One of the most dangerous nights of the year to be a pedestrian is on Halloween, especially once darkness falls. With a large number of children and adults walking in most neighborhoods as they trick-or-treat among houses, some people may believe that safety for these walkers is high due to an increased visibility of the pedestrians. Unfortunately, though, the presence of cars and other vehicles in the same area as these pedestrians means there is a high risk for a pedestrian accident to occur.
Pedestrians who are struck by vehicles are hurt in the majority of collisions because there is nothing to protect them from the metal of a car or the pavement if they strike the ground. In the worst cases, a walker may be killed in a crash even if that pedestrian did nothing wrong. When a collision occurs and someone is hurt in the Phoenix area, those victims may be forced to deal with the resulting injuries, but they do not have to do so without relief. Consulting with a personal injury lawyer may help you understand your options, including whether you have a valid claim for your losses, if a pedestrian accident has affected your life.
A tragic collision occurred on Friday evening when a 75-year-old man struck 5 pedestrians who were trick-or-treating in Phoenix. Officials responded to the scene and spoke to the driver who allegedly said he did not see the pedestrians crossing the street in the area of 41st Avenue and Bethany Home Road. The collision involved a 25-year-old man, a 23-year-old woman, a 10-year-old girl, a 2-year-old boy, and a fifth victim whose age has not been disclosed. The four victims with disclosed ages were all left in critical condition following the impact.
One witness described seeing two children laying in the middle of the road and referred to it as very upsetting. Another described a mangled wheelchair left in the middle of the road, reportedly used by the 23-year-old female victim prior to the impact. Local police have not confirmed whether any traffic tickets will be issued or criminal charges brought in this instance but they have confirmed that their investigation into the incident is still ongoing at this time.
When an accident involves a pedestrian, the devastation can reach beyond that victim to affect an entire family, friends, coworkers, and a community. If a loved one is killed, that damage can never be eliminated.
The team of personal injury lawyers at Abels & Annes, P.C. believe in fighting for victims’ rights and if an accident has left you hurt, we want to fight for you as well. We offer a free case consultation to those who call us toll free at (855) PHX-LAWYER or locally at (602) 819-5191 and we provide it 24 hours a day.
When an accident in Phoenix takes place, those who cause the crash should be the ones to pay for the damage, and that is what the attorneys at Abels & Annes, P.C. believe. Call us now and let us fight for you so that you can get the best result in your case if you have been hurt in an accident.
Prior Blog Entry:
Driver Ran Red Light in Fatal Crash that Killed Chandler Police Officer, Phoenix Injury Lawyer Blog, published October 30, 2014.
Resource:
Vehicle strikes, critically injures 4 in Phoenix, by Maribel Castillo, The Republic, azcentral.com, published October 31, 2014.