Des Moines Pedestrian Accident Attorney

Injured? Call Lowe Law Group for Legal Representation at (515) 808-5184.

When a pedestrian is hit by a negligent driver, the injuries are often catastrophic, if not fatal. Unfortunately, these accidents are common, especially because drivers can be easily distracted by their smartphones. Our Des Moines pedestrian accident lawyer can help you pursue justice and compensation if you were struck by a vehicle while legally walking on or along a roadway or crosswalk.

An Overview of Pedestrian Accidents

Being a pedestrian shouldn’t be a cause of fear. After all, even children cross the street on their way to school. However, the simple act of crossing the street tragically ends in thousands of injuries and fatalities among pedestrians every year. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration estimates that a pedestrian is killed every 113 minutes and injured every 8 minutes. Driver negligence or recklessness is often to blame for these accidents.

Common causes of pedestrian accidents include:

• Intoxicated driving
• Distracted driving, such as texting while driving or looking at GPS
• Running red lights or turning at an intersection and hitting a pedestrian
  in the crosswalk
• Speeding
• Obstructions in the path of the driver, such as parked cars, that make
  it difficult to see a pedestrian

Pedestrian accident injuries are largely dependent on the speed of the driver, the faster the vehicle is traveling, the higher the chance of more severe injuries. Research shows that when a driver hits a pedestrian at 20 miles per hour, their odds of survival are about 90%, but when hit by a vehicle moving at 40 miles per hour, the survival rate drops to 20%.

Those who are injured in pedestrian accidents are left with mounting medical bills, and in many cases, victims lose wages from taking time off work to heal. Not to mention, being injured in a pedestrian accident is highly traumatic for the survivor. You do have legal recourse, though. If you’ve been injured in a pedestrian accident causing significant disruption to your life, we encourage you to contact us for a free case evaluation, so you can recover damages from the driver who caused your accident by filing an injury claim. You may be eligible for reimbursement for medical bills related to the accident, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.

How Do I Prove Fault in a Pedestrian Accident?

While it may seem obvious to you that the driver who struck you was negligent, you will need to take legal action in order to prove liability. It’s important to save any documentation related to the accident, including medical bills, police reports or documentation of the accident, eyewitness statements, and/or photos of the scene. All of these pieces of evidence will bolster your claim of the driver’s fault in your accident.