Pedestrian Crosswalk Accidents In Maryland: How They Happen And Your Rights To Compensation

Intersections are among the most dangerous places on the road, particularly for pedestrians. Crosswalks are designed to reduce the risks, but they remain one of the most common places for pedestrian accidents in Maryland.

Pedestrian crosswalk crashes often occur when drivers fail to stop or engage in other reckless behavior. Victims and their families have the right to hold those at fault accountable, but insurers often find ways to deny or downplay claims. Our Maryland pedestrian accident attorneys explain more about how these crashes happen and how to protect your rights to compensation.

Why Maryland Crosswalk Accidents Happen

The Maryland Highway Safety Office reports that nearly 2,500 pedestrian accidents occur throughout the state each year. They are particularly common in Baltimore and other busy metropolitan areas, but can happen on local streets, near schools, in parking lots, or anywhere pedestrians tend to gather.

Crosswalks are among the most common locations for pedestrian injuries in Maryland. While motorists have a legal duty to yield, many crashes happen due to a failure to stop and other reckless driving behaviors, such as:

• Failing to yield while making right turns on red;
• Racing to get through yellow lights;
• Driving while distracted, which includes using cellphones, GPS, or talking to passengers in the vehicle;
• Driving while impaired, whether it involves alcohol, illegal drugs, or prescription medication.

Pedestrians rarely walk away from these crashes without injury. Even low-speed impacts can cause multiple broken bones, internal bleeding, and potentially life-threatening or disabling head, back, and neck injuries.

Protecting Your Right to Compensation in a Maryland Pedestrian Accident Claim

Under the Maryland Statutes, you have the right to hold at-fault drivers accountable for pedestrian accident injuries. However, under the legal theory of contributory negligence, if the driver’s insurer can prove you were even slightly at fault, you could be denied compensation. Tactics insurance companies frequently use to deny or reduce compensation include:

• Accusing you of failing to use the provided crosswalks.
• Claiming you were distracted or stepped into the street before the ‘walk’ sign.
• Pointing to your clothes or the time of day the crash happened as proof that the driver couldn’t see you.
• Downplaying the severity of your injuries and how long it will take to recover.

To protect your rights to compensation, get legal help. Our Maryland pedestrian accident attorneys can negotiate on your behalf, gather police reports, traffic camera footage, and other evidence to prove the driver was at fault.

Injured in a Crosswalk Crash? Contact Our Experienced Maryland Pedestrian Accident Attorneys

Crosswalks are among the most common locations for pedestrian accidents in Maryland, yet insurers are quick to deny chase claims. At Berman Sobin Gross LLP, we represent victims and their families, understand how devastating these crashes can be, and fight for the total amount you need to recover.

To protect your rights in a crosswalk claim, contact our office. Request a consultation with our experienced Maryland pedestrian accident attorneys today.

Sources:

zerodeathsmd.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/FFY22_Ped_ProgramAreaBrief-Data_Final.pdf

dls.maryland.gov/pubs/prod/CourtCrimCivil/Negligence-Systems.pdf