Murfreesboro Pedestrian Accident Lawyers
When a vehicle strikes a pedestrian, there is almost nothing to absorb the impact before it reaches the person’s body. The initial collision may throw the pedestrian onto the hood, windshield, or pavement, creating the potential for multiple serious injuries from a single accident. Even at speeds that might produce a relatively minor vehicle-to-vehicle collision, the consequences for a pedestrian can be devastating.
The Murfreesboro Pedestrian Accident Lawyers at Weir & Kestner Injury Lawyers represent people who have been seriously injured by negligent drivers. We pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain, permanent limitations, and the other ways a pedestrian accident can affect a person’s life.
Our clients receive a dedicated case manager and access to an attorney from the beginning. When you are recovering from a serious injury, you deserve personal attention from a legal team focused on securing the best possible result for you.
Crosswalks Depend on Drivers Paying Attention
Crosswalks are intended to provide pedestrians with a safer place to cross, but painted lines cannot stop an inattentive driver. A pedestrian may enter a crosswalk believing approaching traffic will yield, only to encounter a motorist who is distracted, speeding, or simply fails to recognize the person in time.
Tennessee law provides protections for pedestrians in crosswalks under specified circumstances. At the same time, pedestrians also have responsibilities and should not suddenly enter the path of a vehicle that is so close that the driver cannot reasonably stop. The circumstances of the particular collision matter. A pedestrian who lawfully enters a crosswalk should not have to assume that a driver will ignore their presence.
Turning Vehicles Can Put Pedestrians in Danger
A driver does not have to be traveling quickly to cause a devastating pedestrian accident. Some of the most dangerous situations arise when motorists turn at intersections.
A driver preparing to turn may concentrate on finding a gap in vehicle traffic while overlooking someone crossing on foot. A right-turning driver may look left for approaching cars and begin moving without checking adequately for a pedestrian to the right. A left-turning driver may focus on oncoming traffic and fail to notice someone crossing the street being entered.
The pedestrian can be directly in front of the vehicle by the time the driver recognizes the danger. Drivers need to account for people on foot as well as other cars when moving through an intersection.
Pedestrian Accidents Also Happen Away From Intersections
Not every pedestrian collision occurs in a marked crosswalk. People walk through parking lots, cross driveways, travel along roads, and move between parked vehicles every day.
Drivers may strike pedestrians while:
- Backing from a parking space
- Entering or leaving a driveway
- Moving through a parking lot
- Pulling away from a curb
- Driving through an area with heavy foot traffic
- Failing to notice someone alongside the roadway
- Reversing without checking the area behind the vehicle
Parking lot collisions may occur at relatively low vehicle speeds, but a pedestrian can still suffer a serious head injury, fracture, or other trauma from the impact or subsequent fall.
Being Outside a Crosswalk Does Not Automatically Eliminate a Claim
Pedestrian accidents outside marked crosswalks can involve more complicated questions about responsibility. Pedestrians have legal obligations when crossing outside designated crossing areas. But drivers also have an ongoing duty to exercise reasonable care. An insurance company may try to turn the fact that a pedestrian was outside a crosswalk into an argument that the pedestrian is entirely responsible for the collision.
The issue is not always that simple. The driver’s speed, visibility, opportunity to respond, attentiveness, and other circumstances may all be relevant. Tennessee’s comparative fault rules can also affect the amount an injured person is able to recover. A pedestrian should not assume there is no claim simply because the collision occurred outside a marked crosswalk.
Children Face Particular Risks Around Vehicles
Children may not judge traffic in the same way adults do. They can have difficulty estimating how fast a vehicle is approaching or how much time is available to cross. Their smaller size can also make them more difficult for motorists to see, particularly around parked vehicles and in areas where visibility is limited. Drivers should exercise appropriate care when circumstances indicate children may be nearby.
For a family, a serious pedestrian accident involving a child can create years of uncertainty. Severe injuries can affect development, education, mobility, and future independence. A claim involving a badly injured child therefore may need to consider needs extending far beyond the immediate hospital bills.
