Pedestrian Accident Lawyer New Orleans

New Orleans is widely known for its parades, festivals, music, and food. New Orleanians are so festive that they even throw parades when people die. The world-famous Mardi Gras festival attracts over 1.4 million people each year and with all of these celebrations comes lots of foot traffic. The intersections of alcohol, motor vehicles, parties, pedestrians, and negligence could spell disaster.

New Orleans Pedestrian Accident Statistics

In the year 2018, according to data collected by Louisiana State University, 174 pedestrians were fatally killed in car accidents in Louisiana. These deaths increased by 40% compared to the year 2017. Pedestrian fatalities accounted for 21.3% of all Louisiana traffic fatalities. There were 1,470 pedestrians injured in 2018. Alcohol was involved in 67 of the fatalities and the fatalities accounted for 40.9% of Louisiana fatalities. There were 18 pedestrian accident fatalities in Orleans parish in 2018. There were 397 injuries as a result of pedestrian accident injury crashes in Orleans parish.

Pedestrian Accident Causes

When a pedestrian is struck by a vehicle due to the driver’s negligence, then the victim may be entitled to damages. Pedestrian accidents could occur in the following ways:
 

  • Distracted drivers that use their cell phones, eat, drink, adjust their equipment, and play their music loudly are at a higher risk of hitting pedestrians.
  • Traffic not yielding to pedestrians could cause accidents. According to Louisiana State Law, pedestrians in the crosswalk have the right of way.
  • Making illegal turns or turning without looking for pedestrians
  • Speeding, especially in heavy pedestrian areas like school zones
  • Driving while under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

Crosswalk Safety

Local governments and engineering firms in charge of maintaining roads and designing crosswalks could also be held liable for poorly configured crosswalks. An unsafe crosswalk could put pedestrians at a higher risk of being involved in a pedestrian accident. Professional pedestrian accident attorneys in New Orleans can investigate the scene of your accident and help you determine who is liable in your claim.
 

Common Pedestrian Accident Injuries

Pedestrians involved in accidents with motor vehicles can be devastating. Vehicles can range in weight from hundreds of pounds to tons so coming into contact with a pedestrian may be catastrophic. The following injuries may result if you’re involved in a pedestrian accident:
 

  • Lacerations, bruises, contusions, and organ damage
  • Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) and head injuries that could result in a coma
  • Facial injuries including eye injuries, loss of vision, broken noses, and dental injuries
  • Spinal injuries including herniated disks, pinched nerves, or paralysis
  • Fractures, broken bones, and partial fractures

Steps To Take When Involved In A Pedestrian Accident

Being involved in an accident can be unsettling to your entire life. The following steps can assist your legal defense team in securing leverage in your claim, as well as assist you in making a full recovery as soon as possible:
 

  • Access your situation and get to safety as quickly as possible.
  • Avoid administering any health care procedures unless it’s an emergency situation like CPR.
  • Seek assistance from healthcare professionals, law enforcement, and insurance companies. If you’re unable to do so due to your injuries, ask someone to contact them for you.
  • Give truthful statements to the police but avoid acknowledging fault when discussing the details of the case with the others involved.
  • Exchange contact details with the others involved including name, phone number, emails, and insurance information.
  • Document everything including getting a copy of the police report, pictures and videos of the scene and nearby businesses, and gather witnesses’ contact information.
  • Contact an adept New Orleans pedestrian accident attorney for support, representation, and consulting about your particular case details.

Louisiana Pedestrian Accident Fault

According to Louisiana Pedestrian Laws, pedestrians are expected to yield to oncoming traffic whenever they are not in the crosswalk and have the right of way when they are inside of a crosswalk. Failure to do so puts the pedestrian at fault due to the comparative negligence statute. Louisiana comparative negligence states whatever percentage a pedestrian is determined to be at fault, at or below 50%, will be deducted from the total amount of their claim. For example, if a distracted driver strikes a jaywalking passenger with their vehicle, both could be determined to be partially at fault. Contact a skilled attorney with experience litigating Jefferson, Orleans, New Orleans, and Lousiana pedestrian accidents immediately for answers about your claim.
 

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