With more and more people concerned about the environment and their own overall health, many people are beginning to utilize cars less and walk more. However, millions of people still drive more than they walk or bike, which means that the risk of getting into an Oklahoma pedestrian accident is still fairly high.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 69,000 pedestrians are injured by motor vehicles every year in the United States, with roughly 5,000 of those injuries being fatal. In 2008, 51 of those fatalities were residents of Oklahoma.
Anyone who operates a motor vehicle has a responsibility to drive carefully and pay attention to all traffic signals and signs. Many Oklahoma pedestrian crashes occur at intersections and crosswalks, and oftentimes driver inattention is the cause of those crashes. Pedestrians are at a much higher risk of injury because they have nothing to protect them in an accident, unlike the driver of a motor vehicle. In addition, children are especially at risk for involvement in a pedestrian accident because of their impulsiveness and short stature. Some injuries that can be sustained in an Oklahoma pedestrian crash include:
- Amputation;
- Broken bones;
- Fatal injuries;
- Head/brain injury;
- Internal bleeding;
- Paralysis; and
- Spinal cord injury.
While many pedestrians take the proper precautions to ensure their own safety, such as watching for other cars, only crossing the street at designated crosswalks and wearing reflective gear, oftentimes those precautions aren’t enough. If you have been injured in a pedestrian accident in Oklahoma, you would be well advised to contact Ray Maples, dedicated Oklahoma City pedestrian accident injury attorney and founder of The Maples Law Firm. Mr. Maples has successfully handled a wide variety of pedestrian accident cases over the years. You deserve to know your legal rights and be compensated fairly under Oklahoma law. Call Ray Maples at The Maples Law Firm at (405) 705-5050 to schedule a free and comprehensive evaluation of your Oklahoma pedestrian accident case.
