24/7 FREE CONSULTATION (314) 361-4242

Pedestrian Hit By Car St. Louis

You don’t have to be in a car to be involved in a car accident.

According to the CDC, in 2017, 5,977 pedestrians were killed in traffic accidents, and 137,000 pedestrians were treated in emergency rooms for nonfatal injuries. Since a pedestrian has no protection from the impact, injuries are severe. Despite that, liability is difficult to prove, especially when the accident occurred outside of a crosswalk.

st louis pedestrian car accident

The risk of injury or death is significantly higher in cases where the pedestrian involved is a high-risk individual such as a child, a senior citizen, or someone who is intoxicated. These accidents often lead to severe injuries to the pedestrian even if the driver of the vehicle remains completely unharmed. Liability in such cases is complicated, especially if the pedestrian is partially at fault for the accident.

Causes of Pedestrian Accidents

One of the most common causes of such accidents is unmarked crosswalks. These intersections make it difficult for pedestrians and drivers to recognize who has the right of way. Statistics show that three times more pedestrian injuries occur when a motor vehicle makes a left turn than when making a right turn.

Many pedestrian accidents also occur because the pedestrian is distracted while walking. It is not uncommon to see pedestrians talking on the phone or texting while walking in intersections. Eight percent of pedestrian accidents occur when the pedestrian is using an electronic device. Pedestrian accidents are 70% more likely to occur at night time, and 50% are more likely to occur on weekends. This can be attributed to poor visibility and substance abuse. Whenever a pedestrian accident occurs, it is usually assumed that the driver is at fault. However, the reality is that the pedestrian can be partially or entirely at fault for the accident.

Accidents Involving Pedestrians

The trouble with a pedestrian accident is that like drivers, pedestrians also have an assumed duty of care. For that reason, it is not uncommon for juries to assign contributory negligence to them when assessing an award. They may feel that the plaintiff was also negligent if they ignored a do not walk signal at an intersection, failed to use a crosswalk, or darted into traffic. As for the driver, any number of things may be cause for negligence, including:

  • inattentiveness
  • speeding
  • failure to observe a crosswalk or traffic signal
  • not signaling when making a turn
  • driving while intoxicated

The accident scene may need to be recreated and witness testimony introduced to determine if and to what extent each party contributed to the accident. If you were not responsible for the accident, an experienced car accident attorney will know precisely how best to defend any claims against the plaintiff for shared blame. A Missouri pedestrian settled their claim for $250,000 after being injured by a small pick-up truck. They were not in a crosswalk, and visibility was poor at the time. Even though they shared part of the liability, facts showed that the driver bore the brunt of it.

Pedestrian Injuries

Injuries to a pedestrian vary greatly depending on the height and weight of the vehicle, as well as the speed at which it was traveling. Most of the time, the initial impact is on an adult’s lower legs causing the upper body to jerk forward onto the hood and windshield. If the car is traveling at a low speed, then the pedestrian will remain on the hood and then drop to the ground when the vehicle stops. Higher speeds mean more contact injuries as the body bounces on the hood of the car. At very high speeds, the force of the impact can cause a person to fly over the vehicle causing even more injury as they hit the ground. Head trauma, bone fractures, and lacerations are all common injuries seen with pedestrian accidents.

The group with the highest risk of being hit by a car is elementary-aged children. Their small size and unpredictable behavior make them a target for pedestrian accidents. There is a higher duty of care expected in regards to children, and drivers should proceed with a higher degree of caution when in an area where children are known to be. If your child is injured by a motor vehicle, retain a Missouri car accident attorney as quickly as possible. Injuries sustained by kids hit by a car may need extensive medical care and long term therapy.

The Reasonable Person Standard

If a pedestrian acts outside of the way any “reasonable person” would in the same situation, then they might not be able to recover their injuries. A “reasonable person” is a legal term that states that someone must act as a “reasonable” person would in the same situation. For instance, if a pedestrian walks out in the middle of oncoming traffic and is hit, they would be failing to take reasonable care to ensure their safety. Since the driver would not have been able to foresee the unreasonable actions of the pedestrian endangering themselves or able to prevent hitting them, the driver would not be held liable for their injuries.

If you are a pedestrian hit by a motorist, and they are claiming that you didn’t take reasonable care and that they are not liable, you will have to hire a St. Louis auto accident attorney to bring the case to court. If you are injured, it is always a good idea to consult an attorney. It is not always the case that the driver is at fault. When pedestrians are involved in auto accidents, things can become complex very quickly.

Can Drinking and Walking Make a Pedestrian Liable?

Although the driver will often be found negligent in pedestrian incidents, there are cases when either the pedestrian can be held partially responsible for their own injuries, or they might be entirely at fault in the accident. While it may not be illegal to drink and walk in Missouri, it is illegal to cross an intersection without a crosswalk or walk on streets not designated for pedestrians. This means that if an individual has been out on the town drinking, and they fail to exercise the necessary caution to protect themselves, they could end up being held liable for any injuries that result.

