A 29-year-old woman was critically injured after being struck by a car along the busy and fast moving Northwest Expressway in Oklahoma City. According to a News 9 report, the pedestrian accident occurred along the Northwest Expressway between Meridian and NW 63 in Oklahoma City. Officials initially were unsure what caused the accident, but an updated report in News OK states that she may have stepped into the path of an oncoming car. She has been listed in critical condition and no arrests or citations have been issued.
Pedestrian accidents are common in Oklahoma and they often result in serious injuries and even death. Pedestrians are vulnerable to traffic and have nothing to protect them from serious harm. According to the Oklahoma State Department of Health, there were 605 people involved in 564 pedestrian accidents in the year 2009. In those accidents, 161 pedestrians were injured or killed.
In Oklahoma, pedestrians have the right of way at crosswalks and intersections. Drivers at these locations must yield the right of way to all pedestrians who are legally crossing the street. Many pedestrian accidents, however, occur at locations where there are no marked crosswalks. In such cases, responsibility for the accident may fall on the pedestrian or the driver and the pedestrian may share liability.
Every case is different. So it is important to review the facts of an accident before determining whether or not the pedestrian will be able to receive compensation for losses such as medical bills and lost wages. Investigators must review whether the pedestrian or the driver failed to yield the right of way. Even if the pedestrians stepped into traffic, it must be reviewed why the driver was unable to avoid the crash. Was the driver distracted, speeding, fatigued, or intoxicated?
Anyone who has suffered an injury because of the negligence of a car driver would be well advised to research his or her legal options. Support may be available for losses such as medical bills, lost wages, lost future wages, pain and suffering, the cost of rehabilitation, and other related damages. An experienced Oklahoma City personal injury lawyer will be able to advise injured pedestrians regarding their legal rights and options. Visit our webpage for more legal info.
