Pedestrian Accident Lawyers in Aurora, Colorado
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Pedestrian accidents may not be the first thing that come to mind when we think of auto accidents. Sadly, however, pedestrian accidents are quite common. Further, because pedestrians are normally completely exposed in these accidents, the fatality rate is high. Understandably, statistical representations make accidents feel far away. And yet, whether strolling on a sidewalk or crossing a street, we are all pedestrians at some point. At Zinda Law Group, our Aurora pedestrian accident lawyers work to ensure that no personal injury victim lacks excellent legal representation.
If you or a loved one were injured in a pedestrian accident in Aurora, Colorado, do not hesitate to speak with one of our Aurora pedestrian accident attorneys today. Call Zinda Law Group at (800) 863-5312 for a 100% free consultation with an experienced Aurora pedestrian accident lawyer.
Numerous Fatal pedestrian accidents in Colorado
Sadly, pedestrian accidents are very common throughout the United States. Colorado is no exception; each month, pedestrian accidents end lives throughout the state. The following examples are drawn from a short, four-month window. If you were involved in a similar accident, our personal injury attorneys in Aurora are ready to help.
Alamosa
On March 22, 2022, the Colorado State Patrol responded to an accident on Highway 285, where a pedestrian was struck while walking in traffic. The driver of a Chevy Impala attempted to avoid the pedestrian, but the left front end of the vehicle collided with him, knocking him to the ground. He suffered serious injuries and was transported to the hospital.
Aurora
On March 19, 2022, two people were killed in a tragic double-pedestrian accident. The first victim was attempting to cross the street around 7:50 p.m. when he was struck and killed. The driver of the vehicle was accompanied by his wife, who described the first impact this way: “The car hit the person, knocked them in the air. They hit our car and they kept going.”
She went on, “So, my husband pulled over.” Another vehicle then tragically hit their car, injuring her husband. The pedestrian whom they had hit was pronounced dead at the scene, but the woman’s husband died later at the hospital.
Boulder
On the afternoon of April 8, 2022, a car hit a scooter rider near the University of Colorado Boulder East Campus. His injuries were described as life threatening.
Colorado Springs
On December 8, 2021, a police officer hit and killed a pedestrian crossing the street. Witnesses informed the police that the victim was pushing a bike across the road against the traffic light and was not in a crosswalk. The accident happened in a pedestrian-heavy area near a convenience store, a homeless shelter, and numerous homeless camps nearby.
Just over a week later, on December 16, 2021, a pedestrian was hit on a crosswalk around 9 a.m. That victim died at the scene.
Within two weeks, on December 29, 2021, a driver was transporting a mattress when it fell off the vehicle onto the highway around 8:30 p.m. They stopped on the right shoulder of the road and stepped out of their vehicle. This person was then hit and killed by another driver who was intoxicated.
Delta County
Around 9:05 a.m. on March 21, 2022, a semi-truck struck a pedestrian who was declared dead at the scene.
Denver
On March 12, 2022, I-25 was shut down in both directions after a crash involving a pedestrian. The police received the call around 2:30 a.m. The pedestrian was declared dead at the scene.
Ten days later, on March 22, 2022, another pedestrian was killed on I-25 around 8:19 p.m. The victim was in the left lane when she was swiped by a passing vehicle. The driver tried to swerve to avoid the woman, but she was struck by the mirror. After she was knocked into the next lane, she was then hit again by two other vehicles.
Within hours, on March 23, 2022, yet another crash occurred on I-25 just after midnight. A pedestrian was trying to cross the highway when they were struck in the far-right lane. They were subsequently taken to the hospital and pronounced dead.
Fort Collins
On February 9, 2022, the Colorado State University Public Safety Team responded to a call around 6:40 a.m. A pedestrian was crossing a street against the light when they were hit; afterwards, they were transported to a hospital with serious injuries. Though the pedestrian was using a crosswalk, the driver had a green light at the time of the crash.
