In any event, negligent drivers need to be held accountable for the wrongs they cause.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident that was caused by a negligent driver, please contact our office as soon as possible for a complimentary legal consultation.