Recovering Damages From a Pedestrian Injury in Enid, OK
Pedestrian crashes produce catastrophic injuries faced with aggressive defense. The body of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle has no protection. The forces involved in a vehicle-pedestrian crash transfer directly to the human body. Insurers aggressively challenge pedestrian fault. A local attorney experienced with pedestrian crashes knows how to counter the standard pedestrian blame tactics.
Why Pedestrian Cases Are Distinctive
Catastrophic Injury Patterns
Pedestrians lack vehicle protection.
Pedestrians absorb the full crash force.
Even at modest speeds, pedestrian-vehicle crashes produce:
- Lower extremity injuries
- TBI from hitting the vehicle or ground
- Internal trauma
- Spinal injuries
- Multiple fractures
Catastrophic Injuries at Even Modest Speeds
Studies consistently show that pedestrian survival rates drop dramatically as vehicle speed increases.
At speeds significantly below highway speeds, impacts cause severe outcomes.
Secondary Impacts
Pedestrians frequently suffer multiple impact events.
Common multi-impact scenarios include:
- First impact with the vehicle
- Hood-strike
- Windshield impact
- Roof impact
- Being thrown off
- Ground impact
- Being run over by the vehicle or subsequent vehicles
Insurance Companies Aggressively Blame Pedestrians
Defense routinely pushes pedestrian fault.
Common defense arguments include:
- Wrong-location defenses
- The pedestrian wasn’t visible
- Yield-failure defenses
- Distraction defenses
- “You’d been drinking”
These defenses can be countered.
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents
Driver Failure to Yield
Yield failures are the leading cause of pedestrian crashes.
Distracted Driving
Drivers using phones, GPS, or other distractions hit pedestrians.
Drunk and Impaired Drivers
Substance-impaired drivers account for many pedestrian incidents.
Speeding
High-speed driving drives catastrophic outcomes.
Drivers Backing Up Without Looking
Backing-up incidents strike pedestrians, particularly in parking lots, driveways, and back-out spaces.
Left-Turn Crashes
Drivers turning left into crosswalks cause many catastrophic outcomes.
Right-Turn Crashes
Right-turn crashes against pedestrians generate predictable pedestrian crashes.
Running Red Lights or Stop Signs
Drivers running traffic control devices endanger pedestrians who have right-of-way.
Inadequate Visibility
Visibility issues various visibility problems drive crashes.
Sidewalk and Crosswalk Issues
Crosswalk infrastructure problems drive crashes.
Vehicle Defects
Equipment-related crashes can contribute to pedestrian crashes.
Where Pedestrian Crashes Happen
Intersections
Intersection pedestrian crashes drive many pedestrian crashes.
Crosswalks
Pedestrians struck in crosswalks, even when pedestrians had right-of-way happen frequently.
Mid-Block Crossings
Pedestrians struck mid-block face more contested fault analysis, but driver duties still apply.
Parking Lots
Parking lot pedestrian crashes are recurring incidents.
Sidewalks
Sidewalk crashes.
School Zones
School zone pedestrian crashes involve child victims.
Construction Zones
Construction zone pedestrian crashes.
Highways
Highway incidents involving pedestrians generate fatal incidents.
Right-of-Way and Comparative Fault Analysis
Crosswalk Right-of-Way
Crosswalk pedestrians generally have right-of-way.
State law governs specific rules, but pedestrians generally have right-of-way in crosswalks.
Unmarked Crosswalks
Intersection crossings carry pedestrian right-of-way.
Driver Duty to See Pedestrians
Drivers have a continuing duty to look for pedestrians in all circumstances.
Even Where Pedestrians Are at Fault
Even when pedestrians weren’t entirely correct, recovery is still typically possible.
Pure comparative fault states allow full recovery analysis.
Modified comparative fault states still allow recovery up to the threshold percentage.
