When a car and a pedestrian collide the outcome is usually bleak. Thus was the case in Lexington, Kentucky, as reported in the Knoxville News-Sentinel, when Anthony Gibbs, 24, of Clinton, Tennessee was crossing the street and was struck by a car. Mr. Gibbs was taken to the University of Kentucky Medical Center where he remains in a coma. My prayers go out to Mr. Gibbs, his family and friends.

An added twist to the sad story is that the suspected driver, Hector Alviter-Rivera, 23, left the scene of the collision and later his car was found abandoned. According to the article, police believe Mr. Rivera has fled the area.

In 2007, according to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, (NHTSA) 4,654 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes in the United States, a  decrease of 13 percent from the 5,321 pedestrians killed in 1997. On average, a pedestrian is killed in a traffic crash every 113 minutes and injured in a traffic crash every 8 minutes. There were 70,000 pedestrians injured in traffic crashes in 2007. Most pedestrian fatalities in 2007 occurred in urban areas (73%), at non-intersection locations (77%), in normal weather conditions (90%), and at night (67%). More than two-thirds (70%) of the pedestrians killed in 2007 were males. In 2007, the male pedestrian fatality rate per 100,000 population was 2.19 more than double the rate for females (0.91 per 100,000 population). In 2007, the male pedestrian injury rate per 100,000 population was 26, compared with 20 for females.

What kind of a low-life hits a pedestrian and leaves the victim lying in the street fighting for their life? This kind of accident happens far too often. In Tennessee in 2008 61 pedestrians were killed by motor vehicles. Most of the time the driver had been either under the influence of alcohol, driving with an invalid license, which had probably been suspended or revoked for prior traffic violations, or they just didn’t want to accept responsibility for their actions.

If you witness a pedestrian/automobile collision take stock of your surroundings and identify the vehicle and, above all, before you attempt to render care to the victim make sure that you will not become a second victim. If you or a loved one is injured in a Nashville pedestrian/motor vehicle collision contact the experienced Nashville accident attorney’s at Phillip Miller & Associates, and get a

Share The Road

so that you can best evaluate your rights and remedies.

Fatal Motorcycle Crash

remember a fatal vehicle/pedestrian accident in which the vehicle driver was the victim and the pedestrian was charged with vehicular homicide and reckless endangerment. But a recent article in the Chattanooga Times Free Press proves that there is a first time for everything.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that in 2007, 4,654 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes in the United States, a decrease of 13 percent from the 5,321 pedestrians killed in 1997. On average, a pedestrian is killed in a traffic crash every 113 minutes and injured in a traffic crash every 8 minutes. There were 70,000 pedestrians injured in traffic crashes in 2007. Most pedestrian fatalities in 2007 occurred in urban areas (73%), at non-intersection locations (77%), in normal weather conditions (90%), and at night (67%). More than two-thirds (70%) of the pedestrians killed in 2007 were males. In 2007, the male pedestrian fatality rate per 100,000 population was 2.19, more than double the rate for females (0.91 per 100,000 population). In 2007, the male pedestrian injury rate per 100,000 population was 26, compared with 20 for females.

Now, back to the exception to the rule. The Times Free Press reports that Hamilton County authorities have charged a 25 year-old man who they say caused a fatal motorcycle crash by standing in traffic and daring drivers to hit him. The Times Free Press quoted sheriff’s spokeswoman Janice Atkinson who said the Pedestrian had been drinking and arguing with his family throughout the day on Sept. 4 before he walked into the road in front of his home in Sale Creek. The crash victim was a 59-year-old man who lost control of his motorcycle after it apparently touched the pedestrian. The motorcycle ran off the road and struck a tree. Motorcyclist was pronounced dead at Erlanger Hospital. The pedestrian was scheduled to appear in court Thursday. We will follow this case and in a future blog report the outcome.

No matter the cause, if you or a loved one is victimized in an accident by someone under the influence of drugs or alcohol, contact one of our experienced Tennessee accident and injury lawyers and become educated about your rights and remedies.