Posted in Pedestrian Accident,Personal Injury on January 14, 2017
Fatal Pedestrian Accident Reported in East Nashville
A 47-year-old man was struck by a vehicle in East Nashville Thursday evening, causing him to suffer fatal injuries.
WKRN.com reports that the crash occurred just after 9 p.m. at the intersection of East Trinity Lane and Meridian Street. An investigation by Metro Nashville Police revealed that the man was struck while crossing the street outside of a designated crosswalk.
The man was struck by a 2005 Honda Accord that was traveling west on Trinity Lane.
Emergency responders pronounced the victim dead at the scene. The driver of the Honda left the accident scene, then crashed into a brick mailbox and metal fence nearby. He was transported to TriStar Skyline Medical Center to receive treatment for his injuries.
An initial investigation showed that the driver wasn’t impaired at the time of the crash. In addition, the investigation also revealed that the pedestrian failing to use a crosswalk and the driver improperly passing other vehicles both contributed to the accident.
Why Are Intersections So Dangerous for Pedestrians?
Intersections are more dangerous for pedestrians than any other areas of roadways, even when they’re equipped with crosswalks and “Walk” signals. When pedestrians enter roadways—especially four-way intersections—they face a much higher risk of being struck by vehicles than crossing a single lane or direction of traffic or walking near a roadway on a sidewalk.
The reasons that intersections are dangerous include:
Pedestrians may feel a false sense of security when they cross intersections that are equipped with pedestrian-friendly crosswalk lanes and “Walk” signals. But it’s vital for pedestrians to still look both ways before crossing and to continuously scan the road in the even that a driver runs a red light.
Drivers making left turns, right turns, or passing other vehicles at intersections are at risk of striking pedestrians due to limited visibility. These maneuvers are often done when drivers are on the lookout for other vehicles only, and that means they may not be aware of the presence of pedestrians until it’s too late.
Crosswalks should be equipped with crossing signals that provide pedestrians ample time to cross the roadway. Drivers that are sitting at red lights or approaching red lights may fail to see pedestrians who get “caught” in the intersection when the light changes, putting them at significant risk of being severely injured or killed.
Some pedestrian accidents occur due to two or more vehicles colliding. For example, a pedestrian can be killed if he or she is struck by a vehicle that was struck from behind and pushed into a crosswalk. Multi-vehicle pile-ups and chain-reaction crashes can also cause vehicles to be pushed into or even roll over onto pedestrians.
It’s important to note that elderly people, small children, and people with disabilities are at the highest risk of being struck by vehicles while crossing streets at intersections. That’s because these people often cross more slowly than others and may be less likely to react in time in the event of a potential accident. If you have a disability or are crossing the street with someone who may need extra time, consider crossing at a less-trafficked intersection or parking on the side of a road where you won’t need to cross.
If you or someone you know was injured in a pedestrian accident that was caused by a negligent driver, the Nashville pedestrian accident lawyers at Matt Hardin Law may be able to help you recover compensation for your medical bills and lost wages. To find out how we can put our two decades of experience to work for you, just dial (615) 200-1111 or complete a free online consultation form.
