Pedestrian accidents are very serious, as they can cause significant injuries or even death to those involved. A new report from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) suggests that pedestrian fatalities reached its highest level in 2019 for the first time in over 30 years. It is important for injured victims or loved ones of a deceased victim to recover the compensation they deserve after a pedestrian accident. If you are facing this situation, contact an experienced Maryland personal injury attorney for legal assistance.
What are the Facts of the Report?
GHSA’s report, “Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities by State,” provides preliminary data from highway traffic safety offices in all states, and the District of Columbia. The data presented from 2019 shows a new high for pedestrian deaths in the country since 1988. There were 6,590 deaths in 2019, a 5 percent increase from the 6,283 pedestrian deaths in 2018.
Unfortunately, the majority of pedestrian accidents are caused by negligence. Accidents from 2019 occurred in part because of unsafe road crossings, distracted or impaired driving, and large SUVs and trucks on the road.
What Do I Do if I am Involved in a Pedestrian Accident?
When a person is harmed or dies in a pedestrian accident in Maryland, certain steps should be taken to ensure a future claim. This includes the following:
- Call the necessary emergency services (police and ambulance)
- Obtain contact information from the at-fault party and any witnesses to the incident
- Take pictures and videos of the scene of the accident
- Obtain medical documentation after receiving treatment
- Retain the services of a skilled personal injury attorney to recover additional evidence for a case
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit?
It is important to know that legal action can be taken in the event of an injury or death in a pedestrian accident. Those who wish to do so should not wait too long, as there is a statute of limitations in place for both personal injury and wrongful death cases. This is a deadline by which injured victims or their loved ones are required to file a claim to pursue legal action. In Maryland, the statute of limitations for personal injury and wrongful death cases is three years from the date of injury or death.
Contact our Firm
The Law Offices of Debra A. Saltz has decades of experience representing clients in Howard County and Anne Arundel County, Maryland who have been charged with a crime or injured by another party’s negligence. Contact the Law Offices of Debra A. Saltz today to discuss your case.
