The scooter craze that has raced across the country is on its way to Pennsylvania. There is a push in the legislature to bring so-called “low-speed” scooters to the more heavily populated areas of the state, Pittsburgh included.

If you are cringing at the idea, that means you have probably seen stories from across the country of just how dangerous these electric scooters can be. They are supposed to offer cheap and convenient ways for city-dwellers to get around, but what happens when they cause injuries?

At Shenderovich, Shenderovich & Fishman, we know that electric scooters may add another item to the list of dangers pedestrians face daily here in the city. If you need a Pittsburgh pedestrian accident attorney, you can count on us to be by your side.

What Are Scooter Dangers?

Other Risks?
Aside from scooters, pedestrians in the city really need to be aware that vehicle drivers pose major risks. Pedestrian crashes account for just 3.2% of the total vehicle accident count but 13.2% of traffic fatalities. Negligent and careless drivers are the biggest threat to pedestrian safety. For the latest reporting year in Pennsylvania, there were:

• 4,413 pedestrian crash injuries
• 151 pedestrian crash fatalities

The scary part of the statistics is that pedestrians are usually struck when they are legally in and around the roadway. This can include:

• While using designated crosswalks
• At intersections with the right-of-way
• Walking on the sidewalk
• In a parking lot

Many drivers ignore or do not give any space to joggers or runners, even though they are legally required to. What people do not realize is that it does not take high speeds to cause harm to a person’s body. We have no protection against the force of a vehicle that weighs thousands of pounds slamming into us. Almost all pedestrian crashes result in some kind of injury or a fatality. Common pedestrian accident injuries include:

• Traumatic brain injuries/head trauma
• Spinal cord injuries/paralysis
• Broken or dislocated bones
• Severe lacerations
• Major internal organ damage

These injuries all require immediate medical attention. In many cases, a pedestrian crash victim must undergo extended rehabilitation. In the worst cases, a person can be permanently disabled. Do you know if your insurance will cover all of the medical expenses? What about other expenses related to these incidents (lost income, home accommodations, pain, and suffering)?

What You Can Do Now?

We know that scooters are not here yet, but that does not mean you are safe as a pedestrian on and around the roadways. If you or a loved one have been injured in a pedestrian crash that was caused by another person’s negligence, please seek legal assistance. At Shenderovich, Shenderovich & Fishman, you can count on a knowledgeable and experienced team to help you recover the compensation you deserve. This can include coverage for medical bills, pain and suffering damages, loss of income, and more. When you need a Pittsburgh pedestrian accident attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation by calling at 888-98-TWINS(89467).

On the night of February 7, a man was struck in downtown Pittsburgh at the 900 blocks of Fifth Avenue. The driver who struck the man fled the scene. As of this writing, he has not yet been found. The victim sustained serious injuries.

The Pittsburgh Collision Investigation Unit says that there was evidence left behind at the scene. Multiple pieces of the suspect’s vehicle were scattered around the crash site. They say that there will likely be damage to the front passenger side of the suspect’s vehicle.

At Shenderovich, Shenderovich & Fishman, we hope they capture the person responsible for this crash. For damage to be visible after a pedestrian crash, we know the impact must have been substantial. If you need a Pittsburgh pedestrian accident attorney, you can count on us to get the compensation you deserve.

Pedestrians In Danger

There is no denying that pedestrians are the most vulnerable group anywhere near the roadway. They face so many dangers from negligent driving behavior. Often, as the case in the story above shows, they are the victim of hit-and-run incidents.

Throughout Pennsylvania, the Department of Transportation says that there were 128,188 crashes reported during the latest reporting year. Out of those:

• 1,137 people lost their lives
• 80,612 people were injured
• Over 4,000 were pedestrian crashes

The injuries from these accidents are often severe and require extensive medical care. This can include rehabilitation and even long-term care if a person is disabled. It is not uncommon for us to see spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain or head injuries, broken or dislocated bones, internal injuries, and more.

There Should Be Accountability

Hit-and-run crashes are frustrating for everyone because there is nobody to hold responsible for the incident. Often, a person flees the scene because they are intoxicated and afraid they will go to jail. However, when they do flee the scene, they leave behind someone that needs help.

Drunk and drugged driving is the reason for so many fatal accidents throughout Pennsylvania. Nearly as deadly is distracted driving. When a person is busy watching videos on their phone or double-checking their GPS directions, they are not able to properly watch the roadway. Often, by the time they look up, it is too late.

If You Are Hurt

You may not know where to begin if you or a loved one have been injured in a pedestrian incident. Your main focus needs to be on healing from your injuries and being with family. When you turn to Shenderovich, Shenderovich & Fishman, you can count on having a team that will work diligently to secure compensation for all of your accident-related expenses. This means more than just medical costs. We also want to make sure the hidden costs are covered as well. If you need a pedestrian accident attorney in Pittsburgh, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling 888-98-TWINS(89467).

