Walking is an efficient, economical, and eco-friendly way to get around the city. When you don’t have far to go, traveling by foot is the best way to avoid traffic and save taxi, rideshare, or gas money.
Sidewalks, crosswalks, and walking paths throughout Bentonville, Arkansas are there for pedestrians to easily navigate the walkable areas of our city. Browsing the farmer’s market at Bentonville Square or visiting the Walmart Museum, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, or Scott Family Amazeum in Downtown Bentonville is most enjoyable when you can use your own feet to transport you.
But when the driver of a passenger vehicle is negligent, those on foot often pay the steepest price. Driver negligence can cause catastrophic injuries or even cost a person their life.
If you were hit by a car while trying to walk safely, a Bentonville pedestrian accident lawyer from McMath Woods P.A. is the advocate you need. When you hire a pedestrian attorney from our personal injury law firm, you can rest assured that we will hold the at-fault driver liable and get you the compensation you deserve.
Pedestrians Are Highly Vulnerable to Injuries Caused by Cars
When a car makes impact with a pedestrian, catastrophic injuries often result. In personal injury law, the term “catastrophic” refers to a sudden-onset injury that leaves the victim with severely detrimental consequences, often including paralysis, diminished cognitive function, loss of limb, or other permanent impairments.
In a car vs. pedestrian accident, the motorist behind the wheel of the vehicle is shielded by the car’s protective exterior, seatbelts, and airbags. There is only a very small chance that the driver will be injured in a wreck with a person crossing the road.
The person on foot, however, is at serious risk of severe injuries or fatality. As a pedestrian’s body takes the force of the crash from the vehicle—as well as the force of hitting the ground or striking other objects—there is nothing to protect them. Motorists need to keep in mind the vulnerability of pedestrians every time they operate a vehicle. Children and older adults are especially susceptible to both being struck by a vehicle and suffering the worst outcomes.
Common injuries in Bentonville pedestrian accidents include:
- Abrasions, lacerations (cuts), and bruises
- Broken bones
- Musculoskeletal injuries
- First, second, or third-degree road rash
- Injuries to the chest and abdomen
- Leg and knee injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Vital organ damage
- Spinal cord trauma
- Traumatic brain injuries
If you were hit by a car and suffered injuries, you could have a claim against the at-fault driver. A Bentonville pedestrian accident lawyer from our law firm can help you determine how the injuries were sustained and if you are eligible to recover compensation. We’ll investigate your case and calculate how much you’re owed. Then, we’ll advocate for you and negotiate with the at-fault party’s insurance company to obtain a full and fair settlement award for you.
Get Help After a Loved One Was Lost in a Fatal Car Accident
If your loved one was killed in a preventable pedestrian accident caused by motorist negligence, your family may be entitled to recover wrongful death damages under Arkansas law.
Surviving family members should not be forced to pay for medical expenses and funeral costs out of pocket. If your family was supported by the decedent’s income, you may have legal grounds to recover compensation that can offset the sudden financial hardship brought on by your loved one’s loss.
At McMath Woods P.A., we understand how traumatic the time period following a close family member’s death is for survivors. We handle every fatal pedestrian accident case with care, compassion, and dignity, giving individual attention to the unique needs of each family.
Please reach out to our office directly to discuss your case in further detail with an experienced pedestrian accident attorney on our team. There is no cost or obligation to learn about your family’s legal rights for recovery under Arkansas law.
How Our Bentonville Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Can Help You
As pedestrian accident lawyers, our job is to get you the justice you deserve while you focus on healing and recovery. There’s no reason the injured victim should be made to investigate liability, track down evidence, interview witnesses, file paperwork, study laws, and negotiate with the insurance company—all while attending doctor’s appointments, missing work, adjusting to pain and disability, and figuring out how to afford mounting medical bills.
When you have a skilled attorney from McMath Woods P.A. representing you, you never have to worry. Every detail is handled with expertise. As your Bentonville pedestrian accident lawyers, we will:
- Conduct a deep investigation into the cause of the accident. This might mean obtaining traffic camera footage from the municipal government, analyzing police reports, filing a motion to get a copy of the at-fault driver’s cell phone records, interviewing eyewitnesses, and more.
