Q: Why is a car’s design putting pedestrians at risk in West Palm Beach accidents?

A: When a pedestrian is struck by a car in West Palm Beach, the injuries are often life-altering. We know that the pedestrian is at a much higher risk of injury than the driver, since he lacks protection from the impact. Unfortunately, the risks run even higher depending on the type of car that hits you. Since most pedestrians are hit head-on, the front of the vehicle plays a large part in the pedestrian’s injuries. For example:

• Pedestrians are usually not hit once, but make contact with the car at several points. Most victims will first be struck by the front bumper.
• If the car has a higher hood, the victim often falls forward, hitting his head before falling to the ground.
• If the car is lower, the victim will often have his leg swept out by the impact, falling sideways onto the car and potentially hitting his head on the windshield.
• A truck or SUV, which rides higher on the road, has a greater potential for damaging a victim’s hip joint. Speeding SUVs also have a greater potential to cause serious injury due to their increased weight.
• A bumper strike affects adults and children differently: adults will often be struck in the knee, but children will commonly be hit in the torso.

Some manufacturers are taking pedestrians into consideration when designing new cars, opting for rounded hoods and “bounce back” bumpers to reduce injury upon impact.

We can only hope that the number of pedestrian fatalities continues its downward trend, but in the meantime, we can help those suffering from these injuries gets the compensation they deserve. Call Fetterman & Associates today at 561-845-2510 for a free consultation in your West Palm Beach pedestrian accident case.