Pedestrian Accidents in Arizona: What You Should Know

Written by Brad Johnson on May 21, 2019

According to the Governors Highway Safety Association’s annual report of pedestrian traffic fatalities, Arizona had the fifth-highest number of pedestrian fatalities in the nation, from January to June of 2018.

This makes Arizona an extremely risky state for pedestrians, who can be knocked down and severely injured by cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles, bicycles, and even dogs. If you were recently injured as a pedestrian in Arizona, you have the right to file a lawsuit against the individual or party who caused your injuries. Compensation for your medical bills lost wages, and pain and suffering are warranted.

Below, we’ll discuss the most important things you should know about your rights as a pedestrian in Arizona, including common causes that can lead to pedestrian injuries and what you should do if you have been the victim of a recent accident.

Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Arizona

Upon examining the unfortunate injuries and deaths of pedestrians in Arizona over the years, it has been found that the following situations cause most of the accidents.

Impaired Driving

Impaired driving, driving under the influence, or drunk driving all refer to the compromised state of a driver behind the wheel because of alcohol or drugs. In fact, impairment is most often caused by alcohol; however, other substances may be being abused as well. For example, it’s not uncommon for individuals using sleep medications to feel groggy or drugged behind the wheel. Marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and other drugs may also be factors in the event of a pedestrian collision.

Smart Phones

These days, cell phones are implicated in a large portion of pedestrian-related accidents and deaths. Cell phones may be being used by the driver of a car or even by motorcyclists and bicyclists.

Those who can’t steal their eyes away from their phone to put their focus on driving their vehicle, motorcycle, or bike put pedestrians at risk. In fact, cell phone-related accidents now rival impaired driving accidents when you look at the statistics.

Even when drivers use hands-free features (such as Bluetooth earpieces, speakerphone, or voice commands), they can still be cognitively distracted. This means they are focusing the majority of their mental attention on their phone call or voice-dictated text message instead of on their driving.

Furthermore, it’s nearly impossible to carry out even the most basic of hands-free actions without occasionally looking at the phone screen itself. But as we know, it only takes a millisecond of looking away from the road to cause an accident.

Distracted Driving

The most notable example of distracted driving is driving while using a smartphone. We’ve already gone over this common cause above, but there are other things that can distract drivers and cause them to knock down pedestrians as well.

Most notably, it has been found that drivers are often trying to do too many things at once. Instead of focusing solely on safe driving, they are trying to simultaneously drive while they also:

Eat or drink
Put on makeup
Attempt to discipline or take care of a baby or child in the backseat
Rummage through their book bag or purse
Talk on the phone
Engage in intense conversation with other passengers
Play with a radio or MP3 player
Navigate where they’re going or perform other in-car tasks using a touch screen console

All of these tasks can distract the driver enough to accidentally swerve off the road or miss a passing pedestrian.

SUVs

Today, more than ever, an increasing number of SUVs are on the road. This influx has caused any accidents that do happen between vehicles and pedestrians to be much more severe. Instead of being knocked down and scraped up by an average-sized car, a pedestrian may be completely knocked out and sustain serious injuries if they are struck by an SUV.

What Are You Entitled To if You Were Injured in a Pedestrian Accident?

If you were injured by a vehicle, motorcycle, bike, or dog in Arizona, you are entitled to compensation for your injuries and pain and suffering. These situations can be physically and emotionally agonizing for pedestrians. In Arizona, you should be able to walk or jog without fear that you will be hit and severely injured.

As a result of your injuries, you may have suffered:

Severe physical pain
Medical trauma, including multitudinous tests, exams, and assessments
Invasive surgeries
The ordeal of physical therapy
Side effects from medications
Emotional pain and suffering
Lost salary or wages

All of this can cost up to hundreds of thousands of dollars in bills and lost earnings and, worse, a tremendous amount of emotional and mental pain and distress. This goes for the individual who was injured and their families.

Under Arizona law, you have the right to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party. A lawyer can assist you in organizing your case and ensuring that all deadlines are met and all paperwork is adequately completed. The filing process can be complicated and drawn-out, and having an experienced and skilled personal injury attorney on your side will make the process less traumatic, faster, and more likely to succeed in your favor. You deserve compensation for your injuries.

Were You Involved in a Pedestrian Accident in Arizona? Contact Brad Johnson Injury Law

Brad Johnson built his personal injury law firm with the founding principle that the victims of accidents deserve commitment and compassion. We’ll help you get the compensation justified for your injuries, pain, and suffering.