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Pedestrian accidents happen often in Mobile when cars hit people who are walking. These crashes can cause serious injuries like broken bones, head trauma, or even death. Mobile's busy streets and tourist areas make these accidents more common, especially on Government Street and Airport Boulevard.
After a pedestrian accident, victims face medical bills, lost wages, and painful recovery. A Mobile pedestrian accident lawyer can help you understand your rights under Alabama's strict liability laws. Local attorneys know Mobile's traffic patterns, dangerous intersections, and how local courts handle these cases.
At Krebs Personal Injury Lawyers, we help pedestrian accident victims get the compensation they deserve. Our team knows Mobile's streets and Alabama's complex pedestrian laws. We explain the next steps in simple terms and fight for your rights after a pedestrian accident.
A pedestrian accident in Mobile happens when a car, truck, or motorcycle hits a person who is walking. Alabama law defines a pedestrian as any person on foot, including people in wheelchairs or using walkers. These accidents often occur at crosswalks, parking lots, or along roadways without sidewalks, which is consistent with pedestrian accident statistics.
The city's lack of sidewalks in many areas forces people to walk on road shoulders. Heavy tourism traffic, especially during Mardi Gras and other festivals, brings more cars and pedestrians together in crowded downtown areas.
Many factors contribute to pedestrian accidents in Mobile's busy streets and neighborhoods. Understanding these common causes helps identify dangerous situations that put people at risk when walking.
Distracted driving occurs when drivers text, adjust the radio, or eat behind the wheel. A driver looking at a phone for just five seconds at 55 mph travels the length of a football field without watching the road.
Driver inattention happens when motorists fail to check crosswalks or scan for pedestrians at intersections. This often occurs at four-way stops or when making right turns on red lights in downtown Mobile.
Poor visibility makes it hard for drivers to see people walking, especially at dawn, dusk, or night. Dark clothing, inadequate street lighting on Airport Boulevard, and bad weather conditions worsen this problem.
Speeding reduces a driver's reaction time and increases the severity of injuries when a pedestrian is hit. A person struck at 40 mph vs 20 mph has a much lower chance of survival.
Impaired driving from alcohol or drugs severely affects judgment, coordination, and reaction time. Drivers leaving bars in the entertainment districts may not notice pedestrians until it's too late.
Failure to yield at crosswalks and intersections puts pedestrians at serious risk. Alabama law requires drivers to stop for people in crosswalks, but many drivers ignore this rule on busy streets like Government Boulevard.
Infrastructure problems like missing sidewalks, broken crossing signals, and poorly designed intersections create hazardous conditions. Some Mobile neighborhoods lack safe walking paths, forcing pedestrians to walk alongside traffic.
Pedestrian accidents often cause more serious injuries than car crashes because people have no protection against vehicles. Being struck by a moving vehicle, even at low speeds, can result in serious or life-threatening injuries due to the vulnerability of the human body. Medical care after these accidents can be complex and long-lasting.
Broken bones and fractures happen in most pedestrian accidents when the impact throws victims onto hoods, windshields, or pavement. Legs, arms, hips, and ribs break most often, sometimes requiring surgery and metal plates.
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) occur when heads hit windshields, pavement, or other hard surfaces. These range from mild concussions to severe brain damage that can change personality, memory, and basic functions.
Spinal cord damage happens when the accident twists or compresses the spine. This can cause partial or complete paralysis, loss of sensation, and lifelong disability requiring wheelchairs or other mobility aids.
Internal bleeding is dangerous because it may not show immediate symptoms. The force of impact can rupture organs or blood vessels inside the body, creating life-threatening conditions that need emergency surgery.
Road rash and skin injuries happen when victims slide across pavement after impact. These painful wounds can become infected and may leave permanent scars or require skin grafts.
Soft tissue injuries affect muscles, tendons, and ligaments through tears, strains, and sprains. While less visible than broken bones, these injuries cause significant pain and can limit movement for months.
Emotional trauma including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder often follows pedestrian accidents. Many victims develop fear of walking near roads or crossing streets after their accident.
Taking the right actions after being hit by a car while walking can help protect your health and legal rights. Here are the key steps to take following a pedestrian accident:
Call 911 right away if you or someone else is hurt in a pedestrian accident. Police officers will make an official accident report that contains important details about what happened, where it happened, and who was involved.
Take pictures of the accident scene, your injuries, and any property damage with your phone if you can move safely, which aligns with what to do after a minor accident. Ask people who saw the accident for their names and phone numbers so they can tell what they saw later.
Contact your insurance company to report the accident, but be careful about what you say. Insurance adjusters might ask questions designed to make you seem at fault, which can hurt your car accident claims under Alabama's strict contributory negligence rules.
