Louisiana Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Pedestrians hit by motor vehicles can suffer catastrophic and life-altering injuries, which on top of physical trauma can lead to severe financial and emotional consequences as well. If you or your loved one was injured as a pedestrian in a motor vehicle accident, the assistance of an experienced Louisiana pedestrian accident lawyer could prove vital in your pursuit of legal compensation. Let a qualified personal injury attorney advocate for you.

Pedestrian Accidents in Louisiana

Louisianans of all stripes enjoy the warm local weather, and with it comes year-round tourism and outdoor activities. For this reason, pedestrians and bicyclists are common along roadways.

With an increase in foot traffic comes a higher incidence of pedestrian accidents. Across the country, around 129,000 pedestrians are struck by moving cars and trucks each year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2015, 5,376 victims of pedestrian accidents were killed.

Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents

There are many factors that can contribute to a pedestrian and motor vehicle collision along Louisiana’s roadways. Any instance of drunk driving or driving under the influence significantly increases the risk of an accident, especially if the use of legal or illegal drugs is involved. In the same vein, sleep deprivation can severely affect a driver’s vision and reaction time, and studies have shown it to be just as impairing as alcohol in many circumstances. To a large degree, the same can be said of texting while driving as well.

Furthermore, an inexperienced or underage driver is often more likely to cause an accident than an older driver with more driving experience. However, this is not always the case, particularly if an adult driver is unlicensed or driving with a suspended license.

Additional factors that may cause a pedestrian accident include road or construction worker collisions, dangerous weather conditions, poorly maintained roads, inadequate signage, and a lack of marked bike lanes or crosswalks.

Pedestrian Laws and Comparative Negligence Doctrine

In the event of an accident, Louisiana follows the comparative negligence system of liability, which states that a victim’s compensation or personal injury damage award may be reduced by the percentage of fault they contributed to their own accident. In other words, even if a driver who hits a pedestrian is acting recklessly or negligently, compensation for the pedestrian can be affected by the degree to which they are found responsible for the accident.

For example, pedestrians have the right-of-way when walking in a crosswalk, and are generally expected to yield the right-of-way to drivers when not walking in a crosswalk. If a pedestrian is hit by a speeding car while jaywalking, they can be considered partially responsible since both they and the driver were violating traffic laws when the accident occurred.

Unlike some states, however, Louisiana does not completely bar compensation for victims who share in the fault that caused the collision. For this reason, victims of a pedestrian collision should consult with an experienced Louisiana pedestrian accident lawyer even if they believe they are partially at-fault.

Contacting a Louisiana Pedestrian Accident Attorney

No matter how you were hurt as a pedestrian or how severe your injuries are, working with an experienced Louisiana pedestrian accident lawyer may help you achieve compensation for damages suffered because of a motorist’s negligent or reckless conduct. Work with a qualified lawyer that could devote the time and resources necessary to build your case. Call today to get started.