Cell phones, rubbernecking, eating and drinking, being lost in thought or even other occupants in a vehicle are all within the top 10 distractions which cause car accidents in the U.S. Driving with distractions in New York can be harmful not only to other drivers but to the many people walking our sidewalks every day. Distracted driving is even heightened in Manhattan with so many moving objects, people, and the sheer amount of vehicles on the streets. Unfortunately, in the past year alone, pedestrian accident deaths rose 11%. Here’s our list of the top 3 pedestrian injuries that result from motor vehicle accidents:
Leg and Knee Injury
Lower extremity injuries are the most common type of pedestrian injury from a car accident. This is because most vehicles bumpers will hit a pedestrian in their leg or knee area as the initial impact. In a recent study, the majority of people who suffered a leg or knee injury also had a bone fracture in result of the accident. Women also tend to have more pelvic injuries as a result of a car accident, which can be especially debilitating and difficult to recover from.
Head, Face, and Neck Injuries
If a vehicle is moving fast enough, it can knock a pedestrian off balance, or in the most tragic of cases drag or throw a pedestrian. Head, face, and neck injuries often occur with increased vehicle speeds. The majority of head injuries result in a loss of consciousness, and the top injuries following that are intracranial injuries, trauma to the scalp, eyes, and face, and lastly neck injuries. Head injuries can be emotionally exhausting for individuals and their families and can be some of the most fatal injuries possible.
Shoulder and Arm Injury
Lastly, shoulder and arm injuries surpass elbow, forearm, and wrist or hand injuries in a pedestrian accident. A rotator cuff tear can more easily occur after or during an accident and may take up to several months to fully heal. Another common shoulder injury is a slap tear, which is a tear in the cartilage where the inner part of your shoulder joint hits. These types of injuries can be very painful and can limit their quality of life and overall mobility. These types of injuries can also be common in bicycle accidents.
While we wish pedestrian accidents could be avoidable, the reality is they happen way too often. If you were injured due to someone else’s distraction or negligence, we want to help. Call our knowledgeable personal injury lawyers who will get to work for you right away.
Call our firm today to schedule a free case evaluation.