We have learned that a woman who passed a school bus while it was stopped and loading children were allegedly impaired. The City of Duquesne Police Department says that the woman passed the bus that had its lights flashing at around 3:40 p.m. Two officers were stationed just past the bus and made a traffic stop. The driver, a 21-year-old female, was asked to perform field sobriety tests after officers noticed a strong smell of marijuana coming from the vehicle.

After she was arrested for DUI, the officers searched the vehicle and found several small bags of marijuana. The driver admitted to smoking before getting behind the wheel.

At Shenderovich, Shenderovich & Fishman, we know that there are many ways pedestrians and other vehicle passengers face danger in and around the roadway. Luckily, police stopped the woman in this case before she could cause any harm, but around this bus stop, the situation could have been much worse. When you need a Pittsburgh pedestrian accident attorney, you can turn to us for help.

The Numbers

When you are out of your vehicle and walking around the city, do you ever wonder if you are safe? We are sure you take the steps necessary to keep yourself from harm, but you cannot control the actions of drivers near you. In the case above, the allegedly impaired driver could have caused major injuries to the children getting onto the bus. For the latest reporting year in Pennsylvania, there were over 4,000 pedestrian accidents.

We need to point out that nearly every pedestrian accident resulted in an injury or fatality. Often, the injuries we see from pedestrian accidents are severe. This is because our bodies are not made to absorb the impact of a vehicle. It is not uncommon for us to represent clients who have suffered from the following as a result of a pedestrian crash:

• Minor injuries – these can include road rash, small lacerations, and bumps and bruises.
• Major injuries – these can include internal organ damage, spinal cord injuries, head, and brain trauma, broken or dislocated bones, and more.

How Do They Happen?

In the above story, we can see how easily an intoxicated driver can cause severe harm. Whether a person is on alcohol or drugs, they should not be behind the wheel.

We also know that distracted drivers can cause major injuries. If a person is busy sending text messages or watching a video, they are not paying attention to their surroundings.

Moving Forward From Here

If you or a loved one have been injured in a pedestrian crash that was caused by another person, you may need to seek help from an attorney. At Shenderovich, Shenderovich & Fishman, our knowledgeable and experienced team is ready to secure the compensation you deserve for all of your accident-related expenses. This can include:

• Coverage of your medical bills
• Pain and suffering damages
• Lost income and benefits
• Punitive damages

If you need a Pittsburgh pedestrian accident attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling 888-98-TWINS(89467).

Choosing to walk is a great choice overtaking a car or taking a taxi, uber, or Lyft. By choosing to walk you are not only saving yourself money but you are also saving the environment by having one less car on the road. Walking also keeps you healthy. Many studies have linked walking 30 minutes a day to better heart and weight health. Young people walking are typically walking because that is their only choice. Teens choose to walk to and from school because they would rather not take the bus. Or they live close enough to where it is better or faster for them to walk. We want to protect our children and teens as much as we can. So, we teach our children and teens to walk where it is appropriate. Unfortunately, even though we teach our children and teens how to walk safely, sometimes the people driving around the pedestrians are not practicing safe driving.

How To Walk In A City

There are many rules for walking in a city. Most walking rules apply to prevent people from stealing from you. For example, if you are walking in a city you may see people who are walking with book bags in front and not the back. They carry it around as if wearing a baby Bjorn. This is to protect people from pulling the backpacks from the back and pulling it off their arms. A thief is more likely to steal from the back or side of you than the front of you.

Other walking rules apply to people who use crosswalks or cross at intersections. You must always follow the signs and don’t walk when there is little time left to cross. Also, make sure that you are making eye contact with drivers in the car. If a driver can see you then they are aware of where you are. It is like a silent contract between driver and walker. It helps to protect each other. Now, these rules come with experience. If you are new to the road then you may not know about some of these rules.

This was the case for a teenage driver who drove through a crowd of students as students were leaving school for the day. About 6 students were hit. All 6 students were taken to various hospitals for treatment on serious injuries, but not fatal injuries. The police were able to get the teen drive-in custody for questioning. Onlookers believe that the accident could have been worse, but none the less if one pedestrian is hit it is a bad day.

What To Do

If you find yourself in this kind of predicament or someone you love then you need to call our pedestrian accident attorney in Pittsburgh at Shenderovich, Shenderovich, & Fishman. Anytime an injury occurs it means medical bills and time off of work. Do not let your injuries prevent you from getting the help that you deserve. Call 888-988-9467 or click here to speak with our professional staff today.

We are learning of a crash that took place in North Braddock in early January that should leave all of us cautious when we are outside of our vehicles. A woman was trying to put gas in her Buick Terraza at around 7 p.m. on January 7. She had pulled her vehicle into the right lane of traffic on Route 30 and was walking behind the vehicle when a 70-year-old driver in a Chevy Cruze struck her. The 28-year-old woman was pinned between the two vehicles. EMS arrived and transported her to the hospital with unknown injuries.

