Injured Pedestrian Transported to Hospital After Fulton Avenue Crash
A pedestrian accident occurred in Arden-Arcade shortly before midnight at the intersection of Loma Vista Drive and Fulton Avenue. The California Highway Patrol (CHP), Metro Fire, and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office were all at the scene. The emergency responders found an injured individual lying by the side of Fulton Avenue, facing north.
Additional Details on the Pedestrian Accident
Reports from the scene indicate the individual was not lying in a crosswalk but rather in the middle of Fulton when the Arden-Arcade pedestrian accident first happened. Authorities said the driver of the motor vehicle did not leave the accident site, nor were drugs or alcohol involved. Rescuers transported the individual to a local hospital for treatment of serious lower extremity and head injuries.
Pedestrian Accident Injuries
Due to the pedestrian’s lack of protection, an accident with a motor vehicle can result in catastrophic injuries. Some of the most common are:
- Spinal cord injury: Injury to the spinal cord can cause life-changing results. This is because the spinal cord transmits messages from the brain to all parts of the body, including the muscles. An injury to the spinal cord can result in paralysis, necessitating continuing care in the future.
- Traumatic brain injury: These are caused by a blow to the head. The result can be an accumulation of blood on the surface of the brain to loss of consciousness. Because of the nature of this injury, the person is usually hospitalized and may require surgery to relieve pressure on the brain. Rehabilitation is frequently needed. For some, changes due to the injury may cause them to be unable to work at the same job if at all. Long hospitalizations and lost wages generally accompany a TBI.
- Soft tissue: Laceration, strains and sprains, and joint dislocations can all occur in a pedestrian accident. While they are usually easily treated, for some, they can cause long-lasting symptoms. For example, a muscle strain can persist for some time, even last months or years, and cause significant pain and suffering. Lacerations can result in scars.
- Fractures: Some fractures are simple and can resolve with proper treatment and rehabilitation. Others, such as a femur fracture, are complicated and require surgery to regain bone strength and placement. The latter can be complicated by infection and serious problems such as a clot forming at the fracture site and traveling to other parts of the body.
- Amputation: A pedestrian accident can result in the amputation of an extremity. This injury affects the person in a profound way from its psychological implications to relearning how to function on a daily level.
- Emotional injury: Physical injury does not always happen without an emotional component. When this happens, the pedestrian accident may make the person afraid to venture outdoors for a walk. Overcoming this reaction may require treatment with an experienced counselor.
Most Frequent Pedestrian Accidents
There are a variety of pedestrian accidents. Here are some frequent types:
- Accidents in parking lots: For many pedestrians, accidents occur when the person is walking in a parking lot. Drivers may not look behind them before exiting a parking space. Even if they do, blind spots may prevent them from seeing a pedestrian behind them. Some advances in safety devices alert the driver to obstacles, however, older vehicles are not equipped.
- Crosswalks: A pedestrian may believe they are safe in a crosswalk. This is not always true, as many drivers do not yield the right of way. When this happens, the pedestrian can file a lawsuit against the negligent driver.
- Outside of a crosswalk: Not every intersection or street has a designated crosswalk. A driver is obligated to yield to a pedestrian whether or not they are in a crosswalk. If the pedestrian recklessly darts in front of a vehicle, they may share some of the blame for the accident.
Investigating a Pedestrian Accident
Our firm has built a protocol that allows us to investigate an accident prior to delving into the legal issues of the case. This provides our lawyers with the necessary evidence they need. Here are the steps we follow:
- Our investigators go to the scene of the crash and interview witnesses.
- They use accident reconstruction techniques to understand how the crash occurred.
- The investigators review police reports for mistakes before they are used against our client.
- They obtain video reports from traffic lights and local businesses to see the accident as it happened.
- Once all the evidence is compiled, it is released to the legal team to build a robust case for our client.
Sacramento Auto Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento auto accident lawyer. Call me for free and friendly advice at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400. Contact me online too.
I help clients in traffic accidents, wrongful deaths, traumatic crashes, and other personal injuries.
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