Ventura Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Whether you are walking through downtown Ventura or in downtown Oxnard, it is important to be aware of the risks of a pedestrian accident. While many Southern Californians adore Ventura for its historic downtown and its surf spots, accidents do happen with more frequency than they should.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly 5,000 pedestrians died in traffic collisions in 2012 alone, and more than 75,000 pedestrians sustained serious injuries. Pedestrians are far more likely than automobile passengers to be killed in an accident. If you have been injured in a pedestrian or automobile accident, it is important to contact an experienced Ventura personal injury attorney as soon as possible.

Risk Factors For California Pedestrian Accidents

Who is at risk of being in a serious or life-threatening pedestrian accident? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), several different factors play into the likelihood and severity of a pedestrian accident:

• – Age: older adults and children are more likely than people in other age groups to sustain injuries in a pedestrian accident. Adults aged 65 and older actually account for about 20 percent of all pedestrian. Likewise, more than 20 percent of all reported pedestrian fatalities involved children between the ages of 5 and 15.
• – Alcohol use: when drivers and pedestrians are impaired by alcohol, they’re more likely to be involved in a deadly traffic collision. Indeed, nearly 50 percent of all fatal pedestrian accidents involved a driver or a pedestrian with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 grams or more.
• – Vehicle speed: when drivers exceed the speed limit, they increase the likelihood of hitting a pedestrian, as well as increasing the severity of the pedestrian’s injuries.

Preventing Pedestrian Accidents

How can Ventura residents help to prevent deadly pedestrian accidents? The CDC provides some important tips:

• – Always cross at a designated crosswalk, and wait for a crosswalk sign.
• – Always walk on the sidewalk. In situations where a sidewalk is not available, walk on the shoulder of the road and be sure to walk so that you are facing traffic. This way, you can see oncoming vehicles and you can get out of the way.
• – Always do what you can to increase your visibility to cars. This means wearing brightly colored or reflective clothing, as well as carrying a flashlight if you’re walking at night.

Contact A Ventura Pedestrian Accident Attorney

It is impossible to anticipate a pedestrian accident, and traffic collisions often have serious consequences. If you suffered injuries because of a driver’s negligence, you should seek compensation by filing a personal injury claim. Contact us now at the Quirk Law Firm, LLP.