Police announced a pedestrian is dead after being struck by three vehicles while crossing Virginia Beach Boulevard Saturday night. The tragic accident occurred Saturday night, just before 7 pm in the 1600 block of the boulevard.

Initial reports say that the victim was crossing the road when he was struck by a vehicle that was traveling westbound. The impact knocked the victim to the ground into the eastbound lanes, where he was run over by two other vehicles. The first vehicle that hit the victim fled the area. Emergency responders pronounced the victim dead at the scene. No other information about the victim has been released and no arrests have been made at the time of this writing.

Pedestrians at High Risk

According to statistics from the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA), there has been a sharp increase in the number of pedestrian accidents over the past two years. In particular, the spike in the number of pedestrians who have been killed has been very alarming, with almost 6,000 pedestrians killed every year. Another 130,000 victims are seriously injured. These may not sound like high numbers, but when one realizes that these numbers are similar each year, it becomes more comprehensible as to how serious the issue may be.

While both motorists and pedestrians have rules of the road that they must obey, a majority of pedestrian accidents are due to motorist negligence or otherwise distracted behavior. Common examples of this include speeding, distracted driving, failing to obey traffic signs, and failing to take poor weather into account while on the road. Any of these can result in serious injuries to a pedestrian; after all, they have little to no protection, while a vehicle driver or passenger has so much between them and the road.

Finding Liability

If you are involved in a pedestrian accident, you can file a civil lawsuit against anyone whose negligence allegedly contributed to your getting hurt – usually the driver of the vehicle that struck you, but depending on the situation, other defendants can include the vehicle manufacturer (or the manufacturer of a specific part), another driver whose vehicle was not damaged, or the governmental entity who is responsible for the state of the roads. You can file a suit against multiple defendants if it seems best, as those who are not liable will have their cases dismissed.

An attorney who has extensive experience in pedestrian accidents will be well versed in Virginia’s traffic laws, including the statute that specifically addresses the rights of pedestrians:

“A. The driver of any vehicle on a highway shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian crossing such highway:

  1. At any clearly marked crosswalk, whether at mid-block or at the end of any block;
  2. At any regular pedestrian crossing included in the prolongation of the lateral boundary lines of the adjacent sidewalk at the end of a block;
  3. At any intersection when the driver is approaching on a highway or street where the legal maximum speed does not exceed 35 miles per hour.

B. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection A, at intersections or crosswalks where the movement of traffic is being regulated by law-enforcement officers or traffic control devices, the driver shall yield according to the direction of the law-enforcement officer or device.

The drivers of vehicles entering, crossing, or turning at intersections shall change their course, slow down, or stop if necessary to permit pedestrians to cross such intersections safely and expeditiously.

Contact a Virginia Personal Injury Attorney

If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident, you have may be able to pursue compensation that will address your medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering, and more.

The Virginia pedestrian accident attorneys at Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp have been advocating for victims and their families for more than 30 years, using all available resources to successfully obtain the best possible outcome under the circumstances of the case. Our attorneys have built solid reputations as skilled negotiators who will not hesitate to pursue litigation if the insurance company fails to negotiate in good faith. Call our office for a free case evaluation and to find out how our legal team can help get you the financial compensation you deserve.

 

RELATED CONTENT