PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENTS

Common Causes of Pedestrian and Crosswalk Accidents

Automobile accidents involving pedestrians on roads, highways, interstates and at crosswalks, usually involve driver or pedestrian negligence.  However, other circumstances and conditions may also contribute to these accidents.  Common causes of pedestrian and crosswalk accidents include:

1. Poor lighting and dark clothes: It is hard for drivers to see small objects like people when they are traveling at high speeds.  Seeing is even harder when pedestrians wear dark clothes.  Pedestrians should wear bright clothes at night and reflective vests, hats and shoes to make them more visible to drivers.

2. Walking in traffic: Pedestrians should walk on sidewalks and on the shoulder of the roads when sidewalks are not available. Pedestrians increase their chances of being hit when they walk on the street with or against traffic because drivers do not always anticipate encountering pedestrians on roads.

3. Distraction: Drivers as well as pedestrians can become distracted when maneuvering. Texting, talking on the cellphone and daydreaming are all sources of distraction.  And these distractions can be deadly.  Pedestrians have a duty to remain attentive when crossing streets or otherwise walking on or near roadways.

4. Not following traffic signals: Even at crosswalks, pedestrians have a duty to obey traffic signals. Using a crosswalk when a traffic signal indicates “do not walk” is dangerous because it is likely that nearby traffic has permission to intersect that crosswalk at that time.

5. Intoxicated Drivers and Pedestrians: Although it is not illegal to walk when intoxicated (e.g., drunk or high), your intoxication may be a contributing cause of your accident. Furthermore, intoxicated drivers are more likely to hit pedestrians in their diminished state than sober drivers who are more alert and cautious.

Common Locations for Louisiana Pedestrian and Crosswalk Accidents

Pedestrian accidents occur throughout Louisiana, and Donald D’Aunoy Jr. “Lawyer Don” has handled these types of accident cases throughout southeast Louisiana.  Here is a list of common roadways where these accidents occur:

1. Metairie: Veterans Memorial Blvd., West Napoleon Avenue, David Drive and West Esplanade are possible locations for Metairie pedestrian and crosswalk accidents.

2. Kenner: Williams Blvd., Loyola Avenue and Airline Drive are possible locations for Kenner pedestrian and crosswalk accidents.

3. Westbank: Manhattan Blvd., Westbank Expressway, Belle Chasse Hwy., Lapalco Boulevard and Barataria Blvd. are common locations for Westbank pedestrian accidents.

4. Laplace: Airline Drive, Hwy. 51, and Belle Terre Blvd. are areas where pedestrian accidents occur.

Tips to Follow after a Pedestrian or Crosswalk Accident

After a vehicular accident, an injured pedestrian should take certain steps to protect himself or herself.  The list of things that a pedestrian should do is similar for injured motorists involved in wrecks.  After an accident, a pedestrian should consider doing the following:

1. Get to safety: A pedestrian is only going to get hurt worse if he or she is involved in another accident. Thus, after an accident, the pedestrian should move to a location near the accident site but far enough to avoid a second accident.

2. Call the police and paramedics: The police are important because they will document how the accident occurred and give a traffic ticket to the involved driver if the driver violated a rule of the road. Also, the police officer will obtain important insurance information that the injured pedestrian will need to make an insurance claim against the negligent driver.  Responding paramedics will offer vital first aid to the injured pedestrian.

3. Take pictures: Most pedestrians have smart phones. Use your smart phone when it is safe to take pictures of where the accident happened and the vehicle(s) involved.  Pictures will serve as important proof in a case against a negligent driver and will help corroborate a pedestrian’s account of how an accident happened.

4. Contact a pedestrian accident attorney: An injured pedestrian should speak to an accident attorney before making an insurance claim. This is because insurance companies do not have the pedestrian’s interests at heart.  An attorney should be present when a pedestrian gives a recorded statement or other important information to an insurance company.

Louisiana Pedestrian Accident Attorney

Donald D’Aunoy Jr. “Lawyer Don” is a Louisiana Pedestrian Accident Attorney with offices on the Westbank and Eastbank of Jefferson Parish.  Lawyer Don’s main office is in Metairie, which is between New Orleans and Kenner.  However, Lawyer Don makes house calls to all Louisiana Parishes and does not charge his clients extra for this service.

An attorney representing an injured pedestrian should know the laws regulating vehicles and pedestrian safety.  The majority of Louisiana’s traffic laws are located in Title 32 of Louisiana’s Revised Statutes.  Louisiana law protects pedestrians but imposes certain obligations on them.  For instance, pedestrians are not supposed to walk in the street when there is a sidewalk available.

Louisiana Crosswalk Accident Attorney

Donald D’Aunoy Jr. “Lawyer Don” is a Louisiana Crosswalk Accident Attorney.  Lawyer Don has handled crosswalk accident cases in New Orleans, Harvey, Gretna, Metairie, Kenner and other Louisiana cities.  Louisiana pedestrians are required to use crosswalks when they are available.  Pedestrians are protected when they are hit by vehicles within a crosswalk.  Lawyer Don knows this and other important rules that regulate the use of crosswalks in Louisiana.  Lawyer Don has the experience and know-how to ensure that insurers of negligent drivers pay for their drivers’ mistakes.