905-333-8888
call905-333-8888 Book a Free Consultation

Pedestrian Accidents and Head Trauma

Published 01/01/1970

Pedestrian accidents can result in severe injuries, with pedestrian accidents and head trauma being one of the most common and dangerous outcomes. When a pedestrian is hit by a vehicle, the force can cause significant damage to the head, leading to life-altering consequences. It is important to understand the risks of pedestrian accidents and head trauma in order to seek appropriate medical attention and legal support.

What are my chances as a pedestrian?

For a pedestrian involved in a car accident, there are few positives to take away from the experience. No matter how seemingly significant the accident, the chances of being able to walk away from the accident without having some sort of long lasting effect or injury are not good. Statistically, when a car is moving at a mere 31 miles per hour (MPH), there is a 50% chance that a pedestrian will sustain severe injury; those odds jump to 75% when a car is traveling at just 39 MPH, and up to 90% at 46 MPH. 

Pedestrians in Canada have a higher than average chance of being involved in a car accident, simply by the number of cars on Canadian roads. In 2018, it was reported that there were over 25 million vehicles on Canadian roads, including motorcycles, cars, and trucks, making it the country with the 10th most vehicles per 1000 people. Although measures like increased focus on driver education and stricter penalties for clear offences like distracted and impaired driving has helped to improve pedestrian safety, the odds of being involved in a car accident in Canada remain, unfortunately, high.

What can happen to pedestrians in a car accident?

Beyond any shadow of a doubt, when a car crashes into a pedestrian, it’s the pedestrian that takes most the damage. The sort of injury that a pedestrian can sustain in a car accident really depends on the situation of the car accident:

When the pedestrian is crossing the road and is hit by a speeding car: 

This sort of crash can result in broken arms and legs from the initial impact, damage to the back and neck, as well as cuts and bruises to the body from landing on the street after the crash. The pedestrian would also likely experience a great deal of internal bleeding and damage to the internal organs, which can contribute to further complications in the long run.The trauma suffered by the pedestrian in these sorts of situations would be immense, even when compared to other scenarios of pedestrians involved in a car accident. 

When a pedestrian is crossing the road and hit by a car accelerating to try and finish a left-turn: 

The fact that the car is speeding through a turn rather than speeding on a straightaway means that, in theory, the impact to the pedestrian might be less than if the car were to hit the pedestrian straight on, as in the first scenario. However, what makes a turn situation challenging for the pedestrian is that there is a greater possibility of being hit by the car at an odd angle, which could result in different sorts of injuries compared to that of a straight-on crash. However, a car that hits a pedestrian on a turn is likely traveling at lower speeds than a car on a straightaway, meaning that the injuries suffered by a pedestrian in this situation would be less severe, at least in theory. 

When the pedestrian is on the side of the road and is hit by a car making a turn: 

The upside of this scenario, if something positive can be said about these sorts of awful traumatic situations, is that by being off the road, the pedestrians stands the best chance of avoiding severe injury and death. The raised curb and other obstacles – bus stop poles, benches, and trees – can help slow down an errant car that has mistakenly popped off the road. That doesn’t mean that pedestrian hit by cars in this manner avoid injury; the fact that the car driver was unable to stay in control of the car likely means that the car was traveling too fast to safely make the turn. If a pedestrian is hit in this manner, the first thing that can happen is superficial cuts and minor trauma from being struck by objects being bowled out of the way by the car. The pedestrian can always experience bleeding and head trauma from contact with the car, the street, or any of the objects that might be flying around at this point. Small debris from the crash can also cause eye injury, and damage to this sensitive organ can easily be infected and result in other future issues. 

What exactly is head trauma?

When a pedestrian is hit by a car, there can be injury to any number of body parts. but head trauma is almost unavoidable. Head trauma, which is defined as any sort injury to the head, whether that is the bone (the skull), the brain, or the other muscle and tissues that make up the head:

  • Tramautic brain injury (TBI): a head injury caused by a trauma, such as a car accident. TBI are some of the most common cases of head trauma in pedestrian injuries caused by car accidents and can include life-changing serious injuries such as diffuse axonal injuries, which can result in coma or death.
  • Concussion: A type of TBI which is caused by the brain being struck and shaken. In the case of a car accident, this can happen when the head is violently jerked around in response to being struck by a car, Even without a blow to the head, a pedestrian can suffer a concussion in a car accident. (for instance, when the head is thrown forward or backwards by the force of the car)
  • Open injuries: Any trauma – cut, blow or scrape – to the head that results in an open wound, or break in the skin, is considered an open injury. Scraping your head on the street after a car accident, hitting a hard object which opens a wound, or even cutting your head on broken metal or glass would be considered open injuries.
  • Closed injuries: Trauma that does not result in an open wound is a closed injuries. Although these types of injuries might appear less severe than open injuries, the danger with closed injuries lies in the swelling that results from the internal bleeding and inflammation caused by the trauma. As parts of the head expand from swelling, or as blood causes pressure to build up around the brain, closed injuries can result in other complications such as headaches or cerebral edema (swelling of the brain).

Any of these types of head trauma, at any level of severity, can result in damage to the brain or the nerve endings that relay information between the brain and the rest of the body. Even if someone is fortunate enough to avoid any visible damage to the head area, such as deep lacerations from debris or being struck directly in the head by the car, the parts of the head are so sensitive that any sort of trauma can be long-lasting and life-changing. 

Recognizing head trauma

The devastating effects of a car accidents on an unprepared and unprotected pedestrian means that head trauma is almost inevitable. It’s for this reason that medical professionals strongly recommend pedestrians who are involved in car accidents go to a hospital immediately after the accident to be examined. Following the accident, there are a number of signs and symptoms that might indicate that there may be more serious issues than are clearly visible:

  • Difficulty concentrating or focusing, confusion
  • Memory loss
  • Dizziness, headaches
  • Difficulty with vision, sensitivity to light 
  • Swelling at the site of impact (e.g. head or neck)
  • Slurred speech
  • Nausea and vomiting

Head trauma can result in other complications as well, such as mental disability as a result of the trauma and injury to the head. Disability like depression and anxiety can arise as a result of the injury, as well as the event of the car accident in general.

Responding to a car accident

If there are signs of head trauma, it’s important to learn what sort of long-term impact you can expect to experience as a result of the event. Moving ahead after experiencing this kind of trauma requires understanding what has happened to you. 

In the province of Ontario, the Ontario Highway Traffic Act says that drivers have the bulk of the responsibility for ensuring safe passage of both people in cars and walking pedestrians. As a pedestrian, you face much more serious consequences if involved in a car accident, and as such, it’s up to the car driver to drive responsibly to avoid accidents. 

If you’ve been involved in a car accident as a pedestrian, you have the right to seek financial support if you are a pedestrian injured in a car accident. At Lalande Personal Injury Lawyers, we have experience with cases involving car accidents that have resulted in long-term disability and can help you resolve your case.