Pueblo
On March 30, 2022, a 52-year-old man was struck by an 18-wheeler on I-25. The victim was walking in the right lane of traffic and the driver was unable to avoid hitting him. He died at the scene. The Police Department commented, “It makes you wonder why he was out there, at night, in the dark, actually walking on the highway.”
Windsor
On April 3, 2022, a 39-year-old pedestrian was one of three struck by a vehicle in the evening. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The Windsor Police Department said, “She was part of a group of 13 people, all friends and family of a Windsor man who had been killed in a crash at this location exactly a year prior.”
As this long list of cases shows, pedestrian accidents are unsettlingly common. If you were injured in a pedestrian accident in Aurora, do not hesitate to speak with an Aurora pedestrian accident attorney as soon as possible. Our Aurora pedestrian accident lawyers are here to help.
Pedestrian accident Statistics
In 2019, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported 82,205 pedestrian-related auto accidents across the country. Of these, 76,000 resulted in pedestrian injuries and 6,205 resulted in pedestrian deaths. This number represents 17% of the 36,096 total fatalities recorded on U.S. roadways in that same year. In other words, one pedestrian died in a roadway accident every 85 minutes.
According to the NHTSA, Colorado accounted for 73 of these pedestrian deaths in 2019. The number grew to 87 in 2020.
Unsurprisingly, most pedestrian accidents (70%) occur at night and early in the morning when road visibility is low. Taking a closer look at the 2019 data, 32% of fatalities occurred between 8 p.m. and 11:59 p.m. and another 29% occurred between midnight and 7:59 a.m.
Further, in recent years, there has been a general increase in pedestrian fatalities occurring at night. The NHTSA reports that “during the 10-year period from 2010 to 2019, the number of nighttime pedestrian fatalities increased by 54%, compared to a 16% increase in daytime pedestrian fatalities.”
Read more: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), State Traffic Safety Information Report; Governors Highway Safety Administration (GHSA), Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities by State (2020, Preliminary Data).
Safety tips to avoid pedestrian accidents
Again, Colorado roadways see a startingly large number of pedestrian injuries and deaths each year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends adhering to the following safety tips to reduce pedestrian accidents:
8 Safety Tips for Drivers
1. Look out for pedestrians everywhere, at all times.
2. Use extra caution when driving in hard-to-see conditions, such as nighttime or bad weather.
3. Slow down and be prepared to stop when turning or otherwise entering a crosswalk.
4. Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and stop well back from the crosswalk to give other vehicles an opportunity to see the crossing pedestrians so they can stop too.
5. Never pass vehicles stopped at a crosswalk. There may be people crossing where you can’t see.
6. Never drive under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
7. Follow the speed limit, especially around people on the street, in school zones, and in neighborhoods where children are present.
8. Be extra cautious when backing up, and look for pedestrians.
8 Walking Safety Tips
1. Follow the rules of the road and obey signs and signals.
2. Walk on sidewalks whenever they are available.
3. If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic and as far from traffic as possible.
4. Cross streets at crosswalks or intersections. Look for cars in all directions, including those turning left or right.
5. If a crosswalk or intersection is not available, locate a well-lit area where you have the best view of traffic. Wait for a gap in traffic that allows enough time to cross safely; continue watching for traffic as you cross.
6. Watch for cars entering or exiting driveways, or backing up in parking lots.
7. Avoid alcohol and drugs when walking; they impair your abilities and your judgment.
8. Embrace walking as a healthy form of transportation—get up, get out, and get moving.
Laws governing pedestrians
Notwithstanding the high rate of pedestrian accidents in Colorado, there are numerous laws designed to increase pedestrian safety within the state. Some are state level, some are municipal level; some govern pedestrians, some govern drivers. Our Aurora personal injury lawyers can evaluate which laws may come into play in your case.
