In the United States, roads are busy, and drivers can be distracted easily, which can increase the risks of pedestrian accidents. When it happens, it leaves victims with physical injuries, emotional trauma, and financial strains.
If you ever find yourself a victim of such an incident, pedestrian accident lawyers at DFW Injury Lawyers can help you navigate the legal process and fight for the compensation you deserve. Before that, you should know about the injuries pedestrian accident victims are susceptible to.
Here are the most common injuries you are likely to suffer as a pedestrian accident victim, with fractures being the leading one:
Fractures
Among the most common and instantly noticeable injuries in pedestrian accidents are fractures. When a pedestrian is hit, the force of impact can easily shatter or break bones. This can happen when a car strikes a person directly, especially in high-speed collisions, where the victim’s body bears the full brunt of the vehicle’s mass and momentum.
But fractures can also result indirectly. For instance, a pedestrian may be thrown several feet, crashing onto the pavement, curb, or even against other structures like traffic poles or walls. Fractures need surgeries and long-term bed rest.
Head Injuries
Head injuries are especially dangerous because their severity isn’t always immediately visible. In a pedestrian accident, the victim’s head might strike the car, the windshield, or the asphalt. Even a mild impact can lead to a concussion, which might cause disorientation, persistent headaches, nausea, or memory lapses.
More serious collisions can result in skull fractures, which pose risks of brain swelling, hemorrhage, or infections. But perhaps the most concerning are traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). These are complex and often life-altering.
A TBI can impair basic cognitive functions, such as speech, concentration, reasoning, or even the ability to regulate emotions. In extreme cases, TBIs leave victims in a coma or with permanent brain damage.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Although they may sound minor compared to fractures or brain injuries, soft tissue injuries can be surprisingly debilitating. They involve damage to muscles, ligaments, and tendons—and they’re incredibly common in pedestrian accidents. A violent twist during a fall or a sudden jolt from impact can stretch or tear soft tissues, resulting in sprains, strains, and serious bruising.
Sprains occur when ligaments (the tissues that connect bones) are overstretched or torn, often around the ankles or wrists. Strains affect muscles or tendons and can make even basic movements painful. In severe cases, soft tissue injuries can limit mobility for weeks or even months. Some victims experience chronic pain long after the tissues have technically healed.
Bruising, which may seem superficial, can indicate deeper internal bleeding or damage and often accompanies more serious trauma beneath the skin. These injuries are painful, slow to heal, and can dramatically reduce a person’s quality of life, especially if they interfere with walking, lifting, or working.
Internal Injuries
Some of the most dangerous injuries pedestrian accident victims suffer are internal injuries, and they’re not always visible right away. A person may feel fine immediately after the collision, only to start experiencing severe symptoms hours later. Internal bleeding is one such danger.
When blood vessels are torn, or organs are damaged, blood can pool inside the body, leading to dangerous pressure on vital organs or a drop in blood pressure that can be fatal if not treated quickly.
Organ damage is another severe consequence of high-impact pedestrian accidents. The liver, kidneys, spleen, and lungs are particularly vulnerable. A damaged spleen, for example, can rupture and cause life-threatening internal bleeding.
Lung injuries can interfere with breathing, while liver trauma may lead to long-term complications with digestion and detoxification. These injuries often require emergency surgery, intensive care, and extended recovery periods, and they often go undetected unless a victim seeks medical attention right away.
