Accident Victim on Wheelchair

The Probable Consequences for Accident Victim on Wheelchair

Whenever we are thinking of wheelchairs, we think in terms of the freedom and added mobility they provide to disabled and injured people. We do not seem to take into account the 300,000 serious wheelchair-related accident cases that take place every year as per the latest estimate. If you are an accident victim in a wheelchair When these serious and tragic accidents take place, it could be difficult to figure out precisely who is responsible.

Unfortunately, there have been numerous recent reports about collisions between wheelchairs and automobiles, some of which have been fatal. One grim reality is that such accidents are taking place every single day leading to serious injuries and even causing deaths in children and adults alike while in their wheelchairs. On most of the occasions, individuals in their wheelchairs are handling their equipment legally. They may be just using the sidewalks and streets for traveling from one place to another. Sadly, when a collision takes place between a speeding car and a pedestrian, wheelchair-bound or not, there is no doubt that the pedestrian would be the victim with the most devastating and tragic consequences.

A Recent Accident Victim In A Wheelchair Accident In Florida

Recently, it was reported in the Tampa Bay Times that a pedestrian who was 56 years old, and his wheel-chair bound friend, who was 34 years old got hit by a Mitsubishi SUV that was being driven by a 74-year-old lady. In this tragic accident, the pedestrian lost his life when the SUV hit him while crossing the road. This shocking collision took place near U.S. 19 in Hudson. However, the wheel-chair bound pedestrian and the driver of the car escaped with minor injuries. Fortunately, in this case, the wheel-chair bound pedestrian escaped with a few minor injuries, however, this is generally, not the case.

How Frequently are there Fatal Accident Victims of Wheelchairs?

A study that was organized by Georgetown University revealed that wheelchair users are more prone to experiencing fatal injuries in most pedestrian-vehicle collisions as compared to non-wheelchair users. As per the report presented by Georgetown researchers, more than 500 wheelchair users lost their lives in road accidents between 2006 & 2012. We understand that wheelchair-bound collision victims would be encountering a 36 % higher fatality risk due to car accidents as compared to other pedestrians. Moreover, in 50 percent of the studies conducted by researchers, wheelchair-bound pedestrians seemed to be involved in a crash involving an intersection. Moreover, 4 out of 10 such collisions took place because of poor traffic control.

Factors That Culminated in Tragic Crashes that Put Wheelchair Users' Safety at Risk

Since a major percentage of crashes occur at intersections without traffic controls or crosswalks, there seems to be a definite connection between the absence of stringent measures relating to pedestrian safety and the numerous fatal pedestrian-vehicle collisions. Some other factors responsible for such accidents could be the following:

• Poor illumination resulting in low visibility
• Broken traffic signals
• Lack of sidewalks compelling pedestrians to come into the street.
• Overgrown and unmaintained bushes that hamper driver visibility of the sidewalk.

Have You or Any of Your Near & Dear Ones Been An Accident Victim in Wheelchair While Attempting to Cross the Road?

If you or any of your near and dear ones have suffered injuries in a tragic pedestrian accident, you may be assuming that only you and your close family members could relate to your terrible situation. However, in reality, if you have been in a tragic accident, where you have been seriously injured by a car, whether as a passenger, driver, pedestrian, or wheelchair victim, remember, you have certain legal rights. There have been numerous individuals who have gone through your predicament and we at, Boca Law Lavalle, Brown, Ronan & Schwencke, P.A. have successfully helped many such victims by holding the parties that are responsible accountable. Our firm is renowned for having more than five decades of professional experience and prowess in helping motor accident victims and we could assist you in starting the legal procedure for compensation that you are very much entitled to as an accident victim. Contact us today for scheduling a consultation.