Pedestrians Can Suffer Multiple Injuries in One Collision
A pedestrian accident often involves more than one impact. The vehicle may initially strike the person’s legs or hips. The upper body can then hit the hood or windshield. Finally, the person may fall onto the roadway. Each stage can cause a different injury.
Serious pedestrian injuries may include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Hip and pelvic fractures
- Broken legs and knees
- Shoulder and arm injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Facial injuries and scarring
- Nerve damage
- Permanent mobility limitations
Some victims require several surgeries followed by extensive rehabilitation. Others live with chronic pain or permanent disabilities that affect their ability to work and care for themselves.
The Consequences Can Continue Long After the Accident
A serious pedestrian injury is not measured only by the cost of an ambulance ride or hospital stay. A fractured leg may prevent someone from working for months. A traumatic brain injury can interfere with concentration, memory, and employment. A spinal injury may require lifelong medical care or assistance with daily activities.
Depending on the circumstances, compensation may include medical expenses, future treatment, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, permanent impairment, and other losses. The more serious the injury, the more important it becomes to understand what the person is likely to need in the future. Weir & Kestner works to pursue a recovery that accounts for those long-term consequences rather than focusing only on bills that have already arrived.
Fatal Pedestrian Accidents in Murfreesboro
The lack of physical protection surrounding a pedestrian makes these accidents particularly dangerous. Some victims do not survive. When a negligent driver causes a fatal pedestrian accident, qualifying family members or the appropriate representative may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim under Tennessee law.
No financial recovery can replace the person who was lost. A wrongful death case can, however, provide a means to pursue accountability and compensation for losses recognized by law. We approach these cases with sensitivity to what the family is experiencing while working to secure the recovery available to them.
Legal Help Centered on the Injured Person
After a pedestrian accident, an insurance company may focus on traffic rules, percentages of fault, and the amount it believes a claim is worth. We focus on the person.
Both partners at Weir & Kestner began their careers representing insurance companies. They saw firsthand how insurers evaluate accident claims and protect their financial interests. They now use that experience to represent injured people.
Every client also receives a dedicated case manager and access to an attorney from the beginning. Our goal is to make the legal process easier for you while pursuing compensation that reflects what the accident has actually cost you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Murfreesboro Pedestrian Accidents
Do pedestrians always have the right-of-way in a crosswalk?
Pedestrians have important protections under Tennessee law, but right-of-way rules depend on the circumstances. Pedestrians also have responsibilities, including restrictions on suddenly entering the path of a vehicle that is too close to stop safely.
Can I recover compensation if I was hit while crossing outside a crosswalk?
Potentially. Being outside a marked crosswalk does not automatically prevent an injury claim. The actions of both the pedestrian and driver, along with Tennessee’s comparative fault rules, can affect the outcome.
Can a low-speed pedestrian accident still cause a serious injury?
Yes. A pedestrian has no vehicle structure protecting the body from impact. Even a lower-speed collision can cause fractures, brain injuries, or other serious harm, particularly when the person is knocked onto the pavement.
Can I make a claim if I was hit by a car backing out of a parking space?
Potentially. Drivers should take reasonable precautions before and while reversing. If a driver backs into a pedestrian because they failed to exercise appropriate care, the injured person may have a claim for compensation.
What compensation may be available after a serious pedestrian accident?
Depending on the circumstances, compensation may include medical expenses, future treatment, lost income, diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering, permanent disability or impairment, and other losses resulting from the accident.
Contact a Murfreesboro Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
When a pedestrian is struck by a vehicle, the injuries can affect nearly every part of life, from the ability to work and move independently to plans for the future.
If a negligent driver caused your injuries, Weir & Kestner Injury Lawyers can pursue compensation for the full impact of the accident while providing the personal service you deserve throughout your case.
Contact Weir & Kestner Injury Lawyers for a free consultation with a Murfreesboro pedestrian accident lawyer. We do not collect an attorney’s fee unless we obtain compensation for you.