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Auto v. Wheelchair Accidents in California

Man on a Whailchair Pedestrian accidents are always serious. Almost all of these accidents result in serious injuries to the pedestrian. Sadly, any of these car accidents result in death for the unprotected pedestrian. A new study, however, shows that people who are in a wheelchair and are involved in an accident with a vehicle are more likely to suffer catastrophic injuries or death as a result.

The Study

A group of researchers from the University of Washington gathered data over a six year period to evaluate pedestrian related accidents. What they discovered is that during this six year period is that there were 81,000 accidents in the United States involving a vehicle and a pedestrian. Of those 81,000 events, 5,000 accidents resulted in the death of the pedestrian.

What was even more alarming than this high rate of deaths is the fact that nearly 40 percent of those deaths occurred in people using wheelchairs. Of these deaths, men had a rate of three times that of women for being involved in a fatal accident.

Additional statistics from this study show that half of all the accidents that occurred with someone who was disabled happened at an intersection within the crosswalks. Only 18 percent occurred where no crosswalks were available.

Nearly 78 percent of all accidents show that the driver of the vehicle did not react in a manner to avoid the accident. This is an alarming statistic which shows that disabled people may not be seen as well when crossing a road as people who are walking or on bicycles. This also indicates that drivers do not know how to predict the actions of a person using one of these chairs so that they react accordingly.

Pedestrian Accidents in Los Angeles

Between 2002 and 2013, one out of every 10 accidents involved a pedestrian. While this may seem like a very small figure, these same pedestrian accidents also represented 35 percent of all vehicular fatalities in California.

A majority of these accidents occurred in high density areas of downtown Los Angeles and Hollywood. These are areas where there is a large majority of people walking at all times of the day and night. Many of these accidents included people who were disabled.

While California is working aggressively to make intersections more pedestrian friendly, drivers and pedestrians alike are encouraged to use extreme caution at crosswalks so that they can avoid accidents.

Factors Contributing to Pedestrian Accidents

Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that there are several things that contribute to wheelchair related accidents.

  • Failure of the driver to see the pedestrian in the chair as they are crossing the road. The sitting position places them lower in the sights of the driver, making it harder to see them in the crosswalks.
  • Failure of the driver to anticipate the actions of the disabled person. There is no real data showing why this occurs, but many accident reports contain the statement that the driver didn’t know what the person was going to do when they were at the intersection. About 18 percent of these events occur outside of crosswalk areas, signifying that crossing the road in areas outside of a traffic signal is very dangerous for disabled people.
  • There is no significant difference between manual and electric chairs in the statistics.

Why the Accidents are so Serious

Any car accident involving a pedestrian is going to be serious. The pedestrian does not have the same protections as the driver of the car, and the sheer force and size of the vehicle is going to cause significant damage to the body.

When you add in the factors that a person who is disabled is in a sitting position, the impact of the car will be different to their body than that of someone standing. Since many of these accidents involve the pedestrian being thrown a distance from the impact, the disabled person in a metal chair also has to contend with the injuries that will be sustained from the chair itself during the impact.

Overall, people who are confined to a chair for transportation often sustain catastrophic injuries or many of their injuries result in their untimely death, when they are involved in a car accident. This makes it important to contact an attorney in the event of such a catastrophe to determine if the party at fault is the motor vehicle operator and what can be done to compensate the victims or their family.

Client Reviews
★★★★★
I have known Steven for some time now and when his services were required he jumped in and took control of my cases. I had two and they were handled with the utmost professionalism and courtesy. He went the extra mile regardless of the bumps in the road. I can not see me using any other attorney and I would recommend him to any of my family and friends. Josie A.
★★★★★
Steven was vital during our most trying time. He was referred by a friend after an accident that involved a family member. While he was critical and lying in the hospital, Steven was kind, patient and knowledgeable about what we were going through. Following our loss, Steven became a tough and aggressive negotiator and made sure that we receive a huge compensation. I would refer Steven in fact, this happened 2 years ago and I still speak highly of his service. Cheryl S.
★★★★★
Mr. Sweat is a pitbull in the courtroom as well as settlement negotiations - You can't have a better equipped attorney in your corner! It is a pleasure working as colleagues together on numerous cases. He can get the job done. Jonathan K.
★★★★★
Because of Steven Sweat, my medical support was taken care of. Plus, I had more money to spare for my other bills. Steven is not only an excellent personal injury lawyer, providing the best legal advice, but also a professional lawyer who goes beyond his call of duty just to help his clients! He stood up for me and helped me get through the process. I would definitely recommend. I couldn't think of any better lawyer than him. MiraJane C.
★★★★★
I must tell anyone, if you need a great attorney, Steve sweat is the guy! I had an awful car accident and had no idea where to turn. He had so much to deal with because my accident was a 4 car pile up. Not to mention all the other cars were behind me and they were not wanting to settle in any way! He never stopped working for me and had my best interest at heart! Audra W.
★★★★★
I believe I made the best choice with Steven M Sweat, Personal Injury. I was very reluctant to go forward with my personal injury claim. I had a valid claim and I needed a professional attorney to handle it. I felt so much better when I let Steven take my case. His team did everything right and I am very satisfied. Stia P.
★★★★★
I have to say that Steve has been exemplary! I met Steve at a point with my case that I was ready to give up. He took the time and dealt with all of my concerns. Most importantly, he was present and listened to what I was going through. He was able to turn things around, put me and my case on the right track! The results were better that expected! Highly recommend!! Cody A.