Talk with a pedestrian accident lawyer who knows Alabama's laws before making statements or accepting offers. Alabama's contributory negligence law can prevent you from getting any money if you're found even 1% at fault, so having legal help early is important.
Keep a record of all doctor visits, treatments, and how your injuries affect your daily life. Avoid signing any papers from insurance companies or accepting settlement offers without having your lawyer review them first.
Listen to your doctors and go to all follow-up appointments for your injuries. Missing appointments or not following treatment plans can make your injuries worse and give insurance companies a reason to pay you less.
Alabama follows a strict contributory negligence rule that can make pedestrian accident cases very difficult. This rule means if you are found even 1% at fault for your accident, you cannot get any money for your injuries, making how to claim auto insurance more challenging in Alabama. For example, if you crossed outside a crosswalk or wore dark clothing at night, the driver's insurance company might claim you helped cause the accident.
There is one exception called subsequent negligence that can help pedestrians in Mobile. This happens when a driver had time to avoid hitting you but failed to take action. Mobile's busy tourist areas and narrow downtown streets create situations where drivers often have clear views of pedestrians before accidents occur. Local courts look closely at whether drivers on Government Street or Water Street had enough time to stop or swerve before hitting someone walking.
Money awarded in pedestrian accident cases can help pay for many expenses that pile up after being hit by a car. Economic damages cover the actual costs like hospital bills, ambulance rides, physical therapy, and any future medical care you might need. These damages also include lost wages when you can't work during recovery and any reduced ability to earn money in the future if your injuries cause lasting problems.
Beyond these measurable costs, victims can also receive compensation for non-economic damages that don't come with receipts. Pain and suffering compensation acknowledges the physical pain, emotional distress, and mental anguish caused by the accident and injuries. Quality of life changes like not being able to play with your children, enjoy hobbies, or perform daily activities also factor into these damages. Experienced legal representation helps identify all these losses and present them effectively, especially when dealing with Alabama's strict contributory negligence laws.
Here are answers to common questions people ask after being hit by a vehicle while walking in Mobile, with additional discussion in our blog.
When a car hits you while walking, the driver's auto insurance should cover your injuries through their liability coverage. Your own health insurance might pay your medical bills first, then seek reimbursement from the driver's insurance company. If the driver has no insurance or too little coverage, your own auto policy's uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage might help, even though you were walking rather than driving.
Alabama uses a strict rule called "contributory negligence" that can prevent recovery if you had any fault in causing the accident. This means if you crossed against a light or outside a crosswalk, you might receive nothing, even if the driver was mostly to blame. The "subsequent negligence" exception might still allow recovery if you can prove the driver saw you in danger but failed to take reasonable steps to avoid hitting you.
The time it takes to settle a pedestrian accident claim in Mobile can vary widely based on factors such as the severity of the injuries and how cooperative the insurance company is during the claims process. Simple cases with clear liability and minor injuries might resolve in a few months. Cases involving serious injuries, disputed fault, or permanent disability often take longer because they require complete medical documentation and sometimes litigation.
Most Mobile pedestrian accident lawyers work on a "contingency fee" basis, meaning they only get paid if you win your case. Many pedestrian accident lawyers charge a contingency fee, meaning they only get paid if you win your case, with the exact percentage depending on the lawyer and the specifics of your case. Lawyers usually cover case expenses like filing fees, expert witnesses, and medical record costs upfront, then deduct these expenses from your settlement along with their percentage.
Talking with a lawyer who knows Alabama's strict pedestrian laws can make a big difference in your case. At Krebs Personal Injury Lawyers, our attorneys understand Mobile's unique traffic patterns and how the contributory negligence rule affects pedestrian accident claims. We help gather evidence, talk to witnesses, and build a strong case that shows the driver had a chance to avoid hitting you.
Getting legal help early gives you the best chance to protect your rights after being hit by a car. Our team at Krebs Personal Injury Lawyers handles all the paperwork, insurance calls, and legal deadlines while you focus on healing from your injuries, drawing on extensive practice areas experience. Schedule a free consultation to discuss your pedestrian accident case and learn about your options without any cost or obligation.
J.R. is dedicated to providing personalized representation, avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach. He tailors his strategy to the unique challenges and needs of each client and case, ensuring focused and individualized attention.
His practice mainly covers Plaintiff’s Personal Injury, including car and 18-wheeler accidents, slips and falls, dog bites, defective products, and wrongful death. He also handles commercial disputes on contingency, with experience in contracts, construction, and probate. For any dispute headed toward litigation, J.R. develops an aggressive strategy to maximize your recovery through negotiation, arbitration, or trial.
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