Most Common Injuries in Pedestrian Accidents

Updated on: 12/7/2021

According to the Washington State Department of Safety, there were a total of 2,433 pedestrian accidents in Washington state in 2016. Of those accidents, only 108 did not result in an injury. A suspected serious injury occurred in 362 of those collisions, while 89 fatalities were reported.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, someone is killed in a pedestrian accident about every two hours. Each year, over 150,000 people are injured in these accidents. It’s obvious by looking at those stats that any time a pedestrian is hit by a car, the victim is likely to be injured.

Top-rated Seattle pedestrian accident attorney Chris Davis of Davis Law Group, P.S., has over 20 years of experience fighting for people injured in pedestrian accidents. 

“These statistics are frightening,” Davis says. “Despite decades of work to make pedestrian travel safer, the reform of traffic laws, improvements in intersection and crossing design, and the raising of public awareness, pedestrian accidents happen much too often.”

The highest pedestrian accident rate is for 5- to 9-year-old boys, an age group most likely to dart into traffic. Though the elderly tend to be more cautious as pedestrians, they suffer almost twice the risk of death compared to children under the age of 14.

Common Injuries in Pedestrian Collisions

Pedestrians that have been hit by a car usually suffer injuries to their abdomen, chest, extremities, and head. The driver’s speed, the type of vehicle, as well as the pedestrian’s age and health all determine how severe the injuries will be.

Here are the most common injuries sustained in pedestrian accidents:

• Head trauma: Anytime the brain is involved in a collision, the stakes are extremely high. Traumatic brain injuries can be minor, but they must be treated with extreme care.
• Internal injuries: Internal bleeding, rib fractures, brain bleeds, etc., are all potential serious injuries in a pedestrian accident.
• Pelvic injuries: Pedestrians that get hit by a motor vehicle may suffer one of the four types of pelvic fractures/injuries. The hood design of a vehicle is a contributing factor.
• Spinal cord injuries: This type of injury can have life-changing consequences. Because the spinal cord is the part that transmits signals between the brain and the body, even small amounts of damage can be devastating.
• Bone fractures: Among the most common injuries suffered by pedestrians, broken bones are caused by an external force causes a break in the continuity of a bone. 
• Lacerations: Depending on the location of the laceration and how deep it went, this type of injury can have painful and lasting consequences.
• Wrongful Death: In the most severe cases, pedestrians struck by a motor vehicle may pass away.

Depending on the area hit and the speed of the car, the pedestrian may fall to the ground, into an object (building, another vehicle, etc.), or onto the hood or into the windshield of the car. 

A pedestrian hit by a car traveling 15 miles per hour or less isn’t likely to sustain fatal injuries. Any faster, however, and the risk of severe injuries or death increases. Injuries to the lower extremities can result in long-term mobility problems. Head, neck and back injuries can be life-threatening.

Legal Options After A Pedestrian Accident

Injured pedestrians may be able to begin their path to recovery by reaching out to a qualified attorney with experience handling pedestrian accident cases as soon as possible. Mr. Davis and the legal team at Davis Law Group can help determine rights and options to pursue legal action.

Contact Davis Law Group to learn more about the options that may be available. Call (206) 727-4000, use the chat feature below or fill out the contact form on this page for a free case evaluation.