Pennsylvania Pedestrian Accident Attorneys

Urgent Support for Pedestrian Accident Victims in Harrisburg, PA

With no protection from a vehicle, seatbelt, airbag, or helmet, a pedestrian is the most at risk in any traffic accident. In 2022, pedestrian accidents accounted for just 2.8% of all Pennsylvania traffic crashes, but pedestrians accounted for 15.6% of all traffic fatalities. WIth pedestrian fatalities in Pennsylvania increasing in 2021, 2022, and 2023, pedestrians have never needed an advocate more than now.

If you have been injured in a pedestrian accident in Harrisburg or Central Pennsylvania, get in touch with Handler, Henning & Rosenberg LLC as soon as possible. Since 1922, we’ve poured extensive resources and knowledge into getting our clients back on their feet, no matter how complex their situations. Our Pennsylvania pedestrian accident attorneys will pursue every avenue of financial relief to recover your expenses and secure your future.

Fight for answers and accountability with our law firm. Call (888) 498-3023 today! We have offices in Carlisle, Hanover, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Schuylkill County, and York.

Pedestrians Have a Right to the Benefits of Walking

As a relatively low-impact activity, walking offers considerable benefits to people of all ages and abilities. It’s also a great way to get outdoors, breathe in some fresh air, and spend time with loved ones.

The benefits of walking can include:

• Lower blood pressure
• The reduction of the risk of type 2 diabetes
• Weight loss
• Improved mood
• Lower transportation costs

But these benefits only matter if people can reasonably expect motorists to be safe and attentive. Whether you walk in mostly urban or rural areas, you are bound to encounter motorists, and their behavior and decisions can make walking dangerous. As a Pennsylvania pedestrian accident law firm, we believe that drivers and pedestrians need to work together to make the roads and walkways safer for all.

Distracted Driving Increasingly Causes Pedestrian Accidents in PA

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) reports that pedestrian fatalities are increasing due to smartphone use. New reports estimate that more than 220 million Americans subscribe to wireless services, and as many as 80% use their phones while driving. Distracted driving is the public health hazard of this generation, much like drunk driving was at its peak decades ago.

As exposed as they are in a traffic collision, pedestrians are particularly at risk when faced with distracted drivers. The issue of poor driving behavior is so prevalent that PennDOT has gone so far as to say:

“It’s [called a] crash, not accident. Driver behavior is the leading factor in 83% of the approximately 1,100 fatal crashes that occur annually on Pennsylvania roadways…These behaviors are choices…Choose to do the right thing because your choices are no accident." Read more.

Our Pennsylvania pedestrian accident lawyers are equipped to get answers about why you were hit by a car, what led to the collision, and who was at fault. These are the answers that will determine whether you will be able to pay for medical care, lost wages, and other losses. If distracted driving was the cause, we’ll expose it.

Handler, Henning & Rosenberg LLC has protected the rights of the injured for over a century. We’ve ensured that thousands of our clients were able to replenish their savings, pay for medical treatment, and provide for their families for the rest of their lives. If you want someone in your corner who knows how to make drivers and insurers answer for your pain, call our pedestrian crash attorneys in Harrisburg today.

Can a Pedestrian Ever Be at Fault for Their Injuries?

Texting, scrolling through social media, and listening to music can put pedestrians at risk of crossing streets or intersections without proper caution, tripping, or even walking into traffic. Like with motor vehicle accidents, the most common factor in pedestrian accidents is alcohol.

The concept of “comparative negligence” may apply in cases where a pedestrian’s behavior is at least at fault. Practically, that means the plaintiff may be assigned a certain percentage of blame for their own injuries; whatever award they get will be reduced by that percentage. However, as long as the assigned fault is less than 50%, pedestrians have the right to seek recovery.

Ultimately, drivers are required to exercise a high degree of care, particularly in areas with high pedestrian traffic. If a driver was speeding or otherwise behaving recklessly, they may be found liable even if the pedestrian was not fully attentive.

It is important to talk to an attorney about your rights. These cases can involve complex issues such as comparative negligence or may require a more aggressive approach to prove who was to blame. Our Pennsylvania pedestrian accident attorneys can help.

Common Injuries in Pennsylvania Pedestrian Accidents

Due to the complete lack of protection afforded to a pedestrian, car accidents tend to be extremely serious and fatal. After all, human beings aren’t equipped to survive any impact with a two-ton metal machine. When a motor vehicle strikes a pedestrian, the pedestrian has no protection against the impact.