A 10-year-old boy and a 6-year-old girl were in the Buick at the time of the crash. One was transported to the hospital with minor injuries.

At Shenderovich, Shenderovich & Fishman, we know that unpredictable things happen to all of us. This woman ran out of gas and ended up becoming a pedestrian crash victim. Though the details of how the accident happened are not available, we know that pedestrians face enormous risks when they are in and around the roadway. If you need a pedestrian accident attorney in Pittsburgh, you can count on us to secure the compensation you deserve.

Scary Situation

In Pennsylvania, there were over 4,000 pedestrian accidents last year. In the latest reporting year, there were 150 fatalities and 4,106 injuries due to pedestrian crashes. Nearly every pedestrian crash resulted in an injury or a fatality.

If we take a close look at what was happening at the time of these crashes, it will help us understand some of the causes:

• Walking/jogging/running/playing – 29.6%
• Entering crossing/authorized location – 41.4%
• Standing – 5.2%
• Other activities – 23.7%

It is concerning that most of these accidents happen when a person is going about activities that they would normally be doing. That means that driver negligence is the main cause:

• Impaired Driving – drunk drivers are a danger to everyone in or around the roadway, particularly pedestrians.
• Distracted Driving – anyone focused on their phones and not the roadway is a danger.
• Speeding/Aggressive Driving – speeding and aggressive driving will lead to major pedestrian injuries.

The human body is not made to absorb the impact of a vehicle that weighs thousands of pounds. We often see the following injuries:

• Minor and Major injuries can include lacerations, broken or dislocated bones, or concussions.
• Catastrophic injuries can include severe internal organ damage, a spinal cord injury, or a traumatic brain injury.

These injuries can require extensive and expensive medical care as well as other hidden costs associated with accidents.

Moving Forward From Here

There are so many things to take care of in the aftermath of an accident that it can be overwhelming, especially if you have sustained injuries that were caused by another person’s negligence. At Shenderovich, Shenderovich & Fishman, you can count on us to secure compensation for the following:

• Money for your medical expenses
• Lost wages and benefits if you cannot work
• Loss of enjoyment of life damages
• Possible punitive damages

When you need a Pittsburgh pedestrian accident attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling 888-98-TWINS(89467).

Councilman Corey O’Conner lost his 66-year-old aunt in a pedestrian accident at the end of November. His aunt, named Margery Pelled, died at the hospital from injuries she sustained. Police say that she was crossing the street in a crosswalk at around 9 p.m. when she was hit.

We send our condolences to Councilman O’Conner and his family. We know they are going through an incredibly difficult time right now.

At Shenderovich, Shenderovich & Fishman, we think that pedestrian accidents are far too common in and around the city. They often occur due to the negligence of a vehicle driver and leave people with serious injuries If you need a Pittsburgh pedestrian accident attorney, you can turn to us for help.

The State Statistics

Pedestrians are especially vulnerable to reckless and careless drivers. Unfortunately, they are often even struck when they are in pedestrian right-of-ways like the Councilman’s aunt in the story above. Pedestrians have no protection from the force of a vehicle slamming into them.

When these accidents occur, the damage is often severe. It is not uncommon for clients we represent to have sustained:

• Major spinal cord damage (paralysis)
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Dislocated and broken bones
• Amputations and crush injuries
• Internal organ damage

Treating these injuries can become incredibly costly, as there is often the need for extended rehabilitation for a victim to make a full recovery. If a person is permanently disabled and in need of lifelong care, do you know if your insurance will cover the expenses?

Why Do These Accidents Occur?

When we begin to look at why these accidents occur, we see many of the same patterns that we do in regular vehicle accidents, just with more devastating results.

Some of the common causes of pedestrian crashes are:

• Distracted drivers who are paying attention to their cell phones. We commonly see this with younger drivers who lack experience, but more and more, we are seeing this behavior across age ranges.
• Drunk drivers are a continual danger to those on and around the roadway. Those who make the choice to drink and drive should be held accountable for their actions.
• Speeding drivers are the number one cause of accidents in the state, but many people do not consider speeding to be a dangerous thing. It is, and it can cause pedestrians severe harm.

How To Move Forward

You do not have to be alone during this difficult time. At Shenderovich, Shenderovich & Fishman, our qualified and experienced team will work diligently to secure the compensation you need in the aftermath of an accident that was caused by someone else’s negligence.

We know that the cost of these accidents goes beyond medical expenses, which is why we will work to get coverage for lost income, loss of enjoyment of life damages, as well as possible punitive damages.

When you need a Pittsburgh pedestrian accident attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling 888-98-TWINS(89467).