Damages in Pedestrian Cases
Compensation in these cases include:
Medical Costs
Pedestrians typically require extensive medical care:
- Emergency and trauma care
- Surgical care
- Hospitalization
- ICU costs
- Long-term recovery
- Future medical care
- Prosthetics and adaptive devices
- Accessibility renovations
Lost Wages and Earning Capacity
Significant lost wages and reduced earning ability.
Pain and Suffering
Major pain damages.
Loss of Enjoyment of Life
Major quality of life impact.
Mental Health Treatment
Psychological consequences.
Disfigurement and Scarring
Visible scarring.
Loss of Consortium
Effects on intimate relationships.
Wrongful Death
Fatal cases, driving wrongful death cases.
Punitive Damages
Egregious conduct cases may support punitive damages.
Who Can Be Held Liable?
The Driver
Primary defendant carries primary liability.
Drivers in Multi-Vehicle Crashes
Various contributing drivers can face liability.
Vehicle and Component Manufacturers
Equipment-related crashes can implicate manufacturers.
Government Entities
For crashes involving road design, signal issues, signage problems can implicate government entities.
Property Owners
Where property conditions contributed can implicate property owners.
Construction Companies
Work zone cases can implicate construction companies for traffic control inadequacies.
Employers
Course-of-employment cases can implicate employers.
Trucking Companies
Truck pedestrian crashes create commercial liability.
Rideshare and Delivery Platforms
For crashes involving Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, or similar drivers create platform-specific claims.
Common Insurance Defenses
“The Pedestrian Was Jaywalking”
The most common defense.
Defense leverages the pedestrian was crossing improperly.
This defense can be countered through the legal framework for pedestrian rights.
“The Pedestrian Wasn’t Visible”
Defense leverages visibility limitations.
Drivers have duty to look for pedestrians despite visibility issues.
“The Pedestrian Was Distracted”
“You weren’t paying attention”. Even where this is true, driver duties continue.
“The Pedestrian Was Impaired”
Defense raises pedestrian impairment. Pedestrian impairment doesn’t fully bar recovery.
“The Pedestrian Caused Their Own Injuries”
Sole-fault defenses against pedestrians. Driver duties means complete pedestrian fault is rare.
“Comparative Fault”
Comparative negligence.
“Pre-Existing Conditions”
Past medical history.
Critical Steps After a Pedestrian Accident
Get Immediate Medical Attention
Even if you think you’re “fine”, same-day medical care matters. Pedestrian injuries can include internal damage that’s not immediately apparent.
Don’t Move If Seriously Injured
Wait for emergency services with serious injuries. Trying to move with spine injuries can worsen the harm.
Stay at the Scene Until Police Arrive
Don’t leave.
Get Driver Information
Document driver identification.
Identify Witnesses
Witnesses may be deciding witnesses.
Photograph Everything
Comprehensive scene documentation.
Document the Crosswalk Status
Where you were in relation to the crosswalk, Signal status, Crosswalk marking.
Get a Police Report
Insist on official documentation.
Don’t Discuss Fault
Don’t speculate.
Don’t Speak With Insurance Adjusters Without Counsel
Carriers contact victims promptly. Statements without legal advice can permanently damage the case.
Special Considerations for Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Cases
Hit-and-run pedestrian incidents are particularly devastating.
Pedestrians without their own auto insurance, resident relative auto coverage may apply.
Special Considerations for Children
Pediatric pedestrian cases have particular concerns:
- Pedestrian fault is rarely applied to children
- Lifetime damages
- Educational and developmental impact
Attorney Costs
Counsel handling these cases earn fees only on recovery. These cases require significant investment in accident reconstruction, medical experts, and life-care planners advanced by the firm.
Move Quickly
Pedestrian accident cases require prompt action.
Video recordings requires prompt preservation.
Witness recollections require prompt investigation.
Electronic vehicle records require preservation.
Scene evidence may be altered.
OK’s statute of limitations sets a hard cutoff.
Connecting with a Enid pedestrian accident attorney quickly triggers preservation steps.