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Causes of pedestrian accidents on highways

For the most part, pedestrians are prohibited on California interstate highways. However, statistics show that approximately 10 percent of fatal accidents involving pedestrians take place in this type of setting. In some of these situations, a pedestrian may be at fault for being on the highway when the activity is prohibited. In other cases, a pedestrian may be present because of vehicle problems or car accidents, and driver error or neglect may be at the heart of a subsequent incident.

A pedestrian could be at risk for a serious accident by simply entering or attempting to cross a highway. It can be difficult to judge the speeds of vehicles in this setting, and most vehicles traveling on highways are moving quickly. After dark, a pedestrian can face significant risks on a highway because of lighting, especially in rural settings. A breakdown can place people at risk as they attempt to push a vehicle out of the way or change a tire. Similarly, an individual thrown from a vehicle in a wreck could be struck by another vehicle.

When a pedestrian's presence on a highway is illegal, there could be limitations in a subsequent personal injury lawsuit. However, some situations might be addressed through litigation if a driver was negligent, distracted, intoxicated, or reckless. Additionally, flaws in road condition, design, or signage could contribute to a pedestrian's injury. In such cases, the contractors and agencies responsible for these issues might bear liability related to damages suffered.

One of the most important facets of a legal case after a pedestrian or other accident on a public street or highway can be the reports filed by officers investigating the incident. A lawyer may review this information to identify contributing factors before pursuing compensation for the injured victim.

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