The Dangers Pedestrians Face in the Winter Season

This time of year is always full of activities for the residents of Elk Grove California. Whether there are children in the home or not, most households are preparing for the upcoming holidays. Local stores and businesses begin to brighten their decor, play festive music, and highlight their sales. More often then not, we come to work on a Monday morning humming the holiday tunes without giving thought to it. All these activates mean that parking lots fill up, shopping centers get busy, and roads become full with travelers and shoppers. It's during these happy times we want to warn all our readers to be extra cautious when driving or walking.

The Rise in Pedestrian Accidents During the Winter

Despite the anticipated happy times, pedestrian injuries are the one statistic that climbs during the winter seasons. Here are some contributing factors:

• Cramped parking lots become congested, while drivers are distracted and often impatient, leaving pedestrians especially vulnerable.
• The festivities themselves or the stresses of the season lead to an increase consumption of alcohol
• Winter weather as well as shorter daylight hours limits visibility
• Elevated stress levels of shoppers and commuters often increases roadrage

According to available data from the NHTSA, in 2021, there were approximately 60,577 pedestrian injuries reported across the entire year in the United States, and reports indicate a significant portion of those injuries would likely fall within the November to January time frame due to the increased risk of pedestrian accidents during winter months.

5 Shocking Parking Lot Accident Statistics

1. One in Five Vehicle Accidents Occur in Parking Lots
2. 500+ People Die Every Year in Parking Lots or Garages
3. Every Year 60,000+ People Are Injured in Parking Lots
4. 33% of Drivers Admit to Not Paying Attention While Driving in Lots
5. Parking Lot Accidents Peak at 5:00 PM on Saturdays

Common Injuries and Their Impact

The most common injuries suffered by pedestrians in accidents are head injuries, broken bones, and spinal injuries; which can include traumatic brain injuries, fractures to the lower extremities, and potential spinal cord damage depending on the severity of the impact.

• Head injuries: These are considered one of the most serious potential injuries due to the risk of concussions, brain contusions, and skull fractures.
• Leg injuries:Broken legs, including fractures to the femur, tibia, and fibula, are frequent due to the direct impact with a vehicle.
• Back/Spinal injuries: If the impact is powerful enough, a spinal cord damage can lead to paralysis.
• Other potential injuries: Soft tissue damage, internal injuries, facial injuries, and injuries to the arms and hands may also occur.

If Injured in an Accident - What Should be Done

It is important to seek medical attention right after an accident, especially for pedestrians or cyclists. If you are a witness at the scene of an accident, you should immediately call emergency services. Do not assume that the person is ok just because they can speak or are standing; internal injuries can be hidden when a person is in shock after an accident, and yet they can prove to be fatal. Therefore, make sure to assess the situation with others; please call for help as soon as possible.

Often, in the process of calling for help, you are also aiding officials by helping them make a report of the incident. When there is an injury, the ambulance and law enforcement will arrive. Although it may require patience, remain at the scene to report the accident to the investigating officer. Traffic collision reports are not just a means of preserving evidence, but they also help the city see concerns that may exist on certain streets or intersections.

When waiting for emergency crews and law enforcement to arrive, you can help expedite the process by gathering the contact information of any witnesses at the scene. Witnesses may be able to give specific details that will help prove liabilty in an accident.?

The Importance of the Best Available Legal Representation

Your ability to obtain the treatment you need and be compensated for all of your economic and intangible losses (quality of life damages) will often depend on the quality of legal representation you have. At OZ Law, our highly qualified Elk Grove-base pedestrian accident lawyers will fight on your behalf to make sure that you will get the funds to go on living following a serious injury, and the peace of mind that you need and deserve.

Insurance companies will fight with every means available to make a plaintiff settle for the lowest possible amount of money. Insurance adjusters are skilled at posing questions to victims in such a way as to elicit a response that can hurt your case, so avoid talking to them. Sign nothing, and do not allow the adjuster to record a statement from you. Refer the adjuster to your attorney, who will take steps to protect your right to an adequate recovery.