A pedestrian recently got hit by an eighteen-wheeler. The man suffered two broken legs, among other injuries. The accident occurred on the I-55 North in Canton. It is not very often that accidents happen involving pedestrians and tractor trailers. This accident shows the importance of understanding the difference between trucking accidents and regular motor vehicle accidents because accidents involving tractor trailers can occur whether you are in your car or you are walking.
The aforementioned accident occurred along a busy highway, which is not a place where most people would be walking. However, tractor trailers travel along plenty of roads where people do walk. In areas where there is any pedestrian traffic, the risk for automobile-pedestrian collisions is present. The number of motor vehicle accidents involving pedestrians is on the rise, and automobile crash researchers believe that distracted driving may be at least partially to blame.
When a motor vehicle strikes a pedestrian, the driver of the vehicle is likely to be found to have been at fault for the accident. There are a few ways in which pedestrian accidents often happen. Sometimes, a driver makes a turn as a pedestrian is crossing the street in a crosswalk. At other times, a driver who is under the influence of drugs or alcohol may collide with a pedestrian that they do not see because of their condition. Drivers who run red lights or stop signs also run the risk of striking a pedestrian who is crossing the road at the intersection. Vehicles entering the roadway from driveways sometimes do not notice pedestrians who are approaching, and pedestrian accidents happen this way, as well.
When an automobile strikes a pedestrian, it is highly likely that death or serious injury will occur, especially if the vehicle involved is a tractor trailer. When a person has been seriously injured or killed in a pedestrian accident, there are a few types of legal actions which may be filed against the driver and, if it is a commercial vehicle like a tractor trailer, the trucking company, by various parties.
For example, the State can file criminal charges against the driver if they were violating any laws at the time of the accident. Another type of action that may be filed against the driver of an automobile who has struck a pedestrian is a claim for injuries and damages. These claims are the type of claims that are usually filed by the victims of car accidents against the driver’s insurance company, for the purpose of obtaining financial recovery for the injuries and damages that they have sustained.
Barrett Law PLLC: Helping Trucking Accident Victims and Their Families Recover After Injury or Loss
If you were involved in any trucking accident, contact a Mississippi Trucking Accident Attorney right away. Your attorney will help you deal with accident investigators, and they will use their knowledge about trucking industry laws, commercial insurance policies, and truck accidents to help you pursue claims for recovery from the various parties who are responsible for your injuries or your loss. Call the dedicated and experienced Mississippi Trucking Accident Attorneys at Barrett Law PLLC today at 1 (800) 707-9577, to schedule a free, initial consultation.