Pedestrian accidents may not be as common as car accidents, but like motorcycle accidents, the results can be far more devastating. Pedestrian accidents are responsible for nearly 6,000 deaths and upwards of 80,000 serious injuries each year according to the National Safety Council. These terrifying incidents typically occur when a car, bus, or truck driver fails to see a pedestrian, or is going too fast to avoid a person walking along the sidewalk or even in a crosswalk. Negligent driving habits such as speeding, texting, or even talking on the phone are common causes of serious injury pedestrian accidents. Many local governments have their own traffic laws designed to protect pedestrians in crosswalks, but the law in Maryland is clearly that pedestrians have the right of way in crosswalks and in most other situations while walking. Remember that you do not have to be walking in a crosswalk in order to recover damages for and injury suffered as a result of a pedestrian accident. Benjamin Herbst is an experienced Maryland pedestrian accident lawyer that will fight to recover the maximum amount of damages for accidents occurring in parking lots, on sidewalks, and even in the middle of the street. Benjamin offers free no obligation consultations and is always available to travel to a convenient location to meet in person. He handles cases in every jurisdiction in the state, and has extensive jury trial experience if a satisfactory settlement cannot be reached.
Section 21 of the Maryland transportation code contains most of the state laws involving the rights and duties of pedestrians. Perhaps the most important section is 21-504, which requires that drivers use due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian. Drivers also have a duty under Maryland law to use their horn to warn pedestrians, and have a special obligation to exercise caution observing children or confused or incapacitated adults. If a driver does not use due care and strikes a pedestrian, he or she should be found liable and responsible for any injures that may result from the collision. In a perfect world, the insurance company representing the negligent driver would simply step up and pay their fair share, but this simply is not the reality. Insurance companies will do everything in their power to avoid paying a large settlement, which makes it all the more important to have a skilled lawyer on your side. Benjamin is not afraid to fight the insurance companies all they way to trial of need be, and will never be satisfied if his clients are not fully satisfied.
Pedestrian accidents due to negligent driving of another person can result in serious or catastrophic injuries. Pedestrians are incredibly vulnerable compared to automobiles and can suffer serious injuries regardless of how fast the car, truck, or bus was going at the time of impact. Being knocked down by an automobile can cause various types of serious injury such as broken bones, brain injuries, and torn ligaments. These types of injuries can require urgent medical attention, and months of expensive and time-consuming rehabilitation. Benjamin will fight to have your past and future medical expenses paid for as you recover from your injuries.
Not all pedestrian accidents involve a vehicle, as injuries can occur walking through poorly marked or maintained parking lots, roads, and sidewalks. Typically the local government is responsible for maintaining sidewalks and right of ways. If the government does not perform regular maintenance on public walkways, they may become unreasonably dangerous. Large cracks and uneven surfaces can cause a pedestrian to suffer serious injuries that may result in a successful damages claim against the government. The government or a property owner may also be found at fault for a pedestrian injury accident for failing to clean up debris from a roadway or sidewalk. Other non-automobile pedestrian injury accidents can occur as the result of negligence on the part of a construction company for neglecting to safely maintain a construction site.
Pedestrian injury accidents can happen to anyone but children and the elderly are especially vulnerable. Many pedestrian accidents occur in urban areas where automobile traffic is heavy and streets are generally crowded, but now more than ever we are seeing a large volume of pedestrian accidents on suburban streets and neighborhoods. If you or someone you know has been injured in a pedestrian accident in Maryland, there may be a potential claim for monetary damages. Benjamin Herbst is an experienced pedestrian accident lawyer that is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for free consultations. He is standing by to give an honest evaluation of your injury case, and is prepared to put forth the effort necessary to achieve a fair settlement or verdict. Call Benjamin at (410) 207-2598 to discuss your case or any of the Maryland laws regarding pedestrian accidents.