Wichita Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

When walking along a city sidewalk or waiting for that little person to light up on the crosswalk sign, you’re not thinking about the possibility of being struck by a vehicle. You’re on your way to the corner store for a snack or on your way home from the bus stop when an unexpected tragedy occurs. Unfortunately, these pedestrian accidents are all too common and often leave those involved with severe injuries or even death.

According to 2021 data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a pedestrian was injured every 9 minutes in traffic crashes and killed every 71 minutes. While we don’t want to think about these sobering statistics, these accident victims and their families need to know that legal assistance is available. If you or someone you know has been hit by a car or other vehicle while on foot in Sedgwick County, an experienced Wichita pedestrian accident lawyer from Prochaska, Howell & Prochaska LLC is ready to help.

How Most Pedestrian Get Struck

In 2021, the Kansas Department of Transportation (KSDOT) reported 453 total pedestrian accidents, resulting in 375 injuries and 44 deaths. These types of incidents were shown to injure individuals aged 10 through 24 more than any other age group (a combined 107 of the total reported pedestrian injuries).

But how do drivers end up hitting pedestrians?

Most often, these accidents are due to driver errors, most commonly seen in the following ways:

• Distracted drivers (texting, talking to passengers, eating, etc.)
• Speeding drivers
• Drunk driving or driving under the influence of drugs
• Drivers not seeing pedestrians at night
• Turning drivers when the view of pedestrians is blocked by other cars or objects
• Drivers in parking lots driving too fast or dangerously around foot traffic

Dangerous Areas for Walkers in Wichita

When it comes to locations where vehicle and pedestrian accidents occur, any area can be a dangerous area for pedestrians. Some of our city’s most notorious streets are the busy crosswalks at intersections such as:

• 47^th and Broadway
• Ridge Road and Maple
• Broadway and Murdock
• 13^th and Grove

These are just a few of the more accident-prone locations; however, pedestrians can be hit by vehicles in any place with high traffic like the following:

• Streets with unmarked crosswalks
• School zones, specifically when children are loading or unloading from buses
• Parking lots in shopping centers, outside of busy department stores, etc.
• Driveways with a blocked view of the sidewalk
• Shoulders of roadways without properly designated pedestrian walking areas

Common Pedestrian Injuries

Unlike an accident involving only vehicles, pedestrian-vehicle accidents are far more likely to cause significant physical and emotional trauma, and the injuries the victims suffer are often extensive and life-threatening. Because pedestrians lack any kind of protection when being struck by a vehicle, severe injuries such as the following are commonly seen:

• Broken bones: Fractures and broken bones, especially in the hands, arms, feet, and legs, are very common due to the force of impact in this type of collision.
• Head injuries: These can range from minor concussions to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), which generally has long-lasting effects that impede cognitive function and an overall decline in a victim’s quality of life.
• Internal injuries: The impact of a large moving object often causes internal damage that may not be immediately noticeable but can be life-threatening, such as internal bleeding or organ damage, especially if injuries are sustained to the abdomen or chest area.
• Soft tissue injuries: Damage to tendons, ligaments, muscles, or any other soft parts of the body frequently occurs, resulting in sprains, strains, or other severe damage that may require surgeries or rehabilitation, such as physical therapy.
• Amputation: Depending on the nature of the accident (the speed of the car, the location where the victim is struck, etc.), severe damage to the legs or arms may lead to the loss of these limbs to preserve the victim’s life.
• Spinal cord injuries: Often, when the significant impact of a car or other vehicle hits a pedestrian, it damages the victim’s spinal cord, which may result in partial or full paralysis, such as quadriplegia, which will affect the victim for the rest of their life.
• Psychological trauma: Alongside any physical trauma or injuries sustained in a pedestrian accident, victims often suffer long-lasting emotional scars such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or anxiety due to the incident.
• Wrongful death: An unfortunate result of many vehicle-pedestrian accidents is the death of the pedestrian involved. Sometimes, the victim succumbs to their injuries at the scene of the accident, or they may be brought to a hospital where they later pass.

Whenever this type of accident occurs, regardless of the exact details of your case, know that our office can assist you in seeking compensation for the injuries and damage you’ve suffered. Even if your injuries are not among those listed, we will still gladly schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.

Why You Should Hire a Lawyer

The aftermath of any accident can be a traumatic experience, especially when it involves a pedestrian, and it can be a complex case if the driver tries to claim the pedestrian is at fault or if the pedestrian is severely injured and unable to give details of the incident. The best thing you can do to help you or your loved one is to hire an attorney from Prochaska, Howell & Prochaska LLC.

Our lawyers have the necessary skills to fight for your case and seek compensation for the following:

• Medical bills
• Loss of income
• Loss of quality of life
• Physical and emotional distress
• Any long-term care needed for disabilities
• Property damage

If you or a loved one was injured or killed in a pedestrian accident in Wichita or anywhere in Kansas, don’t hesitate to seek legal advice. By contacting our office, you are ensuring your case will be filed correctly and in a timely manner, and our capable lawyers will fight for the maximum compensation the law allows.