Attorneys for Victims of Pedestrian Accidents
Despite the newfound dedication to preventing pedestrian injuries and deaths, this year will go down on record as the deadliest year for pedestrians in Music City’s history.
Walk Bike Nashville aims to raise awareness about pedestrian safety in Nashville. Reports say someone is killed, on average, every 21 days while walking in the Nashville metropolitan area.
Nashville Pedestrian Accidents
Broadening our worldview to include the rest of the Volunteer State, we can expect more than 1,500 accidents involving pedestrians in Tennessee this year, with approximately 25% of those incidents occurring in Davidson County, which includes downtown Nashville.
As you may know, we’ve highlighted several recent pedestrian accidents on this blog, including an incident in which an MTA bus hit a pedestrian, an accident in which a 64-year-old woman was hit and dragged by an MTA bus, a hit-and-run in Donelson that resulted in the death of a 40-year-old man, and most recently, a fatal tractor-trailer truck accident with a pedestrian.
In a sign of the times, a local physician and local professor have teamed up to launch the Nashville Pedestrian Death Registry, whose mission is to “share the stories and raise awareness of those who have died while engaged in the act of walking in Nashville.”
The site features a map that pinpoints where each deadly incident occurred and the unique story behind every pedestrian death.
What to Do if Hit by a Car, MTA Bus, or Truck
While we hope you never have the misfortune of being hit by a car, MTA bus, or commercial truck, it pays to educate yourself about what to do if it occurs.
- Call the Police: The first step is to alert the police that you’ve been hit. The responding officer(s) will investigate the incident, take your statement, and file a report.
- Look for Witnesses: Gather personal information from individuals who witnessed the accident and encourage responding police officers to interview witnesses.
- Look for Video Cameras: Most people only look for street cameras but also consider business cameras that may have recorded the accident.
- Note the Flow of Traffic: Make notes about the conditions during the accident, including the traffic flow and whether it was heavy or light. Also, take photos of the scene, the conditions in the area, and any visible injuries you sustained.
- See a Doctor: Get checked out by a physician. When you’re involved in an accident like being hit by a car, you’ll experience a burst of adrenaline and likely go into shock, which may mask serious injuries that only reveal themselves later.
- Talk to a Lawyer: After your medical exam, contact a trusted, experienced attorney who can provide you with sound legal advice.
Pedestrian Safety Tips
Meanwhile, to minimize the risk of you becoming the victim of a pedestrian accident, we encourage you to heed the following safety tips.
- Avoid busy streets
- Try to avoid crossing streets with multiple lanes running in each direction, as 62% of all pedestrian fatalities occur on city streets with four or more lanes
- Keep your eyes and ears open; don’t wear headphones or earbuds when walking
- Don’t text and walk
- Always cross at designated crosswalks
- Make sure drivers acknowledge you with eye contact or a wave before entering a crosswalk
- Wear bright clothing, especially at dawn, dusk, or after dark
- Always carry or wear personal identification
- Carry your smartphone
Finally, if you’re driving around town, do your part to help reduce the number of pedestrian accidents by slowing down, staying off your phone, and keeping your eyes peeled for pedestrians at all times.
However, if you or a family member has been injured in a pedestrian accident, please call us at 615.256.6666 or contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation. We will fight to get