From a young age children are taught to look both ways before crossing the street. It’s a basic safety rule that most pedestrians follow. Likewise, most drivers know to slow down as they approach intersections or crosswalks where pedestrians may be crossing. When it comes to car accidents involving pedestrians, however, there seems to be a big difference between knowing safe pedestrian and driving rules and actually putting them into practice.
One Alabama man, who was recently hit by a car while crossing the street, feels lucky to be alive. Narrowly escaping being struck by a speeding vehicle earlier this year, the man was not as lucky on a recent early morning. He was hit by a car while crossing the street during rush hour and sustained numerous injuries.
Upon waking in the hospital where he was being treated for several broken ribs, a broken clavicle and a massive head wound, he recalled the final minutes before the car hit him. He remembers crossing the street and seeing the approaching vehicle which did not appear to be stopping. The next thing he remembered was hitting the car’s windshield and trying to make sure he did not end up under the vehicle’s tires.
Luckily in this instance the man survived. Many other pedestrians across Alabama are not so fortunate. In one Alabama city alone, there have been 28 pedestrians struck by cars and trucks and four deaths. Injuries stemming from car accidents involving pedestrians are often severe and include broken bones and head and brain injuries. Oftentimes these injuries require extended medical care and physical therapy.
Individuals who are injured as the result of being hit by a motor vehicle may want to pursue legal action against the driver. Compensation recovered through a personal injury claim can help cover medical expenses as well as loss of wages.
Source: The Huntsville Times, “Huntsville pedestrian’s plan for being hit by a car may have saved his life,” Chris Welch, Aug. 20, 2012