- Calculate the total amount you are owed in compensation. We’ll factor in both economic and non-economic damages to fully value your losses. We look at medical bills, property damage, loss of income, lost earning capacity and lost future income, pain and suffering, permanent disability, loss of enjoyment of life, and other ways your life was affected.
- Expertly negotiate with the insurance company. Being seriously injured does not guarantee that the at-fault party’s insurance company will compensate you fairly. Auto insurers are known for undervaluing claims in an effort to save money. The company may drag its feet to delay payment, deliberately overstep deadlines, bully you into an early settlement, or engage in other dishonest tactics. We handle your communications and negotiations for you, so you won’t be taken advantage of by a profit-minded business.
What Types of Driver Negligence Cause Car vs. Pedestrian Accidents?
Any act of carelessness or recklessness in a vehicle can endanger the lives of those on foot. Some of the most common causes of pedestrian accidents in Bentonville, AR include:
- Speeding
- Distracted driving, especially texting and driving or other cell phone use
- Running stop signs or red lights
- Drunk driving (or driving under the influence of drugs)
- Illegal turns
- Failure to yield right of way
- Making turns (especially left-hand turns) without properly checking for pedestrians
- Driving too close to a sidewalk
- Driving in bike lanes
- Driving out of parking lots and driveways without checking
- Backing up without looking for pedestrians
- Turning or changing lanes without signaling
Arkansas Pedestrian Laws
When you’re trying to determine who was at fault for your accident as a pedestrian, one of the things a lawyer will look at is pedestrian laws. Most times, the motorist is at fault for the accident. But it’s important for both drivers and walkers to know the pedestrian laws that apply in Bentonville.
Here are the pedestrian laws as stated in the Arkansas Code:
- At intersections without traffic signals, a motorist must yield to the pedestrian’s right of way within a marked or unmarked crosswalk.
- If a vehicle is stopped to allow a pedestrian to cross at a crosswalk, other motorists cannot pass the stopped car.
- Pedestrians should walk on the right side of the sidewalk whenever possible.
- If a pedestrian is crossing the road anywhere other than in a crosswalk, they must yield to the right of way of vehicles on the road.
- If there is a pedestrian tunnel or overhead walkway and a pedestrian chooses to cross the road at a point other than those provided crosswalks, they must yield to the right of way of all vehicles on the road.
- At adjacent intersections with traffic signals, pedestrians should only cross at crosswalks.
- Drivers should proceed with caution around areas with pedestrians, and if they come upon them unexpectedly, they should take action to avoid colliding with them and use their horns as a warning.
- Pedestrians cannot stand in the road to solicit a ride from a vehicle.
When you have the help of a Bentonville pedestrian accident lawyer, we’ll get to the bottom of what caused your collision. We’ll put in the time and effort to conclusively prove liability and demonstrate to the insurance company that you’re legally entitled to compensation. One of the attorneys from McMath Woods P.A. is ready to take on your Bentonville pedestrian accident case, no matter how complicated the circumstances of your incident.
Work With an Experienced Bentonville Pedestrian Accident Attorney
Pedestrian accidents can cause you lifelong damages that drastically change your daily reality. The medical bills, property damage, and lost wages you suffer can pile up and prevent you from being able to support yourself and your family. On top of that, you have your regular bills to worry about. These extra costs resulting from someone else’s negligence shouldn’t put you in a state of financial insecurity.
That’s where a Bentonville pedestrian accident lawyer comes in. We’ll calculate all of the expenses you’ve incurred so that you can financially recover from your collision. That way, you can focus on your physical and emotional healing.
Reach out to our office today, so we can discuss your pedestrian accident injury claim. A free consultation is available to any potential client hoping to learn more about how to get their life back after serious injuries.
Simply call or fill out an online contact form to schedule your free case evaluation today.
