Posted in Pedestrian Accident,Personal Injury,Tennessee Accident Law on August 24, 2016
Serious Injuries Reported after Pedestrian Accident in South Nashville
A woman suffered serious injuries after she was struck by a vehicle while she walking in South Nashville Saturday evening.
According to a report by WKRN.com, the accident occurred at around 9 p.m. while she crossed the intersection of Nolensville Road and Glenrose Avenue.
The woman was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center via ambulance to receive treatment for life-threatening injuries. Her current condition is unknown at this time.
Metro Police haven’t issued a statement on whether the driver who was involved in the pedestrian accident will face charges.
The accident is still under investigation, and no further information has been released.
Pedestrian Accident Facts from the CDC
For many residents of Middle Tennessee, traveling to and from work and school on foot is a part of daily life. And while walking is a great way to get exercise and enjoy the outdoors, it can also put you at risk—especially when you walk in close proximity to vehicles. Many cities in the mid-state area have worked to make their roadways more pedestrian-friendly, especially in neighborhoods, urban areas, and residential sections where people are more likely to walk.
While well-planned pedestrian areas can help reduce risks, they can’t eliminate them completely. As a driver and pedestrian, being aware of the following pedestrian accident facts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention can help you avoid collisions and stay safe:
Although anyone can be injured as a result of a pedestrian accident, adults age 65 and older represent nearly 20 percent of all pedestrian deaths, while one in five children under the age of 14 who died during motor vehicle-related accidents were involved in pedestrian accidents.
Pedestrian accident investigations have revealed that in approximately half of all cases, either the driver of the vehicle involved or the pedestrian who was injured was intoxicated or under the influence of alcohol. Of those crashes, 34 percent involved a pedestrian who was above the legal limit and 15 percent involved a driver who was above the legal limit.
The CDC found that during the same time period that pedestrian fatality rates decreased as a whole in the United States, they remained the same in the metro Atlanta area. That indicates that pedestrians who walk in areas that are considered urban and metropolitan may be at greater risk of being involved in pedestrian accidents.
Drivers who maintain a reasonable speed are much more likely to have time to slow down or stop when they see pedestrians in the roadway, attempting to cross the street, or in the path of their vehicles. And if they do strike pedestrians with their vehicles while traveling at slow speeds, their injuries are less likely to be life-threatening. Drivers who speed may be unable to avoid pedestrians and the injuries those pedestrians suffer are more likely to be fatal.
In order to help reduce both the likelihood of pedestrian accidents and the severity of injuries should they occur, it’s important for both pedestrians and drivers to be aware of each other’s presence and avoid distractions and impairments. For pedestrians, walking only on sidewalks and crossing the road only at designated crosswalks can make a big difference, and drivers can do their part by reducing their speed and exercising caution while passing through intersections, school zones, urban areas, and neighborhoods.
At Matt Hardin Law, our Nashville pedestrian accident attorneys know that the victims of these types of accidents often suffer debilitating injuries that can put them out of work for weeks, months, or even years. If you or someone you know was injured in a pedestrian accident caused by a negligent driver, we want to help you recover the compensation you need to move forward with your life. To speak with our legal team, dial (615) 200-1111 or complete a free online consultation form today.
