What to Do if You Were Clipped by a Vehicle after Exiting a Bus
When you are bustling through your busy workday and you live in the city, the chances are high that you have, at one point or another, taken the bus. For the hundreds of thousands of people who call metropolitan Delaware home, these public transit vehicles are both fast and convenient, and you do not have to worry about wear and tear on your car or truck. Nevertheless, bus riders can still face problems not just on the bus (in an accident), but also outside these vehicles. After exiting the bus, pedestrians can be clipped by vehicles that failed to yield for the stopped vehicle or attempted to pass it. In the end, the pedestrian victim can sustain extensive trauma and suffer greatly. Here is a closer look at what you can do if you were clipped by a vehicle after exiting a bus.
STATISTICS OF PEDESTRIAN FATALITIES IN DELAWARE
As of 2015, Delaware reported a staggering 357 traffic crashes that involved pedestrians. Out of these accidents, roughly 75% (268) of these accidents inflicted injuries, while 10% (36) resulted in untimely fatalities. Here is a closer look at the rates of pedestrian accidents by country:
- New Castle County: 255
- Kent County: 60
- Sussex County: 42
Meanwhile, that same year, Delaware confirmed 164 bus crashes.
STEPS FOR PEDESTRIAN SAFETY
Based on a report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), one pedestrian died every 88 minutes across the United States in 2017, marking a 1.7% increase from high fatality rates in our country. Here are some ways that pedestrians may be put at risk for suffering from life-threatening accidents related to vehicles:
- Unpredictability of the roadway (e.g. victim’s inability to see signs or oncoming traffic)
- Failure to stay on the sidewalk during busy traffic hours
- Crossing intersections that are not marked by a crosswalk
- Failure to wear clothing that enhances a driver’s visibility (e.g. bright orange shirt)
RESPONSIBILITY OF DRIVERS IN DELAWARE
Regardless of whatever situation pedestrians find themselves in, remember that drivers are still responsible for keeping an eye out for pedestrians and giving the right of way.
Consider this example, as provided in Delaware Statute Title 21 Section 4120 (subsection b, paragraphs 1-2). By law, drivers are can pass a stalled vehicle (in this case, a bus) to avoid a hazardous situation, but only if these people are driving in an area where both lanes of traffic are traveling in the same direction. When the operator of a bus must make a routine stop and the driver of a car plows into one of the exiting pedestrians, the motorist would be at fault in this situation.
YOUR LEGAL SOLUTION
Buses are excellent forms of transportation across the lovely cities of Delaware, but the fact of the matter is that people can face problems on and off these vehicles. In the blink of an eye, a pedestrian exiting a public transport could be clipped by a distracted, intoxicated, or malicious driver and, as a result, sustain moderate-to-severe injuries. If you have suffered severe injuries after stepping off a bus and getting hit by another vehicle, you should not have to struggle to regain your footing. We can provide the help you need to get your life back on track.
Our team of professional lawyers at Edelstein, Martin, & Nelson, are passionate about our practice and are fully knowledgeable in the laws, rules, and statutes surrounding unfortunate bus-related pedestrian accidents throughout the State of Delaware. We can guarantee you will receive the justice you deserve. For legal advice and for more information about our services, contact our office today at 800-300-0909.