State of Colorado
Title 42 of the Colorado Revised Statutes codifies a number of pedestrian-related laws that apply throughout the state. We explore some of these laws below.
1. Pedestrians Must Obey Traffic Controls
Unless otherwise instructed by a police officer, pedestrians must obey traffic control signals specifically applicable to pedestrians.
2. Pedestrian Right-of-Ways
When traffic controls are not present, vehicles must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians, slowing down or stopping as needed. They must do so when (1) a pedestrian is crossing upon the halfway of a crosswalk, and (2) when a pedestrian is “approaching so closely . . . as to be in danger.”
3. Jaywalking
Pedestrians crossing a roadway outside a crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection must yield the right-of-way to all vehicles. Pedestrians crossing a road must also yield the right-of-way if there is a pedestrian tunnel or overhead pedestrian crossing available. Further, pedestrians should generally not cross roads diagonally.
4. Hitchhiking
Pedestrians must not stand in roadways to solicit rides from private vehicles.
5. Pedestrians in Wheelchairs
Pedestrians in wheelchairs who travel along highways where a sidewalk is not available must do so “on a road shoulder as far as practicable from the edge of the roadway.”
6. Drugs and Alcohol
Pedestrians under the influence of alcohol, a controlled substance, or “any stupefying drug” may not walk on any highway normally used by vehicles.
7. Duty to Protect the Disabled
Pedestrians and drivers who come upon other persons with “obvious disabilities” must immediately come to a full stop and take precautions necessary to avoid an accident or injury to the disabled person. Among other thigs, a disability is deemed “obviously apparent” if the impaired individual is using a mobility device, is assisted by a service animal, is assisted by another person, or is walking with a visible physical impairment.
8. Drivers Must Always Exercise Due Care
Notwithstanding any other laws, every driver must always exercise due care to avoid colliding with pedestrians. They must give warning by sounding their horn “when necessary.” Further, they must exercise “proper precaution” when a child or any “obviously confused or incapacitated person” is on the road.
City of Aurora
In addition to state law, Aurora has implemented its own municipal laws to protect pedestrians.
1. Blocking Sidewalks Is Prohibited
It is unlawful to block sidewalks in a way that forces pedestrians to walk on adjacent property or on the street.
2. Nonmotorized Travel Is Prohibited on Controlled Access Highways
All forms of nonmotorized travel, including pedestrian, bicycle, animal rider, and animal drawn vans, are unlawful on all portions of any controlled access highway.
3. Pedestrians Are Prohibited on Landscaped Medians
Pedestrian crossing roadways may not walk on or cross any portion of a median that is landscaped.
Read more: City of Aurora,
Statute of Limitations
In any personal injury case, it is very important to keep track of the governing statute of limitations. A statute of limitations simply sets a deadline after which you may no longer bring your case. Each state sets its own deadline. In Colorado, the statute of limitations is set at two years after the date of the accident. Once two years have passed, you may no longer bring your case.
Therefore, it is very important that personal injury victims bring their case to a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. The sooner you bring your case to an attorney, the greater the chance you have of securing satisfactory compensation. If you were injured in a pedestrian accident, call us today to speak with an Aurora pedestrian accident attorney for free.
OUR Aurora pedestrian accident lawyers CAN HELP
Pedestrian accidents do not always receive as much attention as vehicle-on-vehicle collisions. However, local headlines frequently report pedestrian accidents across the state. A simple internet search — “pedestrian accidents in Colorado” — reveals how common they truly are.
At Zinda Law Group, we believe that every personal injury victim deserves excellent legal representation. Our Aurora personal injury attorneys work to make sure pedestrian accident victims receive that representation, and we are ready to fight for you.
If you or a loved one were injured in an Aurora car accident as a pedestrian, call Zinda Law Group at (800) 863-5312 for a 100% free case evaluation with one of our Aurora pedestrian accident attorneys today. Our clients pay nothing unless we win their case. That is our No Win, No Fee Guarantee.
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