Trucks and pedestrians must share the road in some situations. Whether the truck is on a local road to make a delivery, in a rest stop parking lot, or exiting the highway, a pedestrian may be in the same area. When a trucker is negligent and hits a pedestrian, the consequences can be catastrophic.
In 2016, for example, there were 3,986 fatalities associated with a truck crash in the United States. 16% of these deaths involved pedestrians, bicyclists, or motorcyclists. Only one other year (2011) has had this high a percentage of pedestrian, bicyclist, and motorcyclist deaths from truck wrecks since 1975.
Causes of Truck Pedestrian Crashes
As is the case with any type of truck wreck, a full investigation will need to be done to determine why the truck hit the pedestrian. Some of the common causes of truck accidents include:
- Distracted driving. Truckers may be distracted by their cell phones, GPS, eating behind the wheel, or anything else that takes their hands off the wheel, their eyes off the road, or their minds away from driving safely.
- Drowsy driving. Truckers may log a lot of hours and be tired behind the wheel. Drowsy driving can be as dangerous as distracted driving or drunk driving. A tired trucker may not be able to react in time to avoid hitting a pedestrian on the road.
- Drunk driving. Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs can impair a trucker’s ability to drive safely. An intoxicated driver may swerve onto the sidewalk, fail to stop for a pedestrian, or fail to notice a pedestrian on the road.
- Mechanical problems. Bad brakes, tire issues, and other types of mechanical problems can cause a trucker to lose control of the vehicle and may result in a pedestrian crash.
- Speeding. Trucks take longer to stop than passenger vehicles. Therefore, if a trucker is speeding on local roads, the trucker may not see a pedestrian until it is too late to stop before hitting the person.
- Failure to yield or abide by traffic laws. A driver’s failure to stop completely at a traffic signal or failure to stop at a crosswalk to allow a pedestrian to cross the street may result in a truck hitting a pedestrian on the road.
If a trucker hit you or killed your loved one for any of these reasons, you may be able to recover damages for your injuries.
Pedestrians Can Be Seriously Injured by Negligent Truckers
Pedestrians are at risk in any type of motor vehicle crash. However, the extra weight of large trucks can make truck and pedestrian wrecks particularly dangerous for pedestrians. Some of the injuries a pedestrian may experience include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Internal injuries
- Extensive bleeding
- Amputations
- Death
If you experience any of these or other injuries, or if your loved one is killed, you need to know what to do to protect your right to a fair recovery.
Take Action After a Truck Pedestrian Accident
Truck accidents cases can be complicated. As a pedestrian, you were likely the one to suffer the most significant injuries, but that does not automatically make the trucker responsible for those injuries. In order to recover damages from the trucker, the trucking company, or their insurers, you are going to have to prove that the trucker or trucking company was primarily responsible for the crash and your resulting injuries.
Our experienced truck accident injury lawyers will investigate what happened to you, advise you of your rights, and fight hard for your fair recovery of damages. Your recovery may include compensation for past, current, and future medical expenses, lost income, out-of-pocket costs, physical pain, emotional suffering, and other damages.
To learn more about your rights and your possible recovery, please contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation. We can be reached 24/7/365 via this website or by phone.
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