Pocatello Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

When an Idaho pedestrian is in an accident with a vehicle, the results are often catastrophic. The pedestrian does not have anything to protect him or her at the time of the accident and is struck by a large, much heavier, unyielding piece of machinery. As a result of this vulnerability, the Idaho legislature has provided protections to pedestrians when they are crossing a street or on a sidewalk. At Racine Olson in Pocatello, pedestrian accident attorneys have represented people that are involved in these sorts of accidents since the 1940s. This experience has helped us solve problems for our Pocatello neighbors.

It is amazing how often negligent drivers strike pedestrians. The Center of Disease Control did a study in 2015 and found that 5,376 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes in just that one year. The agency went on to explain that there were over 129,000 pedestrians that were injured severely enough to seek care in emergency rooms across the nation as a result of motor vehicle accidents. It comes as no surprise that pedestrians are more than 1.5 times more likely to be injured or killed in a motor vehicle accident than the occupants of that motor vehicle. Unfortunately, as a result of our busy lifestyles, it seems that these numbers continue to increase.

The law that protects pedestrians is largely found in negligence law. The Idaho Jury Instructions provide that every person must exercise the same amount of care that a reasonable person would under the same or similar circumstances. However, this is not the only law that protects pedestrians. The Idaho Legislature has enacted rules, or statutes, that govern where a person should cross the road, the rights-of-way at crosswalks, and the right-of-way for pedestrians on highways. When a motor vehicle driver breaks the law in an accident, then the violation can be used to establish fault as a later trial for personal injuries. This principle is referred to as “negligence per se”. This concept is important because it does away with the need for an injured person to prove that the driver did something wrong at trial. Rather, all the injured party needs establish is that he or she was injured in the accident.

It probably goes without saying that a pedestrian who is injured in an accident often suffers catastrophic injuries. He or she has no protection as the large motor vehicle barrels down on them, often hurdling them through the air hundreds of feet. This leaves the person with broken bones, brain injuries, and even paralysis. As a result, the innocent pedestrian often is faced with medical bills, lost wages, lost earning capacity, and pain and suffering.

Here at Racine Olson in Pocatello, we have attorneys who understand the rules of the road and the other applicable necessities of these types of lawsuits. In addition, we know the proper experts to hire in order to maximize an injured person’s award of damages. When you call Racine Olson, you get to visit with a real person who will be happy to discuss your problems with you. We will meet with you and outline a plan for success. Problem solved.