Tucson Weather & Pedestrian Accidents

Tucson is known for sunny skies and dry heat most of the year. That’s usually good news for pedestrians, but weather conditions can still affect pedestrian safety in Tucson and the rest of Arizona. Pedestrians are more likely to suffer severe injuries in traffic collisions, which makes them higher-value claims. These claims are more fiercely defended by insurance companies, meaning you should have adept legal representation when going up against them. To schedule your free consultation with an experienced member of our Tucson accident team, call 520-441-1450 or click here.

Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents

There are all kinds of dangers on the road, both for drivers and pedestrians. Some of the factors that frequently cause pedestrian accidents and injuries include:

Distracted drivers and pedestrians
Intoxication
Speeding
Rolling through stop signs
Jaywalking
Poorly marked crosswalks
Defective traffic signals
Low visibility
Breaking traffic laws and disobeying traffic signals
Pedestrian behavior
Left-hand turns

There are almost unlimited ways that a pedestrian could be injured on their daily walk. If you’ve been injured in a Tucson pedestrian accident, you need skilled legal representation. To schedule your free consultation with one of our dedicated Tucson injury lawyers, click here or call 520-441-1450.

How Can Weather Affect Pedestrian Accidents in Arizona?

Even though most wouldn’t consider warm and sunny weather dangerous for driving, it brings challenges for pedestrians. First of all, it’s easy to get heat exhaustion outside quickly in Arizona without proper sun protection. And while one might think clear skies and sun would make for the best visibility, it can cause reflections and reduce visibility during certain hours.

Another issue with Arizona weather that impacts traffic safety is the rain. While it doesn’t rain often in Tucson, it comes down heavier than in other areas that are technically considered “rainier.” Rain can reduce visibility and increase brake time, which overall creates a more dangerous environment for pedestrians. It can also cause vehicles to hydroplane, which creates the potential to strike pedestrians whom they might have otherwise avoided. If you’ve been injured as a pedestrian during bad weather, you’ll need a skilled lawyer to make sure you are fairly compensated for your injuries. To schedule your free consultation with one of our Tucson injury lawyers, click here or call 520-441-1450.

What are the Consequences of Hitting a Pedestrian?

There are several negative consequences a driver could face for hitting a pedestrian depending on the specific circumstances. The driver may have been entirely at fault for hitting the pedestrian, or the pedestrian could be at least partially to blame. If the driver’s conduct constituted criminal behavior, there may be charges involved, such as leaving the scene of an accident, DUI, vehicular homicide, etc. Convictions under these offenses come with serious time behind bars and fines owed to the government. In addition to fines and court costs, the defendant may be ordered to pay the pedestrian (or the pedestrian’s family) restitution to resolve their criminal charges.

It’s also entirely possible for a driver to injure a pedestrian, and be at fault, but not be charged criminally. Here, the pedestrian or the pedestrian’s family can still bring a civil suit against the driver. There are several damages the pedestrian can pursue compensation for, like lost wages, medical bills, pain and suffering, and more. Ideally, the driver’s insurance policy will cover all of the pedestrian’s injury award. However, the driver can be pursued personally if they don’t have adequate insurance coverage for the pedestrian’s damages. The driver can expect their insurance rates to skyrocket, and they may need to take extensive driving courses if they don’t lose their driving privileges. For more information about a plaintiff’s options after a pedestrian accident, click here or call 520-231-2822 for your free consultation with our Tucson injury firm.

You’re probably familiar with what two drivers involved in an auto collision are supposed to do for insurance and legal purposes. Just like another motor vehicle driver, a driver who hits a pedestrian is legally obligated to stop and check if the pedestrian is okay, as well as exchange certain information with that person. Failure to do so would be a violation of A.R.S. § 28-661. This statute makes it illegal for the driver to leave the scene of an accident involving death or physical injuries. Under this statute, any driver involved in an accident causing physical injury- including a pedestrian accident- is obligated to stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident or as close to the scene of the accident as is safe. That driver is also obligated to remain at the scene of the accident long enough to give information in compliance with A.R.S. § 28-663. The driver must provide the name, address, and registration number of the vehicle they were operating. If requested, the driver must also provide their driver’s license. The driver is also expected to render reasonable assistance to someone injured by the accident. This usually involves calling an ambulance on behalf of the accident victim. Failure to comply with these laws can be classified as a class 1 misdemeanor or a class 6 felony.

What Should I Do If I’m a Pedestrian Injured in an Accident?

Anyone injured in a traffic accident, whether in a motor vehicle or as a pedestrian, needs to move to a safe area to assess their injuries before anything else. This isn’t the time to have a “walk it off” attitude. It’s crucial to seek medical attention as soon as possible after being injured as a pedestrian, even if you don’t immediately feel pain- you could be experiencing a rush of adrenaline or a similar pain-delaying sensation.

If you plan on bringing a personal injury claim, evidence will help make your claim stronger. Photos of the scene, as well as of your injuries, can help make it clear to the jury how much you have suffered. If there were eyewitnesses to the event, they can be called to testify as long as someone gathers their information. You may also want to seek out video camera footage, whether, from a dash cam, security camera footage, or elsewhere, that captures the accident on camera.

A pedestrian injured by a driver is most likely going to end up largely dealing with that driver’s insurance company. Insurance adjusters are known for their manipulative tactics meant to reduce injury settlement payouts. The best way to protect yourself from damage to your claim by the driver’s insurance company is by hiring an assertive, capable injury lawyer. For your free consultation with a member of our Tucson injury team, call 520-441-1450 or click here.

Hire an Experienced Injury Lawyer to Get the Job Done Right

You only have one shot at collecting damages if you have been injured as a pedestrian in Tucson. Tucson Injury Lawyers can make sure that you receive every penny you’re due, and maybe then some. Protect yourself from the common mistakes and errors that can ultimately reduce your claim’s value. Contact us today by scheduling your free consultation- call 520-441-1450 or click here.

Injury Lawyers Tucson
2 East Congress St., Suite #900-6A
Tucson, AZ 85701
Phone: (520) 441-1450
Email: info@tucsoninjurylawyers.org