Recovering Damages From a Pedestrian Injury in Chickasha, OK
Pedestrian accidents combine the most catastrophic injury patterns with the most aggressive insurance defense tactics. Pedestrians have no vehicle structure protecting them. The forces involved in a vehicle-pedestrian crash transfer directly to the human body. Insurers aggressively challenge pedestrian fault. An attorney familiar with these distinctive cases builds these cases against the aggressive insurance approach.
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:
- Leg and pelvic injuries from initial impact
- Head trauma from secondary impacts
- Internal injuries from the impact
- Spinal injuries
- Bone injuries throughout the body
Catastrophic Injuries at Even Modest Speeds
Vehicle speed dramatically affects pedestrian survival.
Even at speeds well below highway speeds, pedestrian crashes produce catastrophic injuries.
Secondary Impacts
Pedestrians frequently suffer multiple impact events.
Typical impact patterns include:
- First impact with the vehicle
- Being thrown onto the hood
- Striking the windshield
- Being thrown onto the roof
- Being thrown from the vehicle
- Striking the ground
- Being run over by the vehicle or subsequent vehicles
Insurance Companies Aggressively Blame Pedestrians
Defense routinely pushes pedestrian fault.
Defense routinely raises:
- Wrong-location defenses
- “They couldn’t see you”
- The pedestrian failed to yield
- Distraction defenses
- The pedestrian was impaired
These arguments often have weaknesses.
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents
Driver Failure to Yield
Drivers failing to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks are the most common cause.
Distracted Driving
Drivers using phones, GPS, or other distractions cause pedestrian crashes.
Drunk and Impaired Drivers
Drunk drivers account for many pedestrian incidents.
Speeding
High-speed driving dramatically increases pedestrian crash severity.
Drivers Backing Up Without Looking
Drivers backing up without checking strike pedestrians, particularly in parking lots, driveways, and back-out spaces.
Left-Turn Crashes
Left-turn pedestrian crashes generate many serious crashes.
Right-Turn Crashes
Drivers turning right into pedestrians generate predictable pedestrian crashes.
Running Red Lights or Stop Signs
Signal/sign violations create catastrophic pedestrian incidents.
Inadequate Visibility
Visibility issues including various visibility limitations contribute to crashes.
Sidewalk and Crosswalk Issues
Inadequate crosswalk infrastructure can contribute to crashes.
Vehicle Defects
Vehicle defects affecting visibility, braking, or other safety can contribute to pedestrian crashes.
Where Pedestrian Crashes Happen
Intersections
Intersection pedestrian crashes drive many pedestrian crashes.
Crosswalks
Crosswalk pedestrian incidents, despite signal/sign right-of-way for pedestrians happen frequently.
Mid-Block Crossings
Non-intersection crashes can be more contested than intersection crashes, but drivers still have duties.
Parking Lots
Lot-based pedestrian crashes are particularly common.
Sidewalks
Vehicles entering sidewalks.
School Zones
Child pedestrian crashes in school zones are particularly devastating.
Construction Zones
Construction zone pedestrian crashes.
Highways
Pedestrians on highways are particularly dangerous.
Right-of-Way and Comparative Fault Analysis
Crosswalk Right-of-Way
Pedestrians in marked crosswalks generally have right-of-way.
Specific rules vary by jurisdiction, but pedestrians generally have right-of-way in crosswalks.
Unmarked Crosswalks
Unmarked crosswalks at intersections as having 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 with pedestrian fault, comparative fault permits recovery.
Pure comparative jurisdictions permit recovery even with pedestrian-majority fault.
Modified comparative fault jurisdictions permit recovery up to the bar.
Damages in Pedestrian Cases
Recoverable losses include include:
Medical Costs
Pedestrian cases involve significant medical care:
- Emergency and trauma care
- Surgery costs
- Inpatient care
- ICU and critical care
- Long-term rehabilitation
- Long-term medical needs
- Adaptive equipment
- Accessibility renovations
Lost Wages and Earning Capacity
Major income impact and long-term wage impact.
