Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Burbank

In busy cities, many people are always milling around on the roads. People traveling by car need to share the roads with people who walk, such as tourists who are exploring their surroundings. Heavy traffic and crowded roads can lead to collisions between automobiles and walkers.

Sadly, when a car strikes a person on foot, that pedestrian has nothing to protect them from the destructive impact of a heavy car. One of our dedicated pedestrian accident attorneys. They have a proven track record of success with legal claims following some of the many common causes of pedestrian accidents in Burbank.

Negligent Driving Causes

Most pedestrian accidents occur because a motorist acted negligently. A claimant must prove that another person’s negligence directly caused their injuries to obtain compensation from a suit. In accident injuries, there are many forms of negligence, such as distracted driving, speeding, reckless driving, and many more.

Distracted Driving

When Burbank motorists divert their attention from driving, they might not see a pedestrian in their pathway or be able to stop in time to prevent an hitting someone, thus causing a crash. There are a few different types of distractions in driving: visual, manual, and cognitive. Visual distractions include:

• Looking down to read a text message
• Checking one’s appearance in the mirror
• Reading the directions on a GPS, as these cause a driver to take their eyes off the road

A manual distraction forces a driver to remove one or both hands from the wheel. Some examples are:

• Eating a sandwich
• Putting on makeup
• Looking through a phone
• Changing the radio station
• Manually adjusts the car’s temperature

Distractions can also be cognitive, such as when they force a motorist’s mind to wander or when a driver enters a deep conversation with a fellow passenger.

Speeding

Motorists who speed might not have enough time to react or brake if someone suddenly crosses in front of their car. Speeding cars can also confuse pedestrians, who might misjudge how much time they have to cross the street.

Drunk, Drugged, or Drowsy Driving

Alcohol, drugs, and fatigue can alter a driver’s reaction times and judgments. Impaired drivers are more apt to lose control of their vehicles, endangering pedestrians who are near them.

Reckless Driving

Motorists who run red lights, fail to yield at crosswalks, or drive through stop signs are a danger to walkers.

Inexperience

New drivers are usually hyper-focused on the traffic around them. While they pay close attention to and check for other cars, they might fail to look around for pedestrians.

A diligent legal team could carefully comb through the evidence to investigate a driver’s actions to see if an injured pedestrian might have viable grounds to pursue a legal claim.

Other Causes of Pedestrian Accidents

Some Burbank pedestrian incidents occur even when motorists are driving responsibly. Some of these other common causes are road problems, construction, and bath weather.

Poor Road Designs

Sometimes, the design of an intersection or crosswalk is inherently dangerous. For example, when a driver cannot see if a pedestrian is about to enter a crosswalk, the government or municipal agency that designed it could be liable for an accident.

Construction Problems

Areas with roadway construction can pose challenges for motorists and pedestrians. Sometimes, large equipment and signs can make it hard to see around. Other times, detours can cause drivers to come closer than anticipated to walkers.

Weather and Lighting

Rain, fog, or darkness can make it challenging for a driver to see an approaching walker.

A dedicated legal team could review the details of an accident to see what happened and who could potentially be at fault.

Talk to a Burbank Attorney About the Causes of Pedestrian Accidents

When a driver strikes a pedestrian, devastating injuries can occur. A determined local attorney has successfully assisted people who have suffered injuries due to many of the common causes of pedestrian accidents in Burbank.

If someone else’s actions contributed to your injuries, call us today to speak with our team of attorneys about how they might be able to help you find justice.