Getting hit by a vehicle as a pedestrian can lead to severe injuries that require extensive medical treatment and result in substantial lost income. Figuring out who bears responsibility when visibility issues like fog contribute to the accident becomes vital for receiving fair compensation.
Pedestrian accident lawyers have extensive experience investigating liability and getting clients the maximum damages they deserve, especially in such tricky pedestrian accidents.
Pedestrian Right-of-Way Laws that Factor into Accident Liability
- Some states have laws that grant pedestrians the right-of-way when crossing intersections or walking in crosswalks legally
- Vehicles must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians already crossing at intersections with traffic signals or walk signals
- At crosswalks without traffic signals, drivers still must yield right-of-way to pedestrians after slowing/stopping
- Failure to grant pedestrian right-of-way constitutes negligence and a breach of traffic laws on the driver’s part
- If pedestrians violate traffic signals, cross mid-block illegally, or fail to exercise due caution, they lose the right-of-way
- Motorists must make every reasonable effort to avoid collisions, regardless of illegal pedestrian actions
Lawyers thoroughly analyze pedestrian accident liability based on relevant right-of-way laws and incident specifics.
Why Fog Causes Pedestrian Risks
Fog impairs visibility for both pedestrians and drivers. Thick fog can limit a driver’s sight distance or field of view, making it harder to see potential obstacles or hazards in time. The reflective nature of fog also affects perceptions of speed and distance. However, drivers must still adjust their driving behavior based on environmental factors.
Failure to control speed or pay adequate attention constitutes negligent driving when adverse conditions like fog are present.
For pedestrians, fog similarly reduces how far they can see upcoming vehicles at intersections or along roadways. They tend to lose the contrast that makes cars stand out from backgrounds.
Relying too much on hearing is also difficult since fog distorts and muffles sound. Pedestrians must take added precautions in foggy weather as well. Simply assuming drivers can see you becomes extremely risky.
Pedestrian Accident Lawyers’ History with Injury Cases
With pedestrian accidents, determining fault and severity rests heavily on the specific circumstances of the incident. Pedestrian accident attorneys thoroughly investigate how visibility, decision-making, and other factors contributed to collisions. With many decades of assisting victims hurt by vehicles, lawyers know how to build strong arguments regarding negligence and recklessness.
Leveraging medical documentation, accident reconstruction, weather reports, automotive forensics, and additional evidence, accident attorneys consistently achieve excellent results for local pedestrians harmed by irresponsible motorists.
Assessing Liability in Fog-Related Pedestrian Accidents
Reduced visibility alone does not necessarily indicate that the sole blame lies with the driver when fog contributes to a pedestrian getting hit. However, motorists do face higher accountability to adjust their driving accordingly per the conditions. Evidence of speeding, distraction, or other negligence can supersede fog as the primary cause of the accident.
Pedestrians also hold the responsibility to exercise added caution in low-visibility conditions. Examples like crossing mid-block instead of at corners, failing to wear reflective gear, or not ensuring vehicles see them before stepping into the street suggest some comparative fault. But if a pedestrian legally crosses with the traffic signal in a marked crosswalk and gets struck by a speeding or inattentive motorist, the full liability falls on the driver.
The legal team conducts in-depth investigations, considering every aspect, from weather to street design, in their liability assessments. They also take special care in making sure all the damages and losses are taken into consideration when preparing an estimate. Skilled legal representation consistently secures fair compensation for pedestrian accident victims through settlements or court awards.
With a proven record of advocating for injured pedestrians, victims can trust lawyers to fight for justice and fair compensation on their behalf.