For example, if someone was drinking at a bar, left to walk home, and they were hit by a car because they walked out into traffic, they would likely be considered negligent. Depending on the circumstances, there may have been no way the driver could anticipate that the driver would walk out in front of their car.

Tips to Stay Safe as a Pedestrian

Here are some general pedestrian safety tips:

  • Pay attention to your surroundings and be aware of what’s going on around you. This means putting away your phone and not being distracted by anything else while you’re walking.
  • Obey all traffic laws and signals. This includes crossing at crosswalks and not jaywalking.
  • Make sure you’re visible to drivers. Consider wearing bright clothing during the day and reflective clothing at night. You can also carry a flashlight if you’ll be walking in low-light conditions.
  • Watch out for vehicles that might not see you. This includes cars that are backing up, turning, or coming out of driveways.
  • Be predictable. Drivers are more likely to see and yield to pedestrians walking in a straight line and not darting out into the road.
  • Walk in the direction facing traffic. This will help you see oncoming vehicles and avoid being hit from behind.
  • If there’s no sidewalk, walk on the shoulder of the road. If possible, try to walk as far away from traffic as you can.
  • Never assume that a driver sees you. Just because a driver is stopped or appears to yield to you doesn’t mean they see you.
  • Be extra cautious around buses and trucks. These vehicles have large blind spots, so the driver might not see you.
  • Teach children about pedestrian safety. Kids are often more likely to be hit by a car because they’re smaller and less visible to drivers. So, it’s important to teach them about being safe around traffic.

What if You’re Involved in a Pedestrian Crash?

If you or someone you know is involved in a pedestrian crash, there are a few things you should generally do:

  • Check for injuries and call 911 if necessary.
  • Get to a safe location away from traffic.
  • Exchange information with the driver, including insurance information.
  • Take pictures of the scene, including any damage to the vehicles or injuries.
  • Contact a pedestrian accident lawyer to discuss your legal options.

Recovering Damages

The pedestrian’s right to recover damages is based on liability. The pedestrian may be partially at fault for the accident:

  • when a pedestrian is walking against the flow of traffic
  • jaywalking
  • walking in prohibited areas such as bridges, causeways, or highways
  • walking intoxicated

Injured pedestrians can recover compensation based on the principle of comparative negligence. The pedestrian can recover the amount of compensation reduced by the percentage of fault he or she contributed to the accident.

Are Pedestrians Entitled to Collect Non Economic Damages?

When a motorist hits a pedestrian, they will probably not suffer any property damages. However, they are entitled to collect for “damages” related to their injuries. Pedestrians may receive both economic and non-economic damages.

Even though they do not have a car to repair, they likely will need compensation for the damage done to them physically and emotionally.

What Are Economic Damages?

Economic damages are things that are meant to compensate someone for all that they monetarily lost due to an accident. For a pedestrian, that would be things like medical bills, rehabilitation costs, and lost wages from work. If they are riding on a bike, then they are entitled to receive compensation for the cost of their bike repair or replacement, if they are not at fault.

What Are Non-Economic Damages?

Pedestrians are also entitled to something called non-economic damages. They are damages that are meant to compensate someone for their experience and suffering. Things that fall under the umbrella of non-economic damages are more subjective than economic-damage. They are things like emotional distress or pain and suffering.

Although not always easy to calculate, non-economic damages are a monetary award amount that is supposed to compensate someone for all that they have been through due to their injuries.

How to Know What You Are Entitled to in Non-Economic Damages?

When it comes to pedestrian-car accidents, pedestrians usually have extensive injuries while the driver of the car tends to suffer from far less severe damage to their body. The amount that they deserve depends on the severity of the accident and the extent of their injuries.

A St. Louis car accident lawyer can calculate in quantifiable terms what your emotional and physical pain is worth.

How Do You Know You Are Getting a Fair Settlement Offer?

If you are in an accident and hit by a motorist, the best way to know whether a settlement offer is fair is to have an experienced St. Louis car accident attorney review your case. Be mindful not to sign for any settlement before you speak with an attorney.

Once you sign a settlement, you absolve the insurance company from any further liability in your case. If you didn’t get all that you need or deserve, if you sign and accept an agreement, then you will be on your own to pay for any further costs related to your injury.

St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer

No matter what the circumstance, you should get advice from a St. Louis car accident attorney if you are hit by a car. At The Hoffmann Law Firm, we have 25 years of experience protecting the rights of St. Louis car accident victims. If you or a loved one have been injured, as a driver, passenger, or pedestrian, call our law firm at (314) 361-4242.


Free Consultation with a St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer

Don’t talk to an insurance claims adjuster before speaking with The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. We can help you avoid making statements that may affect the outcome of your case. The consultation is free; you don’t pay unless we get you money!

Free Consultation (314) 361-4242

Updated: July 16, 2023