Common injuries in a pedestrian accident include:

• Broken bones
• Traumatic brain injury
• Spinal cord injury
• Severe lacerations

In the worst cases, a pedestrian accident can end in wrongful death.

These injuries or the loss of a loved one in a pedestrian accident can have a tremendous impact on your life. As soon as possible, get a free consultation about your recovery options under the law. If the pedestrian accident injury could have been avoided, you may be eligible to receive reimbursement for your medical bills, your lost wages, any injury-related costs, and pain & suffering. If you waive your rights, you could end up robbing yourself of financial relief that you’ll need in the future.

Preventing Child Pedestrian Accidents in Central Pennsylvania

Per Safe Kids, pedestrian injuries are the 5th leading cause of injury-related deaths for children 5 to 19. The CDC says that 1 in 5 traffic fatalities under 15 years old are pedestrians. Drivers have a duty of care to avoid injuring pedestrians; however, drivers are not always paying attention to the road, much less to young pedestrians. They must be held responsible for their failures to act with proper care.

As parents, we cannot control the behavior of drivers in our communities, but we can teach our children to do what they can to stay safe in crosswalks, parking lots, and other places they encounter motorists.

The following practices can help children stay safe as pedestrians:

• Make eye contact with drivers before crossing. If the driver is not looking at you, do not cross.
• Look before crossing. Look left, right, then left again. Keep looking in all directions as you cross.
• Do not wear headphones when walking, especially when crossing a street.
• Do not use electronics, including cellphones, when walking and crossing a street.
• Cross at marked crosswalks. If there are no crosswalks, cross at intersections with traffic signals.
• Use sidewalks. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as safely possible.

Each child is different; however, most children who are under the age of 10 do not have the ability to judge speed and distance. Therefore, parents should accompany children under 10 when walking and crossing the road. Always set a good example when crossing the road and walking by avoiding the use of electronics, always looking before crossing the road, and paying attention.

Review the information in the interactive graphic provided by Safe Kids with your children and use the Child Pedestrian Safety Curriculum provided by the NHTSA to protect your children from pedestrian accidents.

Pennsylvania Pedestrian Right-of-Way Laws Explained

Pennsylvania right-of-way laws provide pedestrians with the right of way whenever they are in a crosswalk or at an intersection not controlled by traffic signals. Pedestrians also have the right of way if they are on a sidewalk that crosses a road, driveway, alley, or another area accessible by vehicles. When law enforcement officers are present, pedestrians must follow all instructions issued by the officers.

Guidelines for Pedestrian Conduct

In addition to giving pedestrians the right of way, Pennsylvania’s traffic laws prohibit pedestrians from some actions. Pedestrians cannot cross an intersection diagonally or cross outside of a designated crosswalk. Pedestrians must use sidewalks or the shoulder of a road. If there is no sidewalk or shoulder, the pedestrian must walk on the left side of the road only and as far away from the road as possible.

Driver Responsibilities & Pedestrian Safety

There are situations where the driver has the right of way and pedestrians must yield. Drivers have the right of way when pedestrians are not in a crosswalk or at an intersection. Pedestrians who choose to cross a road instead of using a pedestrian tunnel or overhead walkway must yield the right of way to traffic.

Drivers' Duty of Care, Despite Right of Way

Even though a driver may have the right of way, the driver is responsible for using caution when approaching areas where people may be crossing the road. Drivers should not allow distractions to remove their focus from the road in front of them. Distracted driving and speeding are two of the most common reasons for pedestrian accidents. By keeping the focus on the road, drivers may be able to reduce the number of people killed and injured in pedestrian accidents.

Right of way is a crucial issue in most pedestrian accident claims. As a Pennsylvania law firm that has been in operation for more than 100 years, we have kept abreast of all legislative changes and case law related to traffic accident liability and pedestrian right-of-way claims. We use this knowledge to better represent our clients' interests in these complicated cases, particularly when fault is contested.

Call Pedestrian Accident Lawyers in Carlisle, Hanover, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Schuylkill County, or York, PA

We strongly advise you to contact us quickly. Pennsylvania has a two-year statute of limitations for injury cases. Crucial evidence, essential to the success of your case, could be lost over time. Our Pennsylvania injury lawyers can protect your rights, help build the best possible case, and help you get justice.

Handler, Henning & Rosenberg LLC has been helping people since 1922. Wherever you are or wherever you need us, our attorneys are more than happy to meet with you for a free consultation.

Call (888) 498-3023 to speak with a Pennsylvania pedestrian accident attorney!