A recent Barbour County accident which took the life of a local girl highlights the dangers to pedestrians while out on the road. Read on for more information on pedestrian accidents, and ways to prevent being injured as a pedestrian.

The victim of the accident was a 17-year-old female resident of Pansey. The young woman was walking near the intersection of South Eufaula Avenue and Veteran’s Boulevard in Eufaula just before 10 p.m. on Saturday, July 9, when she was struck by a 2007 Toyota passenger vehicle. The victim was pronounced dead at Medical Center Barbour, and the driver of the car was not injured. As of the latest report, no criminal charges have been filed, but the Traffic Homicide Unit is investigating the accident.

According to the Alabama Department of Transportation, nearly 750 pedestrians were involved in motor vehicle crashes in 2013. 639 pedestrians were injured in these collisions, and 57 were killed. This is the second-highest total number of pedestrians injured in recent Alabama history.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 70% of pedestrian accidents tend to occur between intersections, where no signal was nearby or sidewalks weren’t available. These accidents also tend to happen at night, and nearly half of all pedestrian accidents involved alcohol either on the part of the driver or pedestrian.

Both drivers and pedestrians have a duty to behave safely while out on the road. Drivers should yield to pedestrians at all times, and should be especially vigilant for their presence at night in poorly-lit areas. Drivers should also prepare to stop at any crosswalks until they know whether the crossing is clear of pedestrians. For their part, pedestrians should wear brightly-colored or reflective clothing if they plan to be out at night, and should make the effort of crossing at a crosswalk if at all possible. Pedestrian accidents can leave victims with serious injuries, such as broken bones, bruised ribs, and traumatic brain injuries. After being hurt in a pedestrian accident, assert your right to be paid money damages for your injuries by contacting an Alabama personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after the crash.

If you’ve been injured in an accident while crossing the street, seek compassionate, dedicated, and trial-ready legal help to represent you in a personal injury claim by contacting the Dothan personal injury attorneys at Cobb, Boyd, White & Cobb for a consultation on your case, at 334-677-1000.