Injuries NYers Can Expect If They’re Hit by a Car While Walking

Many New Yorkers walk to work, school, and other places around the city every day. Far too often, though, New York pedestrians are seriously injured by cars while walking.

How often?

Take a look at the facts:

• Every eight minutes, a pedestrian is injured. A pedestrian is killed every 113 minutes.
• Every year, over 60,000 pedestrians are injured and over 4,000 are killed in the U. S.
• Almost 40 percent of pedestrian fatalities involve a pedestrian who is intoxicated. Nearly 18 percent of pedestrian fatalities involve a drunk driver.
• Pedestrian fatalities occur in urban areas about 67 percent of the time.
• Twenty-five percent of pedestrian fatalities occur inside an intersection.
• The most likely time of day for a pedestrian fatality is between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 12:00 a.m.
• Elderly people, children, and people of low socioeconomic status are the most frequent pedestrian fatality victims.

Below, we’re going to tell you want you should expect if you or a loved one is hit while walking in the city, focusing on what kind of injuries are most common and how to seek compensation for your damages.

If your pedestrian injury resulted from a car hitting you, it’s important to contact an attorney as soon as possible to protect your rights.

Common Pedestrian Injuries in NY

When a pedestrian is hit by a car, several factors determine the level of injury. The pedestrian’s height and weight are factors. The vehicle’s size, design, and speed at the time of impact make a difference, as well – as does the angle of impact between the pedestrian and the vehicle.

These are the most common types of injuries a pedestrian can experience when hit by a car:

Lower extremities

Normally, the first point of contact between a pedestrian and a vehicle is the lower leg. Half of all pedestrian injuries are to the lower extremities. It’s common to experience fractures, cuts, and torn ligaments or muscles when you are hit by a car.

Head, face, and neck injuries

When the pedestrian strikes the car’s windshield or hood, injuries can occur to the head, face, and neck. Nearly 40 percent of pedestrians hit by a car experience these types of injuries.

You may experience a concussion, neck injury, fracture, vertebrae injury, cuts, or other injuries to your head, face, or neck.

Upper extremities

If a pedestrian lands on the car’s hood or is thrown over the vehicle, injuries to upper extremities can occur. Almost 30 percent of pedestrians hit by cars experience injury in their arms, hands, and wrists.

They also can experience injury in their abdomen and chest areas.

The most severe injuries occur to the head, chest, or abdomen. Pedestrians who are struck by cars have a 50 percent higher risk of a head injury than a chest or abdomen injury. Any injuries to those areas can be life threatening or life altering.

If you have been injured by a car, you first need to visit a hospital, no matter how minor your injuries may seem. Some injuries don’t show up right away, but could require extensive medical treatment or physical therapy, which you shouldn’t pay for if someone else is responsible. Your medical record is the best proof that someone else should be held liable.