Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Little Rock

Little Rock is a busy city with streets supporting substantial pedestrian and motorist traffic. Crosswalks, stop lights, and signs help motorists and pedestrians safely share the roadways, but accidents are still common. Vehicle collisions involving pedestrians are some of the most devastating, often resulting in severe injuries with life-altering consequences.

Common causes of pedestrian accidents in Little Rock range from poor visibility to distractions and negligence. Learning why these accidents occur can help you avoid injury and protect your rights if you are harmed because of someone else’s negligence. A skilled pedestrian accident attorney could help you determine liability and pursue compensation after suffering injuries in a collision.

Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents

High-traffic areas in Little Rock demand that drivers and pedestrians stay alert at all times to avoid accidents. However, busy lifestyles and modern distractions often cause individuals to fail at giving road conditions their full attention. The most common causes of accidents involving pedestrians can be attributed to the actions of all individuals sharing the road.

Some of the most common factors influencing pedestrian accidents include the following.

  • Light conditions, exacerbated by pedestrians’ dark clothing
  • Roadway conditions, such as no intersection or crosswalk
  • Improper lane use, including bicycles on sidewalks that force pedestrians onto roads
  • Left-hand turns that require more concentration from drivers navigating the intersection
  • Electronics use by drivers or pedestrians
  • Distracted driving, possibly due to phone use, the radio, AC, navigation, passengers, food, and more
  • Speeding
  • Defective traffic lights

Any circumstance in which pedestrians are difficult to see can result in a catastrophic accident. Drivers, pedestrians, and entities responsible for keeping roadways safe can be held liable for actions that contribute to pedestrian accidents.

How the Cause of the Accident Can Impact a Compensation Claim

Drivers have a duty of care to take special precautions to keep pedestrians safe. Despite this, drivers are not automatically at fault for causing an accident. More than one individual can be found liable for an accident involving pedestrians, and these individuals may include one or more drivers, pedestrians themselves, or organizations responsible for maintaining roadways.

For example, if a pedestrian crosses the road where there is no designated crosswalk and is hit by a speeding driver, both individuals could be found partially liable for the resulting damages. When a crash occurs at an intersection with faulty streetlights or traffic lights, the organization responsible for installing and maintaining them can be found liable.

Determining responsibility can become even more complex when an accident occurs at a busy intersection. A driver navigating a left-hand turn must pay attention to oncoming traffic from multiple directions, as well as pedestrians. Pedestrians can help mitigate danger by recognizing the complications of a situation and making eye contact with drivers or waving before stepping off the curb.

Cities can also minimize harm to pedestrians by installing dedicated left-hand turn signals or banning left-hand turns at busy intersections with high foot traffic rates. Proving the cause of a Little Rock pedestrian accident is often complex, and ensuring pedestrians get fair compensation for their injuries typically demands a full investigation carried out by an experienced legal team.

Contact an Experienced Little Rock Attorney to Learn More About the Causes of Pedestrian Accidents

Common causes of pedestrian accidents in Little Rock are often highly relevant to finding the evidence required to support a compensation claim. The experienced attorneys at Mays, Byrd, and O’Guinn LLC have decades of experience advocating for injured pedestrians. After being injured in a pedestrian accident, you should focus on recovery instead of fighting to defend your rights. We could help you determine the cause of your accident and hold the responsible parties liable for their negligence. Contact us today to schedule a consultation to discuss your legal options.

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