A Glendale student was struck and injured by a car while she was walking to school on Tuesday, January 29, 2019, at the intersection of 47th and Northern avenues. She is a student at Apollo High School and was crossing within the crosswalk. It is unclear why the driver didn’t yield to her.
The student suffered life-threatening injuries and was rushed to the hospital, where she is currently stable. Police are investigating the accident and the driver did remain at the scene.
According to Arizona Department of Transportation annual crash statistics, there were 1,702 pedestrian crashes during 2017, resulting in 226 fatalities and ,510 injuries. These numbers were substantially increased from prior years. For example, there were less than 1,500 crashes involving pedestrians in 2015, with nearly half the amount of deaths and injuries.
The report also shows that most crashes involving pedestrians happen during daylight hours. However, most deaths occur at night when it’s harder to see pedestrians and cars are more likely to travel faster.
Drivers are required to yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk area, and pedestrians should look both ways and be certain cars have stopped and drivers have made eye contact before proceeding. However, in many cases, pedestrians are proceeding across a crosswalk when a car turns a corner or approaches too fast and doesn’t see them.
Injuries resulting from pedestrian crashes can range from broken bones to severe spinal cord and head injuries. Victims often suffer concussions, road abrasions, broken arms and legs, and contusions. Victims need to seek medical help immediately because some injuries may be internal and not noticeable to the naked eye. Internal injuries can include broken ribs, punctured or bruised organs, internal bleeding, brain injuries, and more. Rehabilitation can take weeks, months, or even years. In some cases, a person’s pain and limited mobility persist through his entire life.
If you or a loved one is injured in a pedestrian accident, first seek medical help. Then, contact us at Breyer Law Offices, P.C., for a free consultation. We can even come to you in the hospital. It’s important to begin collecting data to use to ask for a settlement on your behalf, which can help pay for medical bills, lost wages, and more.