Pedestrians are required to pay special attention to the road when walking on the streets. When a car hits a pedestrian, the injuries are usually pretty severe and require a lengthy treatment and recovery process. This is because the impact of the force of the car on a human body can be catastrophic.
If you were struck by a car and have sustained severe injuries, Bakersfield pedestrian accident lawyers can help you recover compensation for your damages.
Common injuries in a pedestrian accident
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Traumatic brain injuries.
Traumatic brain injuries occur as a result of a heavy and sudden blow to the head, causing the brain to be dysfunctional. It can cause temporary or permanent changes, though they are likely to survive the condition. The injury can result in changes in behavior, anxiety, depression, trouble with memory, and insomnia.
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Spinal cord injuries.
Spinal cord injuries are some of the most severe and catastrophic injuries in a pedestrian accident. Such injuries can cause temporary or permanent paralysis and ruin the entire life of the victim, even though they may survive the attack. The survivor also has to go through multiple costly surgeries and a lengthy recovery time before they can get back to their normal life.
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Fractures.
Bone fractures are expected when the vehicle hits the pedestrian with a strong force. Although fractures are usually not life-threatening and can be treated with surgeries, the recovery time may be longer. Some fractures may even leave you with lifelong pain and discomfort, impacting your quality of life.
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Soft tissue injuries.
Soft tissues injuries are pretty common, but most of them only require minimal medical treatment to get better. They refer to damage in your muscles, ligaments, and tendons throughout the body. Examples include cuts, scratches, muscle tears, dislocations, sprains, and bruises. While they are minor, they can impact your life by preventing you from doing the simplest day-to-day activities.
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Emotional trauma.
Injuries are not required to be physical to be serious. In fact, a car accident survivor can have more severe mental trauma even though they are completely fine physically. Unlike physical injuries, emotional trauma does not have a fixed recovery time, and nobody can guarantee whether the person will ever recover. They may fear walking on the streets, refuse to talk about the incident or even go near the place, get nightmares, flashbacks, etc.
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Death.
Unfortunately, death is on the list as well. A car hitting a pedestrian with force can result in injuries that kill the person on the spot. About 6,000 pedestrians were killed in car crashes in 2017.
You should not bear the financial burden of medical costs and other damages because of someone else’s fault. Do not hesitate to reach out to an attorney to protect your rights after a pedestrian accident.
