What To Know About Pedestrian-Car Accidents In Kansas

According to the 2022 Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) report, “roadways continue to be incredibly deadly for pedestrians.” Preliminary statistics show that at least 7,508 pedestrians were killed in the U.S. in 2022 and 47 of those deaths were in Kansas.

In addition to those pedestrians who were killed, one every 71 minutes, hundreds were injured, some so severely their lives will never be the same. A pedestrian has essentially no protection from injury when rammed into by a 5,000-pound automobile or an 80,000-pound fully-loaded semi-truck. If not killed, injuries can be catastrophic. Some injured pedestrians need lifetime care.

If you were injured as a pedestrian, or someone you love was killed, you need the assistance of a personal injury attorney who will help you get all the compensation to which you are legally entitled.

Driver Errors That Cause Pedestrian Accidents

Although not all pedestrian accidents are due to driver error, driver negligence is often the cause. Some examples are:

• Speeding. This can make it impossible for drivers to stop in time when they see a pedestrian. Speeding also sometimes results in the driver not seeing a pedestrian at all until the moment of impact.
• The driver turns without looking out for pedestrians.
• Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Even some prescription medications can impair a driver’s ability to drive.
• Driving at unsafe speeds due to bad weather or road conditions even if the speed is under the posted speed limit
• Distracted driving while talking on the phone or texting, eating, grooming, dealing with unruly children, or any other activity that causes drivers to take their eyes off the road.
• Driver fails to stop at an intersection that does not have a specifically marked pedestrian crosswalk. Drivers need to assume that every intersection has a crosswalk even if not marked and pedestrians have the right of way.
• Driving while fatigued. Studies show that fatigued driving is as dangerous as driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Drivers Are Not Always Responsible for Pedestrian Accidents

There are times when a pedestrian may be at fault, or at least share the fault, of a pedestrian accident. For example, if the pedestrian was:

• Jaywalking—which means crossing in the middle of the road and not at an intersection.
• Crossing when the light was red, or the sign read “Don’t Walk” when they stepped into the intersection.

Get Help from A Kansas Personal Injury Attorney

If you were injured as a pedestrian, learn about your legal options in Wichita, Kansas from an experienced personal injury attorney. At Larry Wall Trial Law, Larry Wall and Tina Huntington have seen it all in over 50 years of combined experience pursuing personal injury cases. Call us at 316-265-6000 for more information and to schedule a free consultation.