Baltimore, MD Pedestrian Accident Lawyers

Attorneys for Pedestrians Injured by Negligent Drivers in Baltimore, MD

In a city like Baltimore, with its dense neighborhoods, busy commercial areas, and active waterfront, pedestrians may be at risk of injury. When drivers fail to pay attention, disobey traffic laws, or do not take care to protect the safety of people on foot, pedestrians can be seriously injured. With no protection at all between their body and an oncoming vehicle, a pedestrian who is struck by a car, truck, or SUV may suffer catastrophic injuries

The physical, emotional, and financial fallout of a pedestrian accident can feel overwhelming for a victim. Fortunately, the team at Silverman Thompson can provide the legal help needed to hold negligent drivers accountable. We fight to secure the compensation that our clients deserve to address the serious harm they and their families have suffered.

Injuries to Pedestrians in Motor Vehicle Collisions

Even at relatively low speeds, a collision between a car and a person who is walking can result in life-threatening injuries and permanent disabilities. The severity of those injuries may depend on the speed of the vehicle, the point of impact, and whether the pedestrian was knocked to the ground or run over by a vehicle.

Some of the serious injuries that are frequently seen in pedestrian accident cases include:

• Spinal Cord Damage: A strong impact to the neck or back in a collision can damage the vertebrae in the spine and the spinal cord itself. This may result in chronic pain, limited mobility, and other health issues. Serious spinal cord injuries can result in paralysis in different parts of the body.
• Pelvic and Lower Extremity Fractures: When a vehicle strikes a pedestrian at leg or hip level, fractures to the pelvis and other bones in the legs and lower body can occur. These injuries may require surgical repair. Lengthy rehabilitation may be needed before a person will be able to walk again, or a person may be permanently disabled.
• Traumatic Brain Injuries: When a pedestrian's head strikes a vehicle, the pavement, or another surface, the brain can suffer serious damage. Brain injuries can affect a person's memory, their ability to regulate their emotions, their speech and understanding of language, and many other areas of their life. A serious brain injury may affect a person's ability to work or live independently.
• Internal injuries: Damage may occur to the liver, spleen, stomach, intestines, kidneys, lungs, heart, or other internal organs. The impact with a vehicle may also lead to internal bleeding that could put a person's life at risk.
• Soft Tissue and Nerve Damage: Ligament tears, muscle damage, and nerve injuries can cause chronic pain and reduced function in different parts of the body. The effects of these injuries may continue to affect a victim long after other wounds have healed.
• Scarring and Disfigurement: Contact with a vehicle or the pavement can cause severe lacerations and abrasions. These injuries may leave permanent physical scars, and reconstructive procedures may be needed to restore a victim's appearance.
• Wrongful Death: Pedestrian accidents are among the deadliest types of traffic collisions. When a loved one is killed by a negligent driver, family members may recover compensation through a wrongful death claim.

How Driver Negligence Causes Pedestrian Accidents

Drivers are required to drive safely and reasonably at all times. Extra attention may need to be paid to safety in areas where pedestrians are present. Unfortunately, many drivers act carelessly or behave in unsafe ways out of a desire to get to their destinations more quickly. Some forms of negligence that can put pedestrians at risk include:

Distracted Driving

A driver who is looking at their phone, entering a destination into a GPS device, reaching for an object in the back seat, trying to eat or drink, or is engaging in other actions that take their focus away from the road may not see a pedestrian until it is too late. The failure to pay attention to the road is one of the leading causes of pedestrian accidents.

Failure to Yield at Crosswalks and Intersections

Many pedestrian accidents occur when drivers do not stop when pedestrians are crossing the street. Rolling stops at crosswalks, failure to check for pedestrians before turning right at a red light, or otherwise ignoring the rights of pedestrians can cause a driver to strike a pedestrian.

Speeding in Pedestrian Areas

When drivers strike pedestrians while traveling at high speeds, they will be more likely to inflict serious or fatal injuries. People who violate speed limits in residential neighborhoods, school zones, or other areas with heavy foot traffic will have less time to react to pedestrians, and they may be responsible for inflicting severe injuries.

Intoxicated Driving

When drivers are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they will experience impairments to their reaction time, vision, and coordination. They may completely fail to notice pedestrians, or they may be unable to maintain control of their vehicles and avoid striking someone who is crossing the road. Drunk drivers can be held liable for acting unsafely and causing injuries to pedestrians.

Driveway and Parking Lot Accidents

When people back out of driveways or parking spaces and do not look around their vehicle to make sure the path is clear, they may collide with pedestrians. These accidents may take place in residential neighborhoods when drivers fail to notice children walking behind their vehicle, or a person who is in a hurry when leaving a store may fail to watch for pedestrians in a parking lot.

Compensation Available to Pedestrian Accident Victims

Pedestrians who are injured by negligent drivers may take steps to obtain financial compensation for their injuries and financial losses. A successful personal injury claim may allow a person to be compensated for their medical expenses, which can include the costs of emergency treatment, hospitalization, surgery, and medications, as well as ongoing costs for rehabilitation, follow-up procedures, and long-term care.

The loss of income a person has experienced due to their injuries may also be recovered. A victim may be repaid for the wages they were unable to earn during the recovery from their injuries. They also may receive compensation for the loss of future income when an injury has led to a permanent disability that has limited their ability to work.

In addition to financial losses, a claim may result in compensation for a person's pain and suffering and other non-economic damages. This compensation should account for the physical pain and emotional distress that a serious injury has caused, including issues such as anxiety, depression, loss of enjoyment of life, and harm to personal relationships.

Our attorneys work to maximize the compensation that our clients will receive. We will take steps to assess the full value of a person's claim, including their past and future financial losses and the personal impact that an accident has had and will continue to have on their life. We have the experience needed to negotiate settlements that will meet our clients' needs, and we are willing to take cases to court to ensure that the liable parties will be held responsible for the harm they have inflicted.

Contact Our Baltimore Pedestrian Accident Attorneys

Being struck by a vehicle can be a traumatic experience, but victims of pedestrian accidents do not need to handle the aftermath of these situations alone. The attorneys at Silverman Thompson are ready to help with these cases and ensure that victims will be fully compensated for their injuries and damages. Contact our Baltimore, MD pedestrian accident injury lawyers at 410-385-2225 to set up a free consultation.

Meet Our Pedestrian Accident Lawyers

Andrew G. Slutkin, Senior Partner

Steven D. Silverman, Managing Partner

Ethan S. Nochumowitz, Partner

Jason T. Wasserman, Partner

Laura A. Simmons, Partner

Kurt E. Nachtman, Partner