Pain and Suffering
Significant pain and suffering.
Loss of Enjoyment of Life
Significant loss of enjoyment of life.
Mental Health Treatment
Mental health damages.
Disfigurement and Scarring
Visible scarring.
Loss of Consortium
Spousal damages.
Wrongful Death
Pedestrian crashes have high fatality rates, making wrongful death claims common.
Punitive Damages
Egregious conduct cases may trigger enhanced damages.
Who Can Be Held Liable?
The Driver
The at-fault driver carries primary liability.
Drivers in Multi-Vehicle Crashes
When multiple drivers contributed can face liability.
Vehicle and Component Manufacturers
Product defect cases can implicate manufacturers.
Government Entities
Road and infrastructure problems create government liability.
Property Owners
Where property conditions contributed can implicate property owners.
Construction Companies
Construction-related crashes can implicate construction companies for traffic control inadequacies.
Employers
Work-related driving can implicate employers.
Trucking Companies
Commercial vehicle pedestrian crashes create commercial liability.
Rideshare and Delivery Platforms
Gig platform crashes can implicate the relevant platform.
Common Insurance Defenses
“The Pedestrian Was Jaywalking”
The dominant defense.
Defense claims the pedestrian violated traffic laws.
Defeating this defense requires comprehensive analysis of crosswalk laws and pedestrian rights.
“The Pedestrian Wasn’t Visible”
Defense argues the pedestrian was hard to see.
Drivers must observe pedestrians regardless of visibility conditions.
“The Pedestrian Was Distracted”
Distraction defenses. Even with pedestrian distraction, drivers maintain their duty.
“The Pedestrian Was Impaired”
“You’d been drinking”. This doesn’t eliminate driver fault.
“The Pedestrian Caused Their Own Injuries”
“You caused this”. The driver’s duty to see pedestrians and operate safely means rare that the pedestrian is entirely at fault.
“Comparative Fault”
“You contributed too”.
“Pre-Existing Conditions”
Prior medical issues.
Critical Steps After a Pedestrian Accident
Get Immediate Medical Attention
Even when feeling functional, prompt medical evaluation is essential. Hidden injuries are common.
Don’t Move If Seriously Injured
Don’t try to move if you have serious injuries. Movement with spine injuries can increase injury.
Stay at the Scene Until Police Arrive
Wait for police.
Get Driver Information
Capture driver information.
Identify Witnesses
Bystanders, other pedestrians, business employees provide critical evidence.
Photograph Everything
Visual evidence of every relevant detail.
Document the Crosswalk Status
Where you were in relation to the crosswalk, whether you had walk signal, Crosswalk marking.
Get a Police Report
Make sure law enforcement files the report.
Don’t Discuss Fault
Avoid admitting fault or speculating about cause.
Don’t Speak With Insurance Adjusters Without Counsel
Carriers contact victims promptly. Statements without legal advice create problematic admissions.
Special Considerations for Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Cases
Pedestrian hit-and-runs are particularly devastating.
Pedestrians without their own auto insurance, UM coverage on a household member’s policy may apply.
Special Considerations for Children
Pediatric pedestrian cases face specific considerations:
- Children rarely bear pedestrian fault
- Lifetime damages
- Lifelong development impact
Attorney Costs
Lawyers experienced with pedestrian crashes earn fees only on recovery. These cases require significant investment in accident reconstruction, medical experts, and life-care planners paid by counsel.
Move Quickly
Pedestrian accident cases require prompt action.
Surveillance footage gets overwritten quickly.
Witness memories require prompt investigation.
EDR data may be lost.
Conditions can be modified.
Filing deadlines sets a hard cutoff.
Engaging counsel right away positions the case for the substantial recovery these cases support despite aggressive insurance defenses.