How Driver Negligence Causes Pedestrian Injuries in OKC
Pedestrians are among the most vulnerable road users in Oklahoma City. When a driver makes a careless decision behind the wheel, the consequences can be devastating for someone who is traveling on foot.
Ray Maples is an Oklahoma City pedestrian accident lawyer at Maples Injury Law where we’ve represented many clients who were injured due to driver negligence in pedestrian accidents across Oklahoma City, and we know just how devastating these accidents can be.
Dangerous Examples of Driver Negligence
When representing pedestrians who were stuck by a car in OKC, one of the first steps we take is identifying the form of negligence involved.
Distracted Driving
Pedestrian accidents caused by distracted driving are especially common in busy downtown areas or near intersections. In these moments, a pedestrian has no defense because there’s simply no time to react.
Texting while driving, adjusting the GPS, eating, or even having an intense conversation can all lead to deadly distractions. When a driver takes their eyes off the road, even for a few seconds, they may fail to see a pedestrian crossing the street or stepping off a curb.
Speeding
Speeding drivers dramatically reduce the amount of time they have to brake for a pedestrian. In residential areas or near schools, this can be especially dangerous, as children may cross the road unexpectedly or outside of designated crosswalks.
Oklahoma City has clearly marked reduced-speed zones in many of these areas, but too many drivers ignore them. When someone is driving 10–20 mph over the speed limit, destructive collisions are much more likely to occur.
Failure to Yield at Crosswalks
Oklahoma law is clear: drivers must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians in marked crosswalks, and this rule can extend to unmarked crosswalks at intersections. Unfortunately, many drivers either ignore these rules or are unaware of them altogether.
At Maples Injury Law, we frequently see cases where a pedestrian was lawfully crossing the road, only to be struck by a driver who failed to stop. Evidence demonstrating the driver’s failure to yield such as witness statements or video from surveillance cameras and dashcams can be used to strengthen your injury claim.
DUI Driving
Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol severely impairs reaction time, judgment, and coordination. Even prescription medications or legal substances can lead to dangerous impairments.
Fatigued Driving
A drowsy driver can be just as dangerous as an intoxicated one by falling asleep at the wheel or zoning out long enough to miss a pedestrian in a crosswalk or sidewalk area. Drivers must plan ahead to prevent driving for long stretches, and they should also pull over and stop driving when they are feeling fatigued.
Failure to Obey Stop Lights and Traffic Signals
Drivers who refuse to stop at traffic lights or stop signs are a major hazard for pedestrians. And so-called rolling stops are not legal in OKC. These behaviors are particularly dangerous at intersections where visibility may be limited due to traffic or weather conditions.
Injuries Caused by Pedestrian Accidents
Because pedestrians have no physical protection, they are highly vulnerable in any collision with a vehicle. Victims may require months or years of treatment, suffer loss of income, and deal with chronic pain or limited mobility. In some cases, they may need lifelong care or rehabilitation.
Injured pedestrians can face emotional trauma in addition to their physical injuries, especially if the accident involved a high-speed impact or a hit-and-run driver. Pedestrian injuries caused by negligent drivers may include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Fractures and orthopedic trauma
- Internal bleeding or organ damage
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
- Soft-tissue damage to muscles, ligaments, or tendons
- Facial fractures or dental injuries
- Deep lacerations or road rash
- Psychological effects such as PTSD or anxiety
In serious cases, these injuries may prevent victims from returning to work or maintaining their independence. A legal claim may help provide the resources needed to focus on recovery and adapt to long-term changes in quality of life.
Proving Negligence in Injury Claims
As your legal team, Maples Injury Law gathers the evidence needed to build your case. This may include:
- Police reports
- Eyewitness statements
- Surveillance or dashcam footage
- Medical records
- Expert testimony (e.g., accident reconstruction or economic experts)
Ray Maples works diligently to ensure drivers who injure pedestrians are held accountable. We build solid cases to help ensure that our clients are fairly compensated for the harm they’ve suffered.
What Damages Can Be Recovered?
If you’ve been injured in a pedestrian accident caused by a negligent driver, you may be entitled to compensation for:
- Emergency medical care
- Ongoing treatment and rehabilitation
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
- Property damage (such as broken personal items)
- Future medical needs
We also pursue wrongful death claims for families who have lost loved ones in fatal pedestrian collisions.
What If You Were Partially at Fault?
Oklahoma uses a modified comparative negligence rule, which means you can still recover damages if you were less than 51% responsible for the accident. A skilled pedestrian accident lawyer in OKC can provide evidence to prevent the insurance from overstating your level of fault in these cases.
Speak to a Trusted Pedestrian Accident Lawyer in Oklahoma City
If you were a pedestrian who was hit by a car, don’t wait to get legal help. The sooner you contact Ray Maples, the sooner he can start investigating to accident. At Maples Injury Law, we hit the ground running and fight for maximum compensation.
We’ve built a solid reputation for protecting injury victims across Oklahoma City. Ray Maples is rated Superb by Avvo, and he also has an AV Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, which is their highest distinction for legal ability and ethics.
Call (405) 705-5050 to schedule your free consultation today.