Imagine you are walking along Settlers Landing Road in Downtown Hampton. Maybe you’re visiting the Virginia Air & Space Science Center, the Hampton Carousel, or one of the many other attractions along the Hampton waterfront. You decide to cross the street at a marked crosswalk. Suddenly, a distracted driver fails to yield, you cannot jump out of the way quickly enough and his car hits you, and that’s the last thing you remember before waking up in an ambulance. Unfortunately, this scenario is common in Virginia and on Hampton roads.
In 2021, there were more than 1,400 pedestrian-related motor vehicle accidents in Virginia. Tragically, 125 pedestrians were killed in those accidents and more than 1,300 suffered injuries.
According to Va. Code §46.2-924, motorists must yield to pedestrians in any clearly marked crosswalk. Drivers are additionally required to yield to pedestrians in a crossing that is included in the prolongation of the lateral boundary lines of the adjacent sidewalk at the end of a block, as well as any intersection when the driver is approaching a highway where the speed limit is not more than 35 miles per hour.
Our Hampton, Virginia pedestrian injury lawyers commissioned a 2022 study of all Virginia pedestrian injuries and deaths for the prior seven-year period, so we have seriously studied the most dangerous pedestrian zones in the state.
Click to Visit: [Study] The Most Dangerous Areas for Pedestrians in Virginia
Virginia law also directs that pedestrians are required to walk on the sidewalk if one is available. Pedestrians have the right of way on sidewalks. If there is no sidewalk, pedestrians lawfully may walk against traffic on the far left of the roadway, either facing oncoming traffic or on the shoulder if it is wide enough to provide safe passage. Drivers are also required to yield to pedestrians while exiting driveways, parking lots, and alleys. Staying off sidewalks and exercising caution in school zones, parking lots, and residential neighborhoods should be no-brainers for drivers, but the high rate of pedestrian accidents in Hampton and across Virginia indicates otherwise.
If a driver fails to obey these laws and hits a pedestrian, they have violated their duty of care and should be held responsible for the victim’s injuries. The damages that can be pursued through a personal injury claim include the pedestrian’s incurred medical expenses, future medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, scarring, permanent disability, and more.
Pedestrian Accident Injuries
A pedestrian accident can occur at any time – when a person is out taking a stroll, running, or just standing on a sidewalk waiting to cross the street. No matter what the size of the vehicle that hits the pedestrian, the pedestrian will still suffer more severe injuries than if they were an occupant in a vehicle.
Accident injuries are often so severe they require surgery, rehabilitation, and, in some cases, amputation. A pedestrian accident victim may be unable to work because they suffer from chronic pain or brain damage from the accident. All of these issues can result in lost income and loss of overall quality of life. Some of the most common types of pedestrian accident injuries the Hampton, Virginia accident attorneys at our firm see include:
- Back/spinal cord damage or paralysis
- Broken or fractured bones
- Damage to joints, shoulders, or knees
- Internal bleeding
- Neck injuries resulting in whiplash or fractured vertebrae
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents
The most common locations where pedestrian accidents occur are the ones where you would think pedestrians would be the safest, however, statistics show that isn’t the case. Marked crosswalks, crossing intersections controlled by stop lights and stop signs, and even on sidewalks are the most common locations of pedestrian accidents.
The risk of pedestrian accidents spikes at night compared to daylight hours. This is often due to poor street lighting or lack of traffic enforcement, combined with distracted driving, speeding, driving under the influence, and other dangerous driving behaviors and these are recipes for disasters.
The following are some of the most common causes of pedestrian accidents that the Hampton, VA personal injury attorneys from Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp have extensive experience in:
- A motorist driving too fast for road conditions
- Distracted driving
- Driving under the influence
- Failure to stop at an intersection
- Ignoring crosswalks or other pedestrian right-of-way areas
- Illegal U-turn
- Losing control of the vehicle
- New or inexperienced driver
- Not watching out for pedestrians in parking lots
Financial Restitution You Can Pursue in a Virginia Pedestrian Accident Claim
If you are injured in a pedestrian accident caused by a negligent or reckless driver, one of our experienced pedestrian accident lawyers in Hampton can help you pursue financial restitution for your harms and losses:
- Medical expenses (e.g., past and future coverage for medical, hospital, surgical, therapy bills, and prescription medication bills).
- Lost income due to the extent of your injuries (which may include future income if you are deemed partially or fully disabled).
- Pain and suffering, which generally includes those intangible harms and losses.
Our Hampton personal injury law firm has successfully represented many pedestrian accident victims, including:
- A $1.1 million settlement for a high school senior who was critically injured after being hit by a tractor-trailer as he was crossing the road. He underwent multiple orthopedic and internal operations for crush personal injuries, including spinal fixation surgery for fractured lower vertebrae, and internal surgeries because of crush injuries to his urological system.
- A $100,000 settlement for a client who was hit by a distracted driver as he was walking in a crosswalk. Our client suffered a shattered ankle and heel that required major reparative surgery and extensive physical therapy.
- Two settlements for two clients who suffered leg fractures when a driver hit them as they were crossing in a crosswalk. Both clients required surgeries to repair the fractures, and one of the clients required multiple surgeries.
Call Our Hampton, VA Personal Injury Law Firm for a Free Case Evaluation
If you have suffered injuries in a pedestrian accident caused by another party, contact a Hampton, Virginia pedestrian accident attorney to find out what legal options you may have. At Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp, we are dedicated to helping injured clients obtain the compensation they deserve for the losses their injuries have caused.
Call our office today at (833) 997-1774 or click here to schedule a free and confidential consultation with a personal injury attorney.
For more information about what to do if you are seriously hurt in a Hampton pedestrian accident, read these articles:
- Why Drivers Don’t See and Yield to Pedestrians and Bike Riders
- What Are the Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Virginia?
- Know Your Rights as a Pedestrian and Bike Rider in Virginia
- Information on Laws That Apply to Pedestrians Who Suffer Personal Injuries When They Are Hit by Cars
- Pedestrian Injuries in Crosswalks or Crossing Highways in Virginia