Articles Posted in Pedestrian Accidents

Pedestrian accidents can result in particularly serious harm. Pedestrians lack the same protections a vehicle affords its occupants. As a result, the force of a vehicle striking a pedestrian often causes the pedestrian to suffer life-threatening injuries. In the wake of these accidents, a pedestrian may seek to hold the driver who hit them responsible for their harm. To do so, an injured pedestrian can file a negligence lawsuit against the driver for the significant damage that often results from these accidents.

For example, a recent news article reported that a pedestrian suffered serious injuries following an accident in Durham, New Hampshire. The pedestrian was struck by a driver traveling westbound. Witnesses to the crash assisted the pedestrian until first responders arrived to transport the pedestrian to the hospital. The pedestrian received treatment for serious injuries, while the driver was unharmed. According to Durham police, the accident remains under investigation.

Can Pedestrians Sue for Damages in Maine?

Pedestrians who suffer injuries after a car accident can file a negligence lawsuit against the driver who hit them. To hold the defendant liable for damages, the injured plaintiff must prove that the defendant owed them a duty of care, breached that duty through a careless action or inaction, caused the accident through their carelessness and that the accident resulted in harm to the plaintiff. By filing a negligence lawsuit, plaintiffs will typically pursue compensatory damages. This type of damages award seeks to restore the plaintiff to the same position as if the accident never occurred. Pedestrians who want to sue the driver who hit them should know that criminal charges against the driver do not preclude their negligence lawsuit in civil court. The law may hold a driver responsible for a pedestrian accident through both criminal penalties and civil damages.

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As with any holiday, accidents are more frequent when Christmas and New Year’s celebrations are taking place. In fact, behind Halloween, New Year’s Eve is often the most dangerous day of the year for drivers and pedestrians alike. Sometimes, however, traveling during the holidays is inevitable, whether it happens by foot or by car. Thus, Maine pedestrians and drivers alike should exercise caution this holiday, so that they can celebrate the end of 2021 and welcome 2022 safely.

According to a recent local news report, a woman was struck by a car while on a walk. Local authorities reported that the woman was walking against traffic with her six-year-old son when she was hit by a Subaru. Although the woman’s son was not hit or injured by the car, the woman was transported to a local hospital, where she later died. The driver of the Subaru was also taken to a separate hospital and treated for minor injuries. An investigation into the details of the accident is ongoing.

In 2019 alone, 6,205 pedestrians died from pedestrian accidents, and a pedestrian was killed every 85 minutes in traffic crashes. To best protect yourself and your loved ones while walking, these tips below will help you stay proactive about safety while celebrating the season.

Pedestrians have the right to use the state’s public walkways to travel and cross the road safely. However, every year thousands of Maine pedestrians suffer injuries because of negligent drivers. According to recent data by the Governors Highway Safety Association, Maine has experienced a rise in pedestrian fatalities. The rate of pedestrian deaths in the state tripled between 2018 and 2019.

Recently, a local news source reported on a Maine accident involving a pedestrian. According to the police, the investigation is in its initial phase. However, the incident occurred around 5:30 p.m. near Bangor, Maine. The pedestrian suffered serious injuries, and emergency responders rushed the pedestrian to a local hospital for treatment.

The inherent lack of protection between pedestrians and vehicles naturally makes these accidents and subsequent injuries more devastating than two-vehicle crashes. Many victims experience:

During this time of year, everything feels a little more chaotic and busy because of the holidays. As people rush to finish their holiday shopping and preparations for hosting or seeing friends and family, Maine roads and sidewalks are more congested than ever. With this in mind, it is crucial that drivers and pedestrians alike remain vigilant and aware of their surroundings both to maintain personal safety, but also the safety of others.

According to a recent local news report, a Maine pedestrian died after being struck by a pickup truck. Local authorities reported that the woman was pronounced dead on the scene and that the driver of the pickup truck has been identified and is cooperating with the process. Police have declined to release any additional details surrounding the crash as the accident remains under investigation.

Maine, unfortunately, is no stranger to similar pedestrian deaths and related accidents. Between 2016 and 2020, there were 1,324 total pedestrian highway crashes in Maine. More than 90 percent of these crashes resulted in injuries, with the remaining 10 percent resulting in fatalities or property damage only.

While car accidents are extremely dangerous, most people forget about the risks associated with pedestrian accidents. A pedestrian accident involves an incident involving a pedestrian being hit by a motor vehicle. These accidents can often be more harmful than car accidents because a motor vehicle moves much faster than a pedestrian. Individuals hurt in a pedestrian accident will often file a lawsuit against the responsible party to recover monetary compensation for the injuries they suffered. Below is an example of a recent pedestrian accident along with statistics discussing the prevalence, causes and misassumptions about these types of accidents.

According to a recent news report, a man was killed in Portland after being struck by a motor vehicle. The victim was walking down the street around 1:20 A.M. when he was hit by a car. The pedestrian was taken to the hospital where he died from his injuries. No charges have been filed against the driver yet, but police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the crash to contact them.

Unfortunately, pedestrian accidents are common in Maine. In the state, from 2016 to 2020, there have been over 1,300 total pedestrian crashes. While most of these have resulted in injury, over 5% of these accidents have been fatal. Regardless of the age of the victim, such accidents can take a dramatic physical and emotional toll on the individual harmed. However, on average, the most common age of the pedestrian is between the ages of 30 and 39 years old. But in over 15% of pedestrian accidents, the injured person has been a child.

As the weather warms up and more people get vaccinated, the world seems to be slowly returning to normal. People are out enjoying the sunshine, walking around, and taking advantage of being outdoors this time of year—but this also means more pedestrians and bikers on our sidewalks and streets. As we return to normalcy, it is crucial that drivers and pedestrians alike exercise the utmost caution when navigating Maine’s streets and sidewalks—and that we are respectful of the laws that keep both groups safe while sharing the road.

According to a recent news report, three pedestrians, including a one-year-old girl, were killed following a fatal accident. The Augusta Police Department reported that the accident was still under investigation, but that a driver has been identified, and the crash is still being reconstructed by Maine State Police.

Although pedestrian accidents may seem rare, they take place more frequently than you think. Based on data from the Maine Department of Transportation, 56 Maine residents were killed, and 1,292 were injured between 2006 and 2010 in pedestrian-related car accidents. In addition, pedestrian accidents in Maine appear to be on the rise. In fact, in 2019, the state saw an increase in the number of pedestrian deaths, and the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety reported that 17 people were killed that year—more than three times the number of deaths reported in 2018.

With various stay-at-home and social-distancing measures in place because of COVID-19, many of our neighbors have been spending more time outdoors. Taking an evening or early morning stroll, biking, or running have been popular activities during this time. Of course, more people outdoors also means that motorists need to be more cautious of people crossing streets and in bike lanes. Pedestrians also need to be safe while having fun or enjoying fresh air outdoors, but sometimes Maine pedestrian accidents happen even when all safety precautions are taken.

Based on a report from the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety, pedestrian crashes and fatalities in the state have remained consistent over the years. Additionally, based on a recent article, Maine has seen a rise in the number of pedestrian deaths since 2019, leading state authorities to establishing more concrete action items toward eliminating motor vehicle-related fatalities.

In an effort to address this public safety issue, the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety has begun offering grants to law enforcement in communities in the state with higher occurrences of pedestrian crashes. State authorities tasked with addressing the issue have observed various causes for the increase in numbers. Some constituents have reported that motorists driving too fast, going over speed limits. Others have urged local authorities to re-evaluate current speed limits and potentially lower them because these limits have discouraged people from wanting to take a walk or ride a bike because of safety concerns.