National statistics reveal that there has been a significant increase each year in the number of pedestrian accidents that occur across the country. There has also been a rise in the number of pedestrian fatalities, as well. In 2020, more than 6,500 victims were killed in pedestrian accidents, an increase of almost 5 percent from the year before. What makes these numbers even more concerning is that the number of vehicle miles traveled (VMT) was down by more than 13 percent from the year before due to the pandemic.

Although everyone is at risk of being a pedestrian accident victim, multiple studies have found that there are certain factors that cause that risk to spike. Knowing what those factors are can help you to protect yourself from being a victim. The following are the most common factors.

Age

Both older adults and children are most at risk of being hit by a vehicle. Tragically, one in five children younger than 14 years of age who were killed in auto accidents was a pedestrian. And for the past five years, 20 percent of pedestrian accident victims who were killed were 65 years of age or older.

The unexpected loss of a loved one can have catastrophic financial effects on a family. When that loss is the result of the negligent or reckless act of another person, the victim’s family can file a wrongful death claim to pursue financial compensation for their emotional and financial losses. In general, the survivors that are allowed to file a wrongful death claim are the victim’s spouse and children, parents, siblings, or the representative of the victim’s estate.

Wrongful Death Claims

There are multiple types of incidents or accidents which could cause the death of a victim and result in the family filing a wrongful death claim against the party or parties whose actions or behavior caused the accident that killed the victim. Some of the more common types of accident include:

• Motor vehicle accidents
• Medical error or malpractice
• Premises liability accidents
• Work accidents or illness
• Birth injuries
• Nursing home abuse or neglect
• Defective or dangerous product
• Criminal action

Elements Needed

In order to be successful in proving a wrongful death case, there must be four elements or factors proven:

During the winter, people may be at risk of injury due to weather conditions. Following a snowstorm or cold snap, sidewalks and other outdoor walking surfaces can become very slippery, greatly increasing the chances that people will suffer injuries in slip and fall accidents. When these types of accidents occur, a person who was injured will want to understand their options for receiving compensation, including determining whether they can pursue a premises liability claim or lawsuit against a property owner who failed to ensure that walking surfaces were safe to use.

Pursuing Compensation for Slip and Fall Accidents

Because property owners are required to make sure their premises are safe for visitors who are allowed to enter the property, they may be liable for injuries that took place because they did not properly address hazards. A property owner may be considered negligent if they did not take measures to remove snow and ice from walking surfaces, including sidewalks, parking lots, or other areas where visitors may be expected to walk.

In many cases, a victim’s ability to pursue compensation for a slip and fall accident will be based on whether a property owner followed the local ordinances requiring them to remove snow and ice. In Greenwich, Connecticut, property owners, tenants, or occupants are required to clear sidewalks within 18 hours after snowfall or the accumulation of ice, and they must also spread sand or salt on sidewalks to ensure that they are safe to use. In New York City, snow and ice must be cleared from sidewalks adjacent to a building within a certain amount of time after snow stops falling. Sidewalks must be cleared within four hours if snow stopped falling between 7:00 am and 5:00 pm. If snow stopped falling in the evening or during the night, sidewalks must be cleared within 14 hours or before 11:00 am the next day.

The spinal cord is one of the body’s most important systems. This bundle of nerves, which runs through the vertebrae in the backbone, transmits information to and from the brain and most of the rest of the body. Any issues that disrupt these signals can affect a person’s ability to move or feel sensations in different parts of their body. Because of this, spinal cord injuries can be very serious and depending on the location and severity of an injury, a person may suffer permanent disabilities.

Types of Spinal Cord Injuries

Injuries to the spinal cord may be complete or incomplete. Fractured vertebrae, herniated discs in the spine, or other issues that damage the spinal cord may result in incomplete spinal cord injuries. These injuries will usually involve the loss of some function, but a person may not suffer complete paralysis. Complete spinal cord injuries, on the other hand, will involve severe damage to the spinal cord, including cases where the spinal cord is completely severed. These injuries will often involve total paralysis. While surgery or other forms of treatment may help minimize future harm, damage to the spinal cord is often irreversible.

The parts of the body affected by a spinal cord injury will depend on the level of the spine where the injury occurred. Injuries are classified into four general types based on the vertebrae where the spinal cord was damaged:

Motorcyclists face significant risks when they use the roads. Without the protection provided by the structure of a passenger vehicle or safety features such as seat belts and airbags, a person can be seriously injured in a motorcycle accident. A motorcyclist can suffer serious harm when their body is struck by a car or truck, and they may also be thrown from their motorcycle and suffer additional injuries when they hit the ground or other objects on or near the road. A motorcyclist may suffer additional injuries if they are thrown into the path of other vehicles, and being run over by a car or truck can result in permanent disabilities or wrongful death. In many cases, motorcycle accidents are caused by the negligence of other drivers, and victims can work with an attorney to pursue financial compensation from those who were responsible for their injuries.

Motorcycle Crashes Caused by Driver Negligence

All drivers are required to abide by traffic laws and take the proper measures to protect other people’s safety. Some of the most common ways drivers can act negligently and cause injuries to motorcyclists include:

• Distracted driving - Even though Connecticut drivers are prohibited from using cell phones or other electronic devices while driving, many choose to text while driving or make phone calls with handheld devices. Any attempt by a driver to divide their attention between driving and other activities can cause them to miss important details and be unable to react in time to avoid colliding with a